Banishment: A Thorn In Rose’s Side

Peter Edward Rose was placed on Major League Baseball’s ineligible list in 1989 when the Commissioner of Baseball, A. Bartlett Giamatti, concluded that Rose had bet on baseball games, including games involving his own team, the Cincinnati Reds.

In an agreement made with Baseball, Rose accepted his de facto banishment from the sport. But Rose did not admit to having gambled on baseball games. “Nothing in this agreement shall be deemed either an admission or a denial by Peter Edward Rose of the allegation that he bet on any Major League Baseball game.” (Giamatti and Rose 4)

According to the current version of Baseball's rules, Rose can become eligible for the Hall of Fame by getting off the banishment list. Hall of Fame Rule 3e states, “Any player on Baseball’s ineligible list shall not be an eligible candidate.” (Rules for Election 1) Although no one in the history of the sport has been able to get off the list, Rose can petition Baseball's

To this day, Pete Rose still maintains his innocence on the charge that he bet on baseball. The signed agreement clearly stated that it was not an admission or a denial. So why did Rose sign the agreement and not fight on in court? According to Rose, he understood that he would be able to apply for reinstatement in one year. If he went to court, he would have had to spend a half a million dollars on lawyer fees. (Ribowsky 72) Rose said, “To think that I’m going to be out of baseball for a very short period of time hurts.” (Lieber and Neff 30) When asked what Rose would have to do to prove himself worthy of reinstatement, Giamatti said he expected Rose to “show a redirected, reconfigured or rehabilitated life.” (Lieber and Neff 29). Right before Rose signed the agreement, Giamatti said he would consider with an open mind any reinstatement application from Rose. (Lieber and Neff 29) All of this sounded like a good deal to Rose at the time, and it may have been, until one week after the agreement was signed, A. Bartlett Giamatti died of a heart attack.

Pete Rose started playing professional baseball in 1960 with the minor league Geneva (NY) Red Legs and by 1963 he reached the Major Leagues as a rookie second baseman with the National League's Cincinnati Reds. Rose won the National League's Rookie of the Year Award for 1963. Rose played 24 Major League seasons, most with the Reds (1963-1978, 1984-1986), but he also spent four seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies (1980-1983) and part of a season with the Montreal Expos (1984).

All-time Major League record for most seasons of 100 or more games – 23

All-time Major League record for most seasons of 150 or more games – 17

All-time National League record for most games with 5 or more hits – 10

All-time Major League record for most seasons of 600 or more at bats – 17

Pete Rose was the type of player that every father wanted his son to grow up and play like. He is described as “one of the toughest, winningest SOBs in sports, an overgrown Little Leaguer who parlayed sharp eyes, steel-cable wrists and the sheer cussedness of ten mean drunks into a record that may stand forever.” (Ribowsky 67) The record talked about here is his 4,256 hits. This record certainly is a remarkable feat. Last winter, when stats guru Bill James crunched the numbers and estimated all active players’ chances to catch Rose, every major leaguer wound up with the same chance-zero-except the Yankees’ Derek Jeter, who James figures has a one percent shot at surpassing the Hit King. (Ribowsky 67)

Some topics in this essay:
Pete Rose, Major League, National League, Darryl Strawberry, Hall Fame, Cincinnati Reds, Janszen Peters, Leerhsen Washington, BALL GAMES, Lieber Neff, major league, pete rose, league record, hall fame, major league record, national league, all-time major league, all-time major, national league record, all-time national league, character integrity, bet baseball, all-time national, baseball games, league record consecutive,