Pete Rose wants lifetime ban to be lifted
The most prolific hitter in the long history of Major League Baseball wants his lifetime ban lifted. We are of course speaking about none other than former Cincinnati Reds player and manager, Pete Rose.
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Rose is set to manage the minor league Bridgeport Bluefish, an independent team located in Connecticut, for a one night stint tonight in his first baseball action in years.
Rose was ostracized from baseball in 1989 when he was banned for life by then MLB commissioner Bart Giamatti after it was revealed that Rose had been betting on games while he was managing the Cincinnati Reds franchise. Rose denied the accusations for years, but 10 years ago came forward with the truth in his autobiography.
Due to his ban, the greatest hitter of all time has been left out of the Hall of Fame as well. Now, with his short stint return to baseball, Rose is asking the MLB for a second chance in an interview with ESPN:
"I’ve waited 25 years, but I’ve done so because I was the one who screwed up. And if I were given a second chance, I would be the happiest guy in the world."
With Bud Selig set to retire next January, Rose sees an opportunity with the new commissioner:
"I haven’t given up on Bud [Selig]. I’m not glad he’s leaving. He has a love for the game and has been good for it. If the next guy is his best friend, I don’t expect he’ll just turn me loose, but if he isn’t, I hope he has an open mind."
It will be interesting to see if baseball is willing to bring back Rose in the coming years, or if the lifetime ban will continue for the baseball great.