Pete Rose’s Potential Return

By: Matt

It was reported this week, just days after Jim Rice and Rickey Henderson were inducted into the Hall of Fame, that Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is considering removing the permanent ban of Pete Rose from the MLB. Selig is widely regarded as both the worst commissioner in sports today and in the history of baseball; however, this decision could become a small positive among Selig’s many mistakes. Pete Rose was banned from baseball for gambling on games, an action that warrants some type of punishment, but not a lifetime ban.

There are a number of reasons why Pete Rose deserves to have his lifetime ban removed. The first of those reasons is Rose’s play: Rose was a dominant player; he won World Series’, Gold Gloves, an MVP, and went to 17 All-Star games. Rose was a dominant player for over 20 years, the majority of which he was not involved with gambling. Rose’s actions as a manager have prevented him from entering the Hall of Fame, a place where his numbers absolutely indicate he belongs to be, as a player. Rose was an elite talent who, despite his misdeeds, should be remembered. While Rose’s career numbers warrant a Hall of Fame induction, the greatest reason why Rose should have his ban removed is because he never gambled against his own teams. Gambling on sports is bad; gambling on your own games is worse, but Rose never bet against himself or his team. Pete Rose was the consummate competitor, he played 100%, 100% of the time and his gambling money on his team shows the faith he had in him self and his players. Pete Rose broke the rules of baseball and for that he deserved to be punished, but when commissioner Bart Giamatti suspended Rose he was a rookie commissioner trying to make his mark on the sport. As a new commissioner Roger Goodell increased the NFL’s punishment of rulebreakers, in the late 1980’s commissioner Giamatti did the same thing. Sadly, Bart Giamatti died under a year into his tenure as commissioner and only 8 days after suspending Rose, making the suspension his dying action. Had Giamatti survived the Rose suspension would be viewed differently and it’s importance would be lessened. Had Giamatti died, Pete Rose would not be suspended from baseball today and this would not be a question. Now, nearly 20 years after the death of commissioner Giamatti, Rose could return to baseball, and clearly should.