Friday, February 18, 2000
Rose caught off guard
Selig remarks 'disappointing,' attorney says
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Pete Rose's lawyer was jolted when commissioner Bud Selig made clear this week he is unlikely to reinstate Rose, baseball's career hits leader.
“We were very surprised and disappointed,” S. Gary Spicer said Thursday, a day after Selig made his remarks on Rose to a group in Madison, Wis.
“We do not have any idea why Bud Selig would issue this quote when we are adhering to the timeframe that was agreed upon at our meeting with Bob DuPuy.”
Selig has said many times he agreed with the decision by commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti to press for the lifetime ban.
“There is not a scintilla of give in that area,” Selig said Wednesday to the Rotary Club of Madison, referring to baseball's determination to keep gambling out of the sport.
“Pete did accept a voluntary lifetime suspension from Dr. Giamatti. There hasn't been any new evidence since then. I think just from my answer, you'll understand my depth of feeling on this subject.”
Rose, who agreed to the lifetime ban in August 1989 following an investigation of his gambling, applied for reinstatement in September 1997, but Selig hasn't officially ruled on it.
DuPuy, Selig's top lawyer, met Jan.27 with Spicer and Roger Makley, another Rose lawyer, and gave them 30 days to submit additional information.
“We have not been advised by anyone that we should not submit the materials,” said Spicer, who intends to mail it next week. “We would expect a fairly quick response. I mean, the matter has been going on for 10 years.”
Baseball officials, speaking on the condition they not be identified, have said in recent weeks that because of pressure from Rose, Selig is likely to finally rule on the application and reject it.
Rose, who wants to manage again in the major leagues, has said several times that he may sue if he isn't reinstated, even though the agreement he signed says “he will not institute any legal proceedings of any nature against the commissioner or any of his representatives, either major league or any major league club.”
Spicer wouldn't address possible litigation.
“We would like to hold on anything along those lines until we've got notification from the commissioner's office,” he said.
Rose said the evidence gathered in 1989 by investigator John Dowd doesn't prove he bet on baseball, and he has gotten experts who say Dowd's evidence is wrong or inconclusive.
As long as he's permanently banned, Rose is ineligible for the Hall of Fame ballot.
Selig won't let Rose appear at a ceremony this summer honoring the 25th anniversary of the Reds' 1975 World Series title.
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