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CNN/SI users say to let Rose into Cooperstown

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Posted: Friday July 23, 1999 01:12 PM

Pete Rose, the game's all-time hits leader, was banned from baseball and the Hall of Fame for incidents with gambling. Scott Cunningham/Allsport

CNN/SI asked users whether Pete Rose belongs in Cooperstown, and the response was a resounding "yes." Frequent comparisons were made to other players with checkered pasts who have been forgiven, and the consensus seems to be that Rose's accomplishments overwhelm his transgressions.

There is nobody out there that deserves to be in the Hall as much as Pete Rose. How can you put Orlando Cepeda in since he was arrested and did time for an ILLEGAL activity and Babe Ruth being the womanizer and drunk that he was, and all of the racial idiots of their time and not have the all-time hits leader in the Hall? If he is not honorable enough then take EVERY thing that has to do with Pete Rose out of the Hall! Ten years is long enough. How can we have one man decide ids fate, (Bud Selig). Put it to a vote of all living Hall of Famers to see if he is honorable enough for their acceptance.
-- Bill Law, Chatham, N.J.

Let Him In!!!!!! He is arguably the one of the greatest if not the greatest hitter in the history of baseball. He is being punished for something that does not reflect his ability as a player. The justification for banning him is not there. The Hall of Fame obviously reflects athletic accomplishments only, otherwise how could you induct players such as Babe Ruth with his legendary exploits of drinking and womanizing.
-- Bob Petrohovich, Richmond, Va.

Yes he should it is like a chapter in the record book that has been torn out,it is a peice of history, and he has admitted he was wrong and should be alowed in the hall of fame.
-- Bobby Jennings, Texas

YES!!!, He is the best hitter of all time! Charlie Hustle. He played with all his heart, just the way you want your kids to play.
-- Brian Werring, Lexington Park, Md.

Rose should not be admitted. He is a crook and a cheat and a tribute to the greed and marginality that is ruining baseball. Concerning his hits, how many players would be released by a team -- the Phillies -- because they were no longer productive only to be picked up as a marketing stunt by the Reds. Marge Schott sacrificed the credibility of baseball as well as the 1980's seasons for the Reds in guaranteeing that Rose would be able to play until he got the record. Look at his averages over his last four seasons.
-- Dan Code, Boston, Mass.

Of course Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame. OK, so he got caught gambling, possibly even on his own team. But that's personal. With all his accomplishments on the field, not to mention beating Ty Cobb for most hits in a career, he deserves it. A civilian who basically never played the game should not have the final say so. And while we're at it, where is Shoeless Joe?
-- Dan Parson, Jacksonville, N.C.

The real issue with Pete is that the big boys didn't think he came clean on the betting accusation. Whether he did or not is no longer an issue. Lying is no longer a reason to condemn person. Clinton still holds the office of president, right? Let the guy into Cooperstown.
-- Dennis, Louisville, Ky.

Of course, the all-time hits leader should be included in the Hall of Fame! Maybe he bet on baseball, maybe he didn't. If he did, he's not the only manager or player to do so. He's the only one to get "caught" -- but not proven. The people who are the ones to make the decision -- commissioners -- about banning someone from baseball should gather all the facts and then let the world know why he was banned (with proof) and not cut any kind of deal. Not everyone of the players in the Hall are perfect. Some probably did worse things the Rose was alleged to do, but they just never was caught.
-- Derek Rodrigues, Haleiwa, Hawaii

Rose and Shoeless Joe both belong in the Hall. Their achievements on the field were record setting. If off-the-field problems are keeping them out why is Ty Cobb in?
-- Gary Beckham, Austin, Texas

Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame. The Hall is for your accomplishments on the field and he has the most hits than any other player who ever played the game. His other accomplishments on the field warrant being in the Hall as well. Being banned from baseball should not keep him from being inducted into the Hall. You can keep him from coaching, managing because he bet on baseball but you can't take away what he did between the lines on the baseball field. He belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
-- Glenn Miller, Waddell, Ari.

Baseball has always been for the fans, without whom, there would be no reason to play the game, and since the majority of the fans including myself feel that Mr. Rose's performance on the field is the most important thing to consider in whether or not to allow him into the hall of fame, there should be no question in anyone's mind that he should be admitted to the Hall of Fame.
-- Greg Johnston, Charlotte, N.C.

Pete Rose is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best baseball players of all time. There are many players in the Hall of Fame who are far worst people, and not nearly the player that Rose was. Rose reminds me a lot of perhaps the greatest player of all time Ty Cobb. His numbers are remarkably similar, and perhaps even his character is very similar. Bottom line though, so long as Pete Rose is kept out of the Hall of Fame, it ceases to exist.
-- Jeff Swayne, Peebles, Ohio

I can give you 4,256 reasons why Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame. Can you give me two why he should not?
-- Vivek Ramgopal, Lido Beach, N.Y.

If Pete Rose is never admitted to the Hall of Fame, they should close their doors. Period.
-- Joe Melugin, Knoxville, Tenn.

 

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