According to the article below, Bud Selig is considering reinstating Pete Rose from his lifetime ban.

What do you all think?

Report: Selig eyeing Rose's status again

MLB commissioner Bud Selig appears to be "seriously considering" reinstatement for Pete Rose nearly 20 years after the hit king was banned from baseball for gambling on the sport, according to a report in the New York Daily News.

Hank Aaron's support for Rose's Hall of Fame inclusion, which he mentioned at this weekend's ceremonies in Cooperstown, N.Y., is a strong indication of Selig's possible action, the Daily News reported.

"I would like to see Pete in," Aaron said. "He belongs there."

Lobbying for the move began five years ago but died when Selig became convinced Rose was not "reconfiguring" his life, the newspaper report said, part of the late commissioner Bart Giamatti's demands on Rose when he was ruled ineligible.

"I think a lot of the guys feel that it's been 20 years now for Pete, and would lean toward leniency and time served," an unnamed Hall of Famer said, according to the Daily News. "If he had admitted it in the first place and apologized way back then, he'd probably be in the Hall by now."


If Rose were to become eligible, it stands to reason he would have to be voted into the Hall of Fame by the 65 living members that make up the Veterans Committee.

Inclusion on the writers' ballot expires after 15 years, though Rose has never appeared on their ballot except by write-in.

"I know there are still guys who feel strongly against him," said another Hall of Famer, according to the report. "And I don't know if that would change even if Selig clears him."

I believe he's paid his debt. I still think he's a jerk, but that should hardly preclude him from the Hall. Considering all of the steroid heads that are still making millions, his crimes don't seem so bad. I say let him in, but don't let him manage.

My take - the Hall of Fame is a museum and the keeper of baseball's history, both good and bad. In my opinion, it is incomplete if it left out the players of the steroid era, the greats from the Negro leagues and Pete Rose. Have as many asterisks as you would like - Bill Simmons suggests having a steroid-wing of the Hall to house the busts of Barry Bonds, A-Rod and McGuire - but if the Hall wants to be truthful in its telling of baseball's past, it can't leave Rose out of it. Whether Rose wants to be in the Hall under these circumstances, who knows....

I'm with pizzaboy - I don't think he should be allowed to participate in any activities that affect the outcome of games.

I'm in favor of Pete Rose's reinstatement for selfish reasons as he played for my team and was a key to the 1980 World Series team. I've not seen a fiercer competitor in baseball in my life, and I can only imagine this is how Ty Cobb played. I hated him when he was on the Reds because he always found a way to beat you.

If another star had committed these acts, I admit I would not be in favor of reinstatement. Betting on baseball is the mortal sin within the sport, whether or not it involves throwing games. I believe that while steroids have provided a huge scandal for the game, this issue is less detrimental than players/coaches betting on the outcomes of games.

I am, however, as said, in favor of reinstating Rose. While he has his supporters in the Hall, like Reggie Jackson and Mike Schmidt, I doubt the present members will elect him.

The HOF is for the accomplishments on the field. I think Rose should be in. If they kept out all jerks, Ted Williams and Ty Cobb would not have a bust in Cooperstown. What Rose did was wrong, but he has paid for it in the past 20 years. Exclude him from other stuff if they want to continue to punish Rose, but lift the ban blocking him from the HOF.

I like the fact that Hank Aaron made a comment over the weekend to put an asterisk next to the steroid-era records. He is a classy guy, so for him to say something like this is pretty big IMO.

Yeah, sure.... why not?

[/Frank Pentangeli imitation]

No doubt that his baseball achievements are good enough for HOF entry. I'd like to see Shoeless Joe Jackson go in with Rose.

rose could be in the main hall with cobb, william, ruth, and countless others...but i dont want sosa, bonds, or any of those steroid users in that hall.

also too shoeless joe jackson should be in as well...and just stating for no reason roger maris, and ron santo should be in as well.

IMO, I don't think Santo has HOF numbers. Maris definitely doesn't have HOF numbers unless you put him in for hitting 61.

Rose and Shoeless Joe should definitely be in. Jackson hit .375 in the 1919 Series and did not make an error. How can he be accused of throwing the Series?

santo is probably one of the best defenesive third basemen in baseball. maris you might have a point.

with shoeless joe idk why he got banned...with those numbers he didnt deserve it, and he should get in before rose.

Defense usually doesn't get you into the HOF. Keith Hernandez is by far the best defensive 1B I've ever seen, but his offensive numbers probably fall short for the HOF.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/santoro01.shtml?redir

idk those stats look good...remember sandberg is in the hall (i am saying that without looking at his stats)

EDIT: didnt know about this, but i guess mickey mantel and willie mays was banned from baseball.

Mickey Mantle*
Willie Mays* - On February 2,1983, Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays accepted greeter positions at a casino in Atlantic City. The next day, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn banned both of them. On March 18, 1985, Commissioner Peter Uberroth reinstated both men.

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1512122

Bill James of Baseball Abstract fame offered a nice essay on Ron Santo's credentials for the Hall of Fame. At the time (15 or 20 years ago!), James was of the opinion that Santo was among the more qualified candidates NOT in the HOF.

If you use the search function on this web site, you'll find a nice discussion and very eloquent posts from our friend Plaw about what constitutes the minimum qualifications for a Hall of Fame third baseman as well as current stars and their potential as "future" Hall of Famers. The discussion took place a couple of years ago, but it's worth reading if only to see where some of those players are today.

tony b.

I'm fine with keeping Rose out of the HOF because he broke baseball's golden rule. In every major league clubhouse, there is a sign that reads "Rule 21(d) - Any player, umpire, club or league official or employee who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible". He bet on baseball and a lifetime ban is what he deserves.

Pete Rose has been kept out of the baseball HOF for 20 years, but was one of the best players in the history of the game. Donte Stallworth killed another human being and served less than one month in jail. Michael Vick killed an unknown number of dogs, served 2 years in jail, and has been reinstated to the NFL. Leonard Little drove drunk and killed a woman and still played football afterward. Ray Lewis was, if not directly involved, a witness to two murders and he received no punishment.

Can we all agree that all of the incidents/crimes I described were far worse than gambling? Don't get me wrong, I thought what Rose did was terrible and hurt the integrity of the game. He deserved to be punished, but enough is enough. But Rose did not damage the game any moreso than how the game was bastardized by the steroid users like Manny, A-Rod, Bonds, Clemens, Canseco, Big Mac, Sosa, Palmiero, and countless others. I would include Bud Selig in the steroid era as a big enabler - he quite obviously looked the other way while homeruns sailed out of ballparks and fans came through the turnstiles.

Rose has served his time in many ways. It's time to let him in the HOF, but ban him from anything else related to MLB: managing, ownership, coaching, scouting, etc. They should also try to figure out a way to seek the prevention of Rose selling any other books/movie deals.

Nevermind there is strong circumstantial evidence that Ty Cobb bet on baseball during his playing days, and the Commissioner knew of this but covered it up because this was only a few years after the disaster that was the 1919 Black Sox scandal.

Of course, this is already been brought up, but Joe Jackson played pretty well for a guy paid off to "throw the series." Isn't that kinda against the point of being bribed?

But this is Bud Selig, he seems to know more than us. Cheating with roids and claiming historical non-anabolic steroid accomplished records ISN'T AS BAD as betting on your team to win.

Rose knew that betting on baseball was wrong and could get him banned. He even signed off the permanent banishment himself. After lying about not betting for years, why would anyone believe that he only bet on his team to win? Even if that was the case, what was he saying to other gamblers by not betting on some games? I don't understand why this guy gets so much sympathy.

Steve " The Druggie" Howe - Suspended ( not banned ) seven times for drug abuse and smuggling drugs across that border.

Manny Ramirez - Suspended ( not banned )for violating Major League Baseball's Performance Enhancing Drug policy.

Al Holland - Suspended ( not banned ) for cocaine abuse.

Dwight Gooden - Arrested after fighting with police which resulted in the Tampa Riots of 1987. He entered a rehabilitation center because if cocaine abuse and wasn't even suspended from the game!

At least 2 dozen players have been suspended over the last several years for violating MLB's Performance Enhancing Drug Policy and none were banned from the game.

I think that Rose deserves to be in the HOF.

I do NOT believe that Rose would ever bet AGAINST his own team as he was way too much of a competitor to ever bet against himself.

Did he gamble? Yes. But bannishment for someone who broke A RULE and not BANISHING others who broke A RULE is unjustifiable to me.

Using drugs can hurt others who are playing the game with you. You are putting your team and your teammates at physical risk.

Betting on a game does not put your team or your teammates at physical risk.

If you are going to hand out punishments for breaking a rule, then be consistant.

Rose accomplished what he accomplished. Betting on a game did NOT enhance his performance.

4,256 hits.

this is what i feel as well. some voters wont vote rose in, and its there choice but i hope they feel the same for those who used roids to cheat in this game.

Well said in these brief statements, Don Cardi. As a footnote, Steve Howe did ultimately die in the fairly recent past. Nobody had more chances than Steve Howe and be blew each one of those chances.

While Shoeless Joe Jackson racked up a .375 series avg. in the 1919 series, he went 6 for 11 in the the games the Sox won and 6 for 21 in the losses. Some of the hits in the losses, including his only HR, came when the Reds had the game wrapped up. I believe strongly that he conspired to throw the series.
His performance, even though there were no blatant misplays, was inconsistent.

He receivedd $5,000 in cash, and admitted his involvement to a grand jury. When he was banned after the 1920 season, he changed his tune and denied involvement. His career avg, is still one of the highest history.

Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker allegedly fixed a game in Sept. 1919 that was brought to light in the late 20s. The AL founder and president (or VP) was fired over his coverup. As the evidence was not as strSox scandal, Cobb and Speaker were removed from their respective teams. I believe strongly that they both fixed the game.

Cobb by the way bet on the White Sox to win the 1919 series.

He bet on baseball games. The sign that is in every clubhouse in every ballpark clearly says that if you bet on baseball, you get banned for life. He knew what he was risking, but did it anyway. He has no one to blame but himself. Players using steroids is a completely different issue.

if i may ask how is that a different issue?

EDIT: also too klydon is that scandle the one that had cobb and the other player compete for top hitter and a car?

How is it the same issue? Rose's banishment has absolutely nothing to do with steroids.

even though I'm not a real big fan of baseball, I've always felt that pete rose belongs in the HOF. It's always been my understanding that the HOF celebrates what one does on the field.

Yes. But Rose's suspension from baseball makes him ineligible for consideration.

I too would like to see Pete in the Hall, but lifting the ban does not automatically put him in.

I agree with Freddie that when Rose placed the bets on baseball, he knew that if this conduct, if discovered, would get him banned. This is a greater transgression in the world of baseball than steroid use.

I think they should let Pete in the Hall of Fame. The guy made one little dumb mistake.