@CoachRyanKY
CINCINNATI- For decades, Major League Baseball has paraded on the highest horse around its history as sacred, exalting the legends who’ve shaped the game into the national pastime it remains today. Yet, there remains a glaring omission that tarnishes the credibility of the Hall of Fame: Pete Rose, the all-time leader in hits, still stands on the outside, denied entry into the sport's most hallowed halls. As baseball continues to ignore its responsibility to right this wrong, it becomes increasingly clear that this isn’t just a snub—it’s a travesty. Yesterday, Rose passed away. He never got to live his moment, a moment that was deserved. Sure, he was an ass. But he served his time.
Pete Rose is baseball's all-time hits leader with an untouchable 4,256 career hits. His relentless work ethic, hustle, and love for the game earned him the nickname "Charlie Hustle," and for 24 seasons, he exemplified the qualities fans claim to cherish. Yet, despite his unmatched achievements, Rose remains ineligible for the Hall of Fame, forever blackballed for betting on baseball during his time as a manager. (I would venture to say we are not too far off the Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony being sponsored by a gambling entity). Let’s be clear: Rose’s betting was a violation of MLB rules, and it warranted punishment. But the ongoing refusal to allow him into the Hall of Fame despite his apology, and relentless love for the game borders on vindictive. Baseball has forgiven worse offenses, including cheaters and drug users, so why the continued persecution of its greatest hitter?
The hypocrisy is staggering. Baseball's hall is filled with players who tarnished their own legacies far more severely than Rose. We live in an era where performance-enhancing drug users have their names debated and some even inducted into Cooperstown. Baseball has accepted these players despite their clear and calculated efforts to cheat the game. But Pete Rose, whose crime was off the field, is treated as an irredeemable villain, a pariah who can't even be mentioned in serious Hall of Fame conversations without someone invoking the tired line about "the integrity of the game." Where was this integrity when steroids were infecting the game’s highest ranks? Where was the outrage when others who tarnished the sport in a more direct way were excused and glorified?
Rose's transgressions, while serious, were not a reflection of his ability or his contributions to the game on the field. For nearly three decades, he poured his heart into the sport. His records speak for themselves. Fans did not pack the stadiums to watch Rose gamble; they came to see a relentless, passionate player outwork, outhustle, and outshine his competition. But here we are, years later, reducing a legendary career to one mistake made as a manager.
What Major League Baseball has done is take an easy moral stance, maintaining a stubborn “integrity” by clinging to an outdated ban. It is a punitive decision that has long overstayed its welcome. The league has made its point, but at what cost? Denying Rose his rightful place in the Hall of Fame isn't upholding the sanctity of the sport—it’s spitting in the face of baseball's history for all who love the game. MLB's refusal to acknowledge his achievements is more of a stain on the institution than any of Rose’s mistakes.
Sure, one day the Hall of Fame will enshrine his accomplishments posthumously, and the headlines will lament the loss of an opportunity to celebrate him while he was alive. It’s a disgrace.
If the Hall of Fame is to maintain its credibility, it must reflect the true history of baseball. That history is incomplete without Pete Rose. He was the embodiment of the game's spirit, and his presence in Cooperstown is not just desired—it’s essential. Major League Baseball has had its moment of punishment. Now is the time for forgiveness, redemption, and, above all, justice. Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame, and each year MLB fails to enshrine him is a mark against the sport's legacy, not his.
Thanks for the memories “Charlie”.
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