Pete Rose to Finally be Enshrined into Cooperstown

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name of Pete Rose? Depending on your age, you will either imagine Charlie Hustle as the all-time hits leader, an old man after his playing days trying to make amends for past discretions, or a legendary baseball player who was banned from baseball because of betting on America's pastime. No matter your view, Safe Online Gaming is hopeful that President Donald Trump can convince Major League Baseball commissioner, Bob Manfred to allow Pete Rose to finally be enshrined into Cooperstown.

It's Time for Pete Rose to Enter the Hall of Fame

Cooperstown baseball immortals has felons, steroid users, deadbeat fathers, philanderers, cheaters and others who were enshrined for their play on the field versus their personality off. Yet, even with other greats like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemons, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa getting the snub (we feel all of these guys should enter the Hall); Pete Rose acceptance seems to be more controversial than Shedeur Sanders recent slide in the NFL draft. It is solely because he bet on the game of baseball while he was a manager for the Cincinnati Reds. This has always been the one unforgivable sin, that has plagued the White Sox players such as "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, but recently brushed under the rug when LA Dodgers Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani was linked to betting on the summertime classic.

Since 1876 through July 2024, there have been over 20,698 ballplayers, and the closest person to Pete's 4,256 hits was Ty Cobb with 4,189, making them the only two players with over 4,000 hits. Players such as Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, Derek Jeter, Honus Wagner, Albert Pujols, Tony Gwynn, Rod Carew, and many others have all fallen short of the All-Time Hit King. The switch-hitting utility player, who covered positions like outfield, second base, third base, and first base, achieved over 3,000 hits from the left side of the plate and more than 1,000 hits from the right side. Even considering only his hits from the left side, he would still rank in the top 1% of all-time hit leaders in their careers.

Charlie Hustle, a nickname given to him by those who watched him play, wasn't the most athletic player in the league, but he could always control his level of effort across the 3,562 games he played, a Major League Baseball record. During one of his 17 All-Star appearances in his 24-year career—one more than Mickey Mantle and two more than Yogi Berra—he famously collided with the catcher from the American League to secure a 4-3 victory for his National League team. No one else was selected to the mid-summer classic in as many positions (second baseman, left fielder, right fielder, third baseman, and first baseman), and in 1969 and 1970, Rose earned both of his Gold Gloves as an outfielder.

Pete had a passion for winning, contributing to his teams' victories in three World Series (Cincinnati Reds in 1975 and 1976, and Philadelphia Phillies in 1980). In his pursuit of becoming the greatest in the game, Pete was honored as the Rookie of the Year in 1963. Despite this, he chose to serve his country by joining the United States Army Reserve after the season. He was stationed at Fort Knox for six months of active duty and spent six years with the 478th Engineering Battalion USAR unit at Fort Thomas, Kentucky. In 1973, he won baseball's Most Valuable Player Award, surpassing Pittsburgh's slugger Willie Stargell, and was later named to the MLB All-Century Team in 1999.

Betting on baseball or any sport as a player is unethical and improper. It undermines the game's integrity and fosters distrust among fans who appreciate the entertainment. Maybe if online casinos such as Sweepstakes Online, Caliente Casino and Sugar Shack were available to play exciting online slots, poker, craps, roulette, blackjack and other inspiring sweepstakes games; Rose could have satisfied his adrenaline rush by gambling safely while protecting his identity and this wouldn't be an issue.

With his recent passing, we feel Pete Rose to finally be enshrined into Cooperstown is only a matter of time, a travesty that alluded him for over 30 years while he was alive.