Pete Rose will not be reinstated by MLB

Major League Baseball commisioner Rob Manfred announced Monday that all time hits leader Pete Rose will not be reinstated. If you haven’t heard, Rose was banned from baseball permanently in 1989 for allegedly betting on baseball and didn’t admit to it until 2004.

“In short,’’ Manfred concluded, “Mr. Rose has not presented credible evidence of a reconfigured life either by an honest acceptance by him of his wrongdoing … or by a rigorous, self-aware and sustained program of avoidance by him of all the cirucmstances that led to his permanent ineligibility in 1989.”

So, in layman’s terms, the MLB feels that Rose hasn’t done anything to change himself and since he still gambles (legally) on baseball, they don’t want to risk him potentially breaking Rule 21.

This ruling will, of couse, stur up its share of controversy. Some will see it baseball’s way, some won’t. Personally, I believe that if Pete can’t be in the HOF, then Tigers legend Ty Cobb shouldn’t be. Why? Cobb was a known racist, assaulted fans, and was an alcoholic. I don’t care about “different era”, if Cobb is allowed in, Charlie Hustle should too.