Pete Rose’s heartfelt plea to MLB for ‘second chance’  before his death reignites HOF debate

Pete Rose’s HOF case is to be re-visited once again after a wild uproar in the MLB world following his death at the age of 83 on September 30.

Pete Rose’s heartfelt plea to MLB for ‘second chance’  before his death reignites HOF debate

Pete Rose [Image Credit: Marca]

Cincinnati Reds legend Pete Rose passed away on September 30, at the age of 83. He was found dead at his home by a family member according to a medical examiner of Clark County in Nev. No foul play on his death has been found yet, but there are still investigations going on to find the cause of death.

As per reports, Rose was not under any doctor at that time. His death has pained many as they recall the legacy left by ‘Charlie Hustle’. However, it also re-ignited the debate of his induction into the Hall of Fame after getting banned from MLB for a lifetime.

Pete Rose was banned from MLB after investigations found him guilty of gambling and betting on the sport, including his own team. In his last on-camera interview, he told KTLA-TV that America is a country that gives a second chance, and he hopes the Major League can give him a chance too.

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This is the one country that gives you a second chance. I continue to hope that someday I’ll get a second chance, and I won’t need a third.

Pete Rose on KTLA-TV.

He was banned from the sport during his tenure as the Cincinnati Reds manager in 1989. While Rose initially denied all allegations of gambling, he later admitted his faults in his autobiography ‘Pete Rose: My Story’.

However, considering how betting is now becoming the norm, Rose’s lifetime ban from the sports has been questioned by many. The Reds legend questioned “guys will kill somebody”, “be strung out on drugs”, and “beat their wives” yet are able to make a comeback in the game, so why can’t he be given a second chance?

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Baseball world reacts to Pete Rose’s death and HOF debate

Several critics and pundits reacted to Pete Rose’s passing. While honoring him for his lifetime legacy, they reacted strongly when the HOF debate was brought up. Even fans demanded MLB lift the ban and honor the man whose 4,256-hit record is in a league of itself.

Pete Rose
Pete Rose [Image Credit: People]

Stephen A. Smith was one of the most vocal in this respect. He went off on First Take on Tuesday morning, saying “People make mistakes” but Rose’s betting shouldn’t be the only highlight of his entire career, as he’s done much for the sport than anyone. 

MURDERERS have been let off quicker than Pete Rose has. And baseball wants to sit up there with its high and mighty hypocritical self and literally denigrate this man…We know he hurt himself. We know that wasn’t a good look, but it shouldn’t erase 23 years and they did it anyway. Pox on all their damn houses.

Stephen A. Smith on X.

Before his death, Rose got to reunite with his friends, take pictures, and sign some autographs while sitting on the wheelchair. His friends expressed how “he just wasn’t the same old Pete” and how heartbreaking it was to see him.

To think he reached base almost 6,000 times. 6,000 times. I mean, there’s nobody like him. … Dammit why? Why? You get up and wonder why all of this happened…Gambling is an addiction. Let’s just face it. We know it is and it was for him. But he needed it. He wanted it. He wanted to compete.

Johnny Bench as per David Wysong of Cincinnati.

He expressed how “devastated” he was and how much he cried after learning of his death as Bench “wanted to save Pete” despite the disputes they had between them. Even former MLB commissioner Fay Vincent talked about how “it was really too late” for him to get a chance at HOF induction after all the reputation he gathered over the years.

While there are many who are that Pete Rose should be enshrined in Cooperstown, NY, the legend himself did not want it to happen after his death. He said, “I don’t see much sense in putting me on the ballot after I die.” “There’s nothing I can change about the history of Pete Rose,” he said.

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