Pete Rose sits somewhere today wishing. Wishing he could go to the Hall of Fame and talk about the old days. Wishing he could look up and see that plaque that he spent years building hit by hit. That day is beginning to appear as though it will never come, and it is rather sad when you think about it. Pete Rose has done more for baseball than a large percentage of men that are currently residing in the Hall of Fame. That is not right and I will gladly explain why.

Pete Rose’s credentials are unquestioned in the world of baseball and sports. His lifetime numbers say that he is a Hall of Famer, and that is not something that many people that know baseball would even begin to argue. With that a given, the reason Pete Rose is not in the Hall of Fame is purely for moral reasons. Pete Rose bet on baseball. Period. Nothing more, and nothing less. He bet on the game that he loved. Not on his own team, but on baseball games he was not involved in.

While certainly this offense was worthy of punishment, is Pete Rose not being a bit unfairly judged here? It is a known fact that other men in the Hall of Fame committed atrocities that were far worse. Adultery, gambling, alcoholism, and in some cases even felony assault. Yet they sit in the Hall of Fame with proud legacies. Pete Rose was by all accounts a model ball player and person for the most part. He did not find himself involved in scandals or off the field troubles. He stayed pretty damn clean for his Hall of Fame career.

Why the double standard? Quite simply put, the baseball commisioner does not want to step on the wrong toes and reverse the ban on Pete Rose. That seems rather sad as Pete Rose is sure to eventually be enshrined. Chances are, baseball will wait for Rose to pass away before they actually put him in, and it seems as though he deserves so much more. Baseball did not mind riding his popularity during the streak, or when he broke records. They did not mind the revenue he drove for them with his hard nosed style and full on effort.

Baseball should be ashamed of themselves at this point. The man has been punished already. Let it go. The news and media should be screaming for Pete to be put in the Hall of Fame.

Put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame and let it go already. You will feel better when you do.