He is getting along in years. Should they let Old Johnny Hustle into the HOF?
2006-09-24 09:20:30 · 28 answers · asked by seizod 3 in Sports ➔ Baseball
I think so. I honestly think Pete was targeted by the then Commisioner of Baseball Bart Giamatti for personal reasons. I think he just did not like Pete and did the best he could to hurt him. Never has any commisioner gone after a player so savagely.
Was Pete wrong for betting on games? Of course he was. He knows that and he admitted it. But what he did not admit, and what has never been proven was that if he ever bet against the Reds in a game he was managing. He denies it to this day and it still has never been proven.
If he HAD bet against his team in games he was managing then he would be guilty of throwing games and for that, yes he should be banned forever and not inducted into the HOF. But it has never been PROVEN that he did this.
I don't really see the big deal about it. So he bet on other games that the Reds weren't involved in? So what? He had no control over those games and could not have "fixed" them. And when he did bet on his team he always bet on them to WIN. Which to me, would be even more of an incentive for him to try to get his team to win more games. Again, So what?
I think Pete has more than payed off his debt for this. Banishment from baseball and barred inductance into the HOF is too extreme a punishment. Being nailed for using narcotics during a game is more serious than this. Look at Darryl Strawberry for cryin out loud. And using "performance enhancing" drugs. How many players have been nailed for that? And yet, They're all still playing the game.
Personally, I don't like Pete Rose. I think he's a stuck-up, arrogant jerk. BUT, There is no denying the man's accomplishments on the field. And I think that weighed together his on-field activites far outweigh his off-field ones. Judge a person for their accomplishments, not their personality.
BTW It's Charlie Hustle... not Johnny. :)
2006-09-24 10:01:28 · answer #1 · answered by xeuvisoft 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Who is this Johnny Hustle? Is he like Johnny Drama on "Entourage"?
Well, considering your question was about Pete Rose... I am guessing you meant CHARLIE Hustle, which was a a nickname given to Rose.
To answer your question... NO Pete Rose should not be allowed into the Hall of Fame. He is mentioned there, and his acheivments are widely featured.
BUT, he broke a cardinal rule of baseball. Players and managers are prohibited from betting on the game. PERIOD. You can't tell me that Rose, who lived ate, and breathed baseball since early childhood, was unaware of the fate of "Sockless" Joe Jackson.
(Actually it was "Shoeless" Joe... but maybe Sockless played with Johnny Hustle!)
2006-09-24 14:49:34 · answer #2 · answered by baseballfan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a player there is no denying his stats. If Bonds eventually gets in, which I'm sure he will, then Rose belongs there too. I don't like either one of them but as least Rose never juiced up before every game. The only stipulation would be that Rose should never be allowed to be involved in anyway with the inner structure of the game of baseball. I'm not even sure that he should be part of the official induction ceremony. Maybe do a private induction in the commissioners office. The only reason I say this is because many hall of famers have already stated publicly that if Rose got in they would not attend the ceremony. Very interesting stuff!!!
2006-09-25 12:36:36 · answer #3 · answered by The Mick "7" 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes Pete Rose deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is about what you did for the game and Pete rose was one of the greatest hitters of all time. You may not like him for betting but he played the game at a Hall of Fame level.
2006-09-24 17:21:53 · answer #4 · answered by thunder 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the Hall Of Fame is intended to be a shrine for the greatest players to ever play the game, of course Rose should be inducted. He would be in there right now if he would have just admitted he bet on baseball and apologized all those years ago instead of being a proud stubborn fool about it.
2006-09-24 11:03:31 · answer #5 · answered by Special nobody 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ty Cobb was a well known gambler and he was kept in the game, because The Commissioner (I think Landis) feared what would happen if he banned such an important player. Why keep Rose out? Steve Howe and Darryl Strawberry were given multiple chances to get back to the Majors even when they consistently were found guilty of illegal drug consumption.
2006-09-24 15:13:10 · answer #6 · answered by ljjahn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. Pete Rose was a great ball player and his off the diamond activities shouldn't be used to keep him out of the Hall of Fame.
2006-09-24 09:29:41 · answer #7 · answered by jack w 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
yes, Pete Rose is one of the greatest, if not the greatest baseball players of the modern era. His on field accomplishments should not be overlook for any reason. Whatever he did, did not affect his abilities as a player or influence the outcomes of any games. So, you may argue that he should not be able to participate in baseball in any way currently but no one can say anything against his stats record.
2006-09-24 09:35:10 · answer #8 · answered by Cheryl E 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
NO, he gambled on baseball and lied about it. He cut a deal with the commissioner to be suspended for two years and to reapply for permission to get back into the game, but he continued to lie. Had he admitted his gambling and asked forgiveness, it would have been granted, But, he was an arrogant liar and is paying the price that all fools pay. I have no sympathy for him. I wouldn't let him in the Hall of Fame for another reason, he wouldn't take his young daughter to the ballgames with him because he told her she was too fat and would embarrass him.
2006-09-24 09:40:11 · answer #9 · answered by Superstar 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes. Others who have done worse are in the Hall of Fame.
2006-09-25 04:53:29 · answer #10 · answered by Tony M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋