When I think of Pete Rose, I think of a smart, hard nosed player willing to give his all to win. And for sure his all time career accomplishments back this up.
Here are some of the highlights from Pete Rose's baseball career accomplishments:
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Most hits in MLB history: Rose is the all-time leader in hits, with 4,256 over the course of his career. He surpassed Ty Cobb's previous record of 4,191 hits on September 11, 1985.
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17-time All-Star: Rose was selected to play in the All-Star Game 17 times, at five different positions (2B, LF, RF, 3B, 1B).
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Three-time National League batting champion: Rose won the National League batting title three times, in 1968, 1969, and 1973.
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NL MVP Award: Rose won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1973.
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Three-time World Series champion: Rose won three World Series championships as a player, with the Cincinnati Reds in 1975 and 1976, and with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980.
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Gold Glove Award: Rose won two Gold Glove Awards, in 1969 and 1970, for his fielding ability as an outfielder.
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Managerial success: Rose had a successful career as a manager, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a World Series championship in 1990 and winning 426 games over five seasons with the team.
However Pete Rose's achievements as a player were overshadowed by the betting scandal that led to his lifetime ban from baseball.
Rose, who is the all-time leader in hits and games played, was banned from baseball in 1989 after an investigation revealed that he had bet on games while he was a player and manager for the Cincinnati Reds.
The investigation into Rose's gambling activities began in 1989 after a Sports Illustrated article alleged that he had bet on games during his time as a player and manager. The article was based on an extensive investigation by journalist John Dowd, who was hired by the commissioner's office to look into the matter. Dowd's investigation revealed that Rose had bet on baseball games, including those involving his own team.
According to the investigation conducted by John Dowd on behalf of Major League Baseball, Pete Rose bet on baseball games in a variety of ways. Rose placed most of his bets through bookmakers, and he typically bet on his own team, the Cincinnati Reds, to win. However, he also placed bets on other baseball teams and even other sports. Here are some of the types of bets that Rose reportedly made:
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Straight bets: Rose placed bets on the outcome of games, either picking the winning team or the underdog with the point spread.
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Parlays: Rose placed multiple bets on different games, requiring all of them to win for him to receive a payout.
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Over/under bets: Rose bet on whether the total number of runs scored in a game would be over or under a predetermined number.
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Proposition bets: Rose placed bets on specific events within a game, such as which team would score first or how many strikeouts a pitcher would have.
It is important to note that betting on baseball games, in any capacity, is strictly prohibited by Major League Baseball. The league has a rule that prohibits players, coaches, and anyone affiliated with a team from placing bets on any baseball game, whether it involves their team or not. The Pete Rose Betting Scandal was particularly significant because Rose was not only a player, but he was also a manager, and therefore held a position of significant influence over the outcome of games.
Rose initially denied the allegations, but he eventually admitted to betting on baseball games in a statement released in August 1989. He was subsequently banned from baseball for life by Commissioner Bart Giamatti, who said that Rose's conduct "calls into question the integrity of the game."
The fallout from the scandal was significant. Rose was widely regarded as one of the greatest players in baseball history, and his banishment from the game was a shock to many fans. His records and accomplishments were also called into question, and he was ineligible for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The controversy surrounding Rose's banishment from baseball continued for many years, with many fans and analysts arguing that he should be reinstated.
In 2004, Rose published a book in which he admitted to betting on baseball games while he was a player and manager. He also revealed that he had bet on the Reds to win in some of the games he managed. In 2015, new commissioner Rob Manfred denied Rose's request for reinstatement, stating that he had not "reconfigured his life" in a way that would make him suitable for reinstatement.
Overall, the Pete Rose Betting Scandal remains one of the most significant controversies in baseball history. It has had a lasting impact on the sport and on Rose's legacy as one of its greatest players.
For me personally, I think he should be in the Hall of Fame as a player, and it seems he has been uniquely banned while many others in the steroid era were not banned, even if the HOF committee chose to not include certain players, at least they got their chance at a vote.
