Hall of Fame

He's a man that has accomplished a lot in Major League Baseball.

All-Time Leader: Hits (4,256)
All-Time Leader: Games Played (3,562)
All-Time Leader: At-Bats (14,053)
All-Time Leader: Outs (10,328)

He's won 3 World Series Championships, 3 Batting Titles, 2 Gold Gloves, 1 MVP, Rookie of the Year and 17 All-Star Appearances.

His only blemish? He bet on baseball.

For that reason, Pete Rose has not and probably will not be inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame and that my friends, is a crying shame.

He has done too much to be ignored year after year by the "powers that be" in the MLB. He agreed to a permanent ban from baseball in 1989 - with the understanding that after a year they would review his case. Twenty years later, his ban is still under review.

Let's be honest, what Pete Rose did was wrong. He knew that as long as he was involved in the game, he could not gamble on Major League Baseball games. He violated that rule by betting FOR (never against) the Cincinnati Reds - the team he played and managed. So yes, he does deserve to be punished but I think the time has come for forgiveness.

There are murderers and rapists who get out of jail in less than twenty years - and yes I realize it's comparing apples to oranges but I just wanted to make a case that there's more important things in life than holding a vendetta against a man who made a mistake.

If he had bet against the Reds, I could see a case being made that he tainted the sport. He could have tried to throw games in order to make money. But by betting on his team to win - what's the problem?

So here we are in 2009, and "Charlie Hustle" is still banned from baseball and unable to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Talk about hypocrisy.

We're living in an era where the truth is coming out - many players who have held records or were once considered sure bets to enter the Hall of Fame - have been found to be playing with performance enhancing drugs.

Those who test positive face some stiff suspensions.

1st Positive Result: 50 Game suspension
2nd Positive Result: 100 Game suspension
3rd Positive Result: Lifetime Ban

So let me get this straight. A player uses performance enhancing drugs - it not only improves his game but arguably changes the outcome of games and/or seasons. Yet they need to be caught three times before getting a lifetime ban.

Pete Rose bets on his own team - which has no effect on how he manages or plays a game - and is banned for life.

Where's the sense in this?

Again, if he had bet against his team I wouldn't be so quick to defend him, but I think it's time that we forgive him and let him enter the hall where he deserves to be honoured.

As a player, he was one of the all-time greats and for that he should be in the Hall of Fame. So make the right decision - put Pete Rose in the Hall.