Black Rose

Let me tell you a story. Those who are familiar with this issue know what story I’m about to tell. In 1919, the Chicago White Sox were the best team in Baseball. But they went to the World Series and lost. Not only did they lose, it looked as if they were trying to lose. After the Series was over, an investigation found that eight White Sox players were paid off by gamblers to lose the World Series. The revelation nearly destroyed Baseball. The integrity of the Game was threatened. Fans began to question whether Baseball was fixed. To combat this threat, the commissioner of Baseball, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis ruled that any player caught gambling on Baseball would be suspended from the game for life. Baseball still has that rule today. It is posted in every Major League clubhouse.

About 15 years ago, another investigation found that Pete Rose, the all-time Major League hit leader, had gambled on Baseball while managing the Cincinnati Reds. He has also admitted to betting on Baseball while he was a player. Rose agreed to being suspended with the understanding that Major League Baseball would cease investigating his gambling and his suspension might be lifted after a year. It was never lifted, and he is still banned from Baseball. He is also banned from the Hall of Fame, just like Shoeless Joe Jackson of the 1919 “Black” Sox.

Many people in Baseball say that Rose’s gambling and suspension should not take away from his accomplishments on the field, and so he should be allowed into the Hall.

Here’s my argument. Pete Rose’s entire career should be taken into account when deciding if he should be in the Hall. His gambling is part of his career since he did it while still playing the game. Since gambling is illegal, and precedence shows it is an offense worthy of lifelong suspension, then for that reason, regardless of his other accomplishments, he should not be in be hall.

Of course, a player’s character should also be taken into account when deciding if he should be enshrined. Pete Rose, like the “Black” Sox that came before him, threatened the integrity of the Game. If Baseball had not taken a no tolerance stand against gambling and players’ associations with gamblers, then there very well may not even be Baseball, at least not as it is now. It would be nothing more than professional wrestling. And if there were no Baseball, there would be no Pete Rose.

The only reason Pete Rose is not in the Hall of Fame is Pete Rose. If he would simply put Baseball ahead of himself (he still hocks his signature outside the Hall on Hall of Fame weekend, thumbing his nose at that shrine), he could be reinstated.

–J.E. Heath
per-fidem.org

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