I’m torn - do I think he should have been banned from the HOF - no.
Do I think he should have been banned from the game - yes.
Bottom line is he did it to himself - and instead of coming clean, lied for a decade plus about his betting before coming clean. He had a chance for reinstatement if he would have been honest from the start - but lied and did himself in.
It’s in every MLB clubhouse with the rule about gambling. Rose isn’t the first and won’t be the last - it happens regularly in the minors - just too much gambling goes in with young guys bored and with a bit of $$ for it not to happen.
At the same time - Pete DID get acknowledged a few times as part of celebrations of the teams he played with. It wasn’t a celebration of Pete the player solo - but he was acknowledged for the teams he played with and got the loudest cheers.
Pete the person was far from someone to be celebrated- he played hard - but he was also someone who refused to take responsibility for his actions. He blamed everyone but himself for his downfall for the longest time. He could have simply stepped away from the game for a bit - gambled and been welcomed back as royalty - but he was too hard headed to accept that. He needed to blame others and it cost him.
So it’s more appropriate he’s remembered after he’s gone I guess. No point in rewarding his childish behavior and making him think he was right all along. Great player - flawed human.
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