C. Hustle

- Alex

How did Pete Rose earn the nickname 'Charlie Hustle', anyway? I'd just like to get the digression out of the way right here at the outset of the article. The hustle part I can understand, the dude always ran. He even ran out walks (or was that Chris Sabo?). But Charlie? I don't get it. I suppose I could look it up...

Returns from searching Google... Ok, so I guess Whitey Ford gave him the nickname as an insult. I can dig that. A good random Charlieing never hurt anyone. Hopefully Whitey was drunk at the time.

In any event, what we're here to talk about today is the recent hub-bub about Pete Rose meeting with Bud "Publicity Nightmare" Selig about a possible reinstatement into the game. Frankly, I was gonna let it pass. So many other respectible journalists have covered this, including a brilliant column by Rob Neyer, readable here. I didn't think I really had anything to add, and I'm really not sure I'm adding anything to Mr. Neyer's column, but I'll give this a crack anyway.

You see, Cal "I've got nothing better to do than flip the coin at the Fiesta Bowl (So that should give you an idea about the insane amount of free time I've got now) Ripken was quoted yesterday as saying that one Mr. Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame based on his accomplishments while playing the game. It's a fine sentiment, Rose is after all the owner of the record for hits by a professional ballplayer (he may hold other records I'm not aware of as well). But you know what? I'm fairly certain he's already "in the Hall" for that. I browsed a bit around the Hall of Fame website (baseballhalloffame.org), and among other listings, a search for "Pete Rose" turned up an online exhibit for players with at least 3000 hits. I'm guessing if you actually go to the HoF, you can probably see memorabilia from the game where Rose broke Ty Cobb's record. Yes, that's a guess, someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. My point is there's a HUGE difference between Rose's playing accomplishments and what he's done since then to tarnish both himself, and the game.

(Digression Two: What was Ripken doing at the Fiesta Bowl? Did he go to Miami? Ohio State? Does he really, really like Tostitos? I want an explanation.)

Let's start with one argument that no one can deny. See that nice picture above of Pete on the field? Wouldn't it be cool if that's how we could remember him? Here's how he's made his success lately:

That's right, selling his name. A lot. A lot a lot. Like, tons. The dude sells his autographs, and makes a big business out of being Charlie Hustle. Are you gonna tell me that, in the spirit of love after getting readmitted to baseball, Rose is suddenly going to charge less for an autograph by (to invoke the Jim Palmer rule here) Hall of Famer Pete Rose? Yeah, that's what I thought too. If he's ever reinstated and admitted to the HoF, Pete stands to make more money. Seems to be a theme with this guy.

On to the more controversial bits... Rose bet on baseball. There's strong evidence that he bet on the Reds while he was managing (to win). There's conjectural evidence that he bet against the Reds, but that seems to be on a bit more shaky ground than the first two. However, it has also been stated that Pete bet so frequently on the Reds, that when he didn't it was a signal that he didn't think they could win.

Before we get any further, read the following MLB rule, which is posted in every clubhouse in the game:

BETTING ON BALL GAMES. Any player, umpire, or club official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform shall be declared ineligible for one year.
Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.

That's Rule 21(d), and you can bet that Pete Rose knew it existed when he was betting on baseball games. So why did he do it? Well, like many Americans, Pete seems to think he's not responsible for his own actions. I'm fat? I'll sue McDonald's. I spilled hot coffee on my groin? I'll sue McDonald's. I knifed a couple folks? If the glove does not fit, you must acquit. I bet on baseball games I was managing? What's it to ya?

What's appalling is the sheer number of people who agree that Pete has somehow "done his time" and should be rewarded with a reinstatement. All he's done in the years since he's been banished is say "I didn't do it" in the face of evidence to the contrary and make money off his name. What's so great about this guy? He hit a baseball a lot and ran over a catcher in an all-star game. That's it! He hasn't learned any lesson here, and if you think he's gonna change if he gets back in, you're more gullible than I give you credit for.

The worst part about all this is that Rose bet on games he was directly involved in. He may not have bet money to lose... but who's to say that he didn't harm his team trying to win the bet for that day? Maybe he overworked his best pitcher that day and caused an injury down the road. Maybe on the days he wasn't betting he didn't think as hard about setting his lineup and substituting during the game to have a chance to win. It's just my opinion, but baseball isn't about ONE game. It's about winning as many of 162 as you can. But when a large sum of money is riding on ONE game, I think human nature says the other 161 can be damned. And I don't see anything out of Pete Rose that makes me think he'd think any differently.

So maybe it wasn't a Shoeless Joe (I'm not going there, don't worry)-style fixing of games. But it was a kind of fix. And personally, I wouldn't watch sports if I knew the outcome was pre-determined. (I don't watch wrestling, and it's not a sport. Get over it.)

One final point... America was outraged when Jim Gray badgered Pete at the all-star game a couple years back. Kudos to America. Jim Gray is an ass who's made a living out of trying to intimidate athletes (not the brightest lot to begin with) with inappropriate questions on national television. However... please don't interepret this as being in any way for Pete Rose.

I have nothing against Pete Rose the ballplayer. He was one of the best, and his feats will be recorded in history. Folks will say that Charlie Hustle could sure play ball. He's already capitalized off that fame in a way we should not condone. Let's not give him any further opportunities. Instead, let's talk about some gents who played the games to win games. Like Eddie Murray. And Gary Carter. What's that? I just heard 8 million Red Sox fans having flashbacks to '86. Suckers. Ha ha.

I'm out. Peace.

 


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