In a move that many believed was inevitable after the last few weeks, Pete Rose has petitioned Major League Baseball and specifically commissioner Rob Manfred for his removal from the league’s ineligible list. That would make Rose eligible for his rightful place in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
The reason for the most recent attempt by Rose is the minor punishments that he and many others believe were a slap on the wrist, levied against the Houston Astros for their sign stealing controversy. No players were punished, although their general manager and manager were fired. Two other guys affiliated with the whole scheme, Alex Cora and Carlos Beltran, were all but forced to resign from their managerial positions with the Red Sox and Mets, respectively.
Rose received a lifetime ban just over 30 years ago for gambling on games he managed. While yes, gambling along with the “Steroid Era” are among the cardinal sins among baseball purists, unlike steroids or sign-stealing, it is not cheating. It doesn’t diminish the fact that Rose is the all-time hits leader. He denied the claims for years before finally coming clean about his gambling.
While he’s been petitioning the league and it’s various commissioners for the better part of three decades, this may be the best argument for him to be reinstated.
