MLB’s all-time hit leader Pete Rose still wants to be in the Hall of Fame and is taking new action in his hopeful inclusion.
Yahoo Sports obtained a seven-page letter from Rose’s lawyer, which states he was unfairly banned from the Hall of Fame.
“At the time Pete agreed to the settlement, the consequences of being placed on the ineligible list were clear and specific – and did not include a Hall of Fame prohibition.”
“Rose accepted terms of the agreement on Aug. 24, 1989. Giamatti died eight days later. In February 1991, approximately a year before Rose would have appeared on the ballot, the Hall of Fame established Rule 3(e), which barred permanently ineligible players from enshrinement. Rose has not appeared on a ballot put before the BBWAA or subsequent committees (the Expansion Era committee, for one) intended to further consider the candidacies of players who fell short on BBWAA ballots.”
“Attorneys Genco and Rosenbaum contend, “… No one associated with the game other than Pete has ever been categorically denied eligibility from day one after the conclusion of his career for actions having nothing to do with the way they played baseball.”
The tl:dr version: Rose’s lawyers contend his settlement agreement with then-Commissioner Bart Giamatti didn’t include language on being blocked from the Hall of Fame. They argue since no language exists on the Hall of Fame ban and Rose’s actions didn’t affect baseball games, he should be eligible.
The former Cincinnati Reds manager and Fox Sports analyst (whatever happened to that, anyway?) is still banned from Cooperstown after current Commissioner Rob Manfred upheld the decision in late December of last year. He called Rose’s presence in baseball an “unacceptable risk” to the “integrity of the sport.”
Rose’s numbers are certainly Hall of Fame worthy, but his shitty post-career antics have kept him far away from the MLB world. Honestly, baseball seems better for it.
