Sunday, August 22, 1999
How they feel about Rose
The Enquirer asked living Baseball Hall of Famers whether Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame. Here are the responses of those who allowed us to use their names:
Duke Snider: “Yes ... when he is reinstated by MLB.”
Willie Stargell: “Yes, based on what Pete did on the field day in and day out. Everybody — if they're honest with themselves — would want Pete Rose on their team.”
Steve Carlton: “Yes.”
Rod Carew: “4,000+ hits speak for itself.”
Pee Wee Reese (before his death earlier this month): “Yes. Pete should be in because of his ability on the field and his great record in baseball.”
Others on Rose and the case against him:
Ron Peters, bookmaker: “If Pete would admit what he did, people would have forgiven him. It (gambling) is an acceptable crime. People gamble and lie on their taxes. But he lied so much and he was caught in so many lies. If someone doesn't believe he bet on baseball, they're either blind to the facts or they don't want to believe it.”
Bill James, author, The Politics Of Glory: “If Pete Rose ever sues baseball seeking to nullify the agreement he made with (Commissioner A. Bartlett) Giamatti, ... he absolutely will win, and baseball will be ordered to remove him from their disqualified list, and to compensate him for the time he has spent there.”
Roger Kahn, author, Pete Rose: My Story: “Persuasive in spots, the Dowd report overall is an unconvincing mix of allegation and distortion. As I say, I don't know if Rose bet baseball. I do know, however, that he was railroaded out of the game.”
Barbara Pinzka, Rose's public relations consultant, 1989-90: “One thing I learned that year was the price of fame. I saw so many people try to attach themselves to Pete -- even at that point -- for their own gain. I don't know how anybody in the spotlight stays sane. I used to think rich and famous would be great. I just want rich now.”
Ron Oester, Reds coach: “If Pete would have admitted he made a mistake or admit he'd bet on baseball, I believe he'd be back in baseball and he'd be in the Hall of Fame. ... But it will get solved one way or another. Pete will get inducted in the Hall of Fame. Whether it's five years from now, 10 years from now, they will elect Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame.”
Marty Brennaman, Reds radio announcer: “I would be stunned if Pete ever came clean. He is stubborn as hell. He put himself in a position through 10 years of denials where I don't think he could ever say what everyone knows could get him in (the Hall of Fame). To me, it's a slam dunk. If he did (confess to betting on baseball), you'd have people lined up to forgive him.'
Cal Levy, formerly Rose's marketing representative: “To me, the whole Pete thing has forever changed the way people look at their heroes. This country is hung up on official recognition — awards, prizes, Grammys, Emmys, box office champs. But for all he did in the game of baseball between the lines, he will never get the recognition that I believe everyone who ever put on a uniform dreams of getting. You could not sit down and write a story like this.”
Rose Special Report
