DENVER - Reds chief operating officer John Allen did request permission for Pete Rose to participate in ceremonies before the final game at Cinergy Field.

        Whether the request ever got to commissioner Bud Selig was in the hands of Major League Baseball officials. Selig, in an interview with the Enquirer Tuesday, said he was unaware of the request. (Selig interview)

        “This is the first I've heard of it,” Selig said. “I've had no request from the Cincinnati club.”

        The Reds, Allen said, made the request in March. Tom Ostertag, vice president and general counsel for MLB, confirmed that.

        “We checked with MLB about some things for the new ballpark,” Allen said. “We're going to have a 4,192 Lounge, the Rose Garden; Pete's part of the mosaic. Those were all approved. But we were told there was no change as far as him appearing.”

        In June 1999, Allen submitted a formal request asking Rose be allowed to participate in the Big Red Machine Reunion. That was denied.

        When the request to have Rose at the final game was made, Allen was told nothing had changed in the 14 months since the 1999 request.

        “The All-Century Team was an exception,” Ostertag said, “and the only exception.”

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