by Chris Humpherys

Created on: July 30, 2007

"The banishment for life of Pete Rose from baseball is the sad end of a sorry episode. One of the game's greatest players has engaged in a variety of acts which have stained the game, and he must now live with the consequences of those acts. By choosing not to come to a hearing before me, and by choosing not to proffer any testimony or evidence contrary to the evidence and information contained in the report of the Special Counsel to the Commissioner, Mr. Rose has accepted baseball's ultimate sanction, lifetime ineligibility."

It's been nearly twenty years since late baseball Commissioner Giamatti uttered those fateful words. And during that period, few sports stories have drawn as much media attention or polarized a fan base as the Pete Rose gambling scandal. Hardcore Cincinnati Reds or Pete Rose fans will have you believe that Rose, because of his performance on the field as a player, should be allowed admittance into the Hall of Fame. Rose was undoubtedly one of the greatest hitters of his generation. He holds countless major league records. His on-field legacy is undeniable and no one can take that away from him. Those opposing his induction argue that Rose, as a major league manager, wagered on the outcome of baseball games, including those he was involved in, and thus violated the most basic and ethical rules of the sport. As it stands right now, Rose is still banished from the sport and there are no indications he will be invited back any time soon.

The Rose story first broke in 1989, when baseball officials announced they were looking into alleged gambling violations by the former Reds superstar. At that time, Rose was managing in Cincinnati. In May of that year, Commissioner Giamatti received the infamous Dowd Report, a 225-page document outlining Rose's alleged illegal activity. In August, Rose agreed to a lifetime ban, all the while admitting he never bet on baseball. In 1991, members of baseball's Hall of Fame voted unanimously to keep Pete Rose off the ballot in his first year of eligibility. In 1997, Rose applied unsuccessfully for reinstatement.

After lying to the public and his fans about his gambling habits for over a decade, Rose has in recent years come forth and admitted he did, in fact, bet on baseball. In 2003, Rose, after years of deception, admitted that not only did he bet on the Reds every game, but he would wager as much as $10,000 per game on his team to win. He said he did so because he always felt his team would be victorious. Rose

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