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Let him back in, Bud
Posted by Mike on Jul 27th, 2009
2009
Jul 27
I agree with Hank Aaron. Let Pete Rose back in, Bud Selig. There is no consistent reason not to. I hate that he sullied his name and the game by betting on it while he was a player and a manager. I hate it. Pete Rose was a childhood hero. I supported the ban when it was imposed. But time and events have conspired to make me change my mind.
Yes, he broke rule 21d. Yes, he lied about it. He also eventully admitted what he did. He claims, and Dowd’s investigation even supports, that he never bet against his team. He sought treatment. He apologized. And he played harder and cleaner than any other man who ever put on a glove. Ever. These are just the records he still holds:
Most career hits – 4,256
Most career outs – 10,328
Most career games played – 3,562
Most career at bats – 14,053
Most career singles – 3,215
Most career runs by a switch hitter – 2,165
Most career doubles by a switch hitter – 746
Most career walks by a switch hitter – 1,566
Most career total bases by a switch hitter – 5,752
Most seasons of 200 or more hits – 10
Most consecutive seasons of 100 or more hits – 23
Most consecutive seasons with 600 or more at bats – 13 (1968-1980)
Most seasons with 600 at bats – 17
Most seasons with 150 or more games played – 17
Most seasons with 100 or more games played – 23
Record for playing in the most winning games – 1,972
Only player in major league history to play more than 500 games at five different positions – 1B (939), LF (671), 3B (634), 2B (628), RF (595)
Most career hits – 4,256
Most career outs – 10,328
Most career games played – 3,562
Most career at bats – 14,053
Most career singles – 3,215
Most career runs by a switch hitter – 2,165
Most career doubles by a switch hitter – 746
Most career walks by a switch hitter – 1,566
Most career total bases by a switch hitter – 5,752
Most seasons of 200 or more hits – 10
Most consecutive seasons of 100 or more hits – 23
Most consecutive seasons with 600 or more at bats – 13 (1968-1980)
Most seasons with 600 at bats – 17
Most seasons with 150 or more games played – 17
Most seasons with 100 or more games played – 23
Record for playing in the most winning games – 1,972
Only player in major league history to play more than 500 games at five different positions – 1B (939), LF (671), 3B (634), 2B (628), RF (595)
Unbelievable. Hall of Fame material in anyone’s reckoning. Show leniency, Commissioner Selig. With DuRocher, Sutton, Ford, Molitor and other cheaters or druggies in the Hall, and then Clemens (you broke my heart), Canseco, McGwire, Bonds, Rodriguez, and the rest of the steroid and HGH crowd not banned, it seems absurd to keep the ban on Rose in place.
