One more item on the National Baseball Hall of Fame

We went yesterday again to the Hall of Fame and the crowds were a lot larger. Yesterday too there were a lot of the hall of famers there on the street signing autographs. One struck us in a particular way. Pete Rose was there, but not on the street. Rose has been barred from being a hall of famer, because Bart Giamatti, the then commissioner chose to enforce a rule. Rose's on the field accomplishments are covered well on the second floor and on the third. His jersey is there. So are all his records. In an NPR interview a few years ago an attorney named John Dowd said "In my judgment, I don't think there are any circumstances that justify his return to the game... If you let Rose back in, then the message to anyone who gambles and gambles on the game is that if you throw enough of a public relations tantrum and admit that you did it, then you ought to be back in the game." Rose, at this point could be considered by the veterans committee but when that became possible (in 2007) his name did not appear on the ballot. To get on the ballot he needs to be taken off the ineligible list. Evidently Rose visits every year and charges for his autographs. That may say something about his financial situation but I think it also says something about him.

I think the ban is right. "Charlie Hustle" was a superb baseball player. He contributed some significant records. But for a long time he also refused to accept responsibility for betting on baseball games - which is not allowed by the rules. There is no way to get around that fact. The Hall of Fame recognizes his achievements in a sound way. Charlie Hustle remains on the same list that Shoeless Joe Jackson does. The Hall of Fame recognizes both players, just not on the first floor.