http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/31/sports/b...all/31GAMB.html

 

Rose May Say He Gambled on Baseball in New Book

By IRA BERKOW

 

Published: December 31, 2003

 

 

 

A new autobiography of Pete Rose is scheduled to hit bookstores next week amid widespread expectations that Rose will use it to admit publicly for the first time that he bet on baseball games while managing the Cincinnati Reds.

 

The book, "My Prison Without Bars," has a huge first printing, 500,000 copies, and is being handled in secretive fashion by the publisher, Rodale Press, which has embargoed the book until Jan. 8, when Rose will take part in interviews about the book's contents.

 

Rose was barred from baseball in August 1989 for gambling on sports events, but not specifically on baseball games. Since then, he has denied that he bet on baseball, despite significant evidence to the contrary. But there were hints over the last year that Rose, who has the most hits in major league history, now understood that he would have to make such an admission to win reinstatement to baseball and entry to the Hall of Fame, and that he was prepared to do so.

 

In fact, a major league official said yesterday, Rose made such an admission when he met with Commissioner Bud Selig in Milwaukee on Nov. 25, 2002. The official, who said he was aware of what was discussed at the meeting, said that Rose was asked by Selig if he had bet on baseball and that he replied that he had.

 

The official said Selig responded to Rose's admission by noting that every clubhouse in baseball had a sign stating that gambling on baseball was prohibited and he proceeded to ask Rose why he had so blatantly ignored the warnings.

 

The official said that Rose "never gave much of an answer." But perhaps he will in the book. The very fact that Rose told Selig 13 months ago that he had bet on baseball strongly suggests that Rose will make the same acknowledgment in the book. Otherwise, he would have a lot of explaining to do to Selig, who will ultimately decide whether to end Rose's exile.

 

The Jan. 8 release of the book, which Rose wrote with Rick Hill, will come two days after the results of the annual Hall of Fame vote are announced. Although Rodale said the timing was coincidental, there has been speculation that the book's release was being linked to the vote, so that it can be argued that Rose, with his admission in print, should now get his plaque in Cooperstown.

 

The embargo imposed by Rodale restricts bookstores from opening shipments of the book until Jan. 8. Reporters who will be interviewing Rose on that day will receive advance copies on Jan. 7 but cannot write about the book until after the interview. All this, and a first printing of 500,000 copies, which David Black, a Manhattan literary agent, called enormous. In comparison, a recently published sports book by Rodale, the autobiography of the basketball star Oscar Robertson, had a first printing of 39,000 copies.

 

"I don't know what's in Rose's book," said the major league official, "but there's got to be something in the book that's worth all this."

 

Warren Greene, Rose's business agent, declined to comment on the contents of the book.

 

Rose already has an autobiography, "Pete Rose: My Story," which was written in 1989 with Roger Kahn. In it, Rose said that the investigative report that led to his ouster from baseball was "tainted" and that he had never bet on baseball games.

 

Eight years later, Rose applied to baseball for reinstatement. Gary Spicer, the lawyer who did the filing for Rose, said yesterday that the only reason he took on the task was "because Pete convinced me that he did not bet on baseball."

 

"If he did, I would be surprised," he said.

 

One person who would not be surprised is John Dowd, the Washington lawyer who compiled the report that led to Rose's ouster from baseball 14 years ago. His report left little doubt that Rose bet on baseball games, including ones played by the Reds.

 

At the news conference announcing Rose's "banishment for life," A. Bartlett Giamatti, who was then baseball's commissioner, said of Rose: "In the absence of a hearing and therefore in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, I am confronted by the factual record of the Dowd report, and on the basis of that, yes, I have concluded that he bet on baseball."

 

And, he was asked, on the Reds?

 

"Yes," said Giamatti, who also said that Rose would have to reconfigure his life if he wanted to return to baseball.

 

Now Selig is the commissioner and Rose's fate rests with him. He is aware of support for Rose ? his meeting with him in November 2002 came a month after Rose was showered with "Hall of Fame!" chants when he appeared on the field in San Francisco before Game 4 of that year's World Series ? but he is also aware of recent reports that Rose has been a regular visitor to Las Vegas casinos, where he bets, legally, on football and horse racing but not on baseball. Whether that suggests that Rose has not sufficiently changed his ways will be an issue for Selig to decide.

 

In any case, said the baseball official, no reinstatement of Rose is imminent. He retired in 1986 and became eligible for the Hall of Fame five years later. Although he cannot be voted on because he is barred, his 15 years of eligibility in the annual balloting by writers have been ticking away. His last year of eligibility is for the class of 2006, which will be voted on in December 2005.

 

If he is reinstated after his eligibility expires, he could be voted into the Hall by the reconstituted Veterans Committee, which meets every other year.

finally

he didnt say it yet..

this bastard should not be in the hall with everyone else. he borke the rules, he should have an asterisk or something

this bastard should not be in the hall with everyone else. he borke the rules, he should have an asterisk or something

and juiced up First Basemen should not be playing on the team that the world sees as The Prime Representative for American Baseball.

 

But I don't see an asterisk on said baseball player

What juiced up first basemen? Are you referring to giambi? I bet he's juicing and I don't like that he is. The rules are the rules, but it seems that the rules on gambling are stricter than substance abuse.

Pete Rose is the greatest hitter of all-time (yes, over Cobb and Williams) and you're an idiot if you think he should be kept out of the HOF. What he did off the field as a manager should have nothing to do with what he did on it as a player.

 

BUT, I do not think he should be allowed back in the game.

 

Yes to the HOF, no to reinstatement.

nobody is over teddy ballgame

Pete Rose is the best pure ballplayer that has ever lived.

 

Now that he out of the River Denial, maybe the Wendy-o-cracy that is the Brewers/MLB Commissioners Office can get him in the Hall. History is history.

Pete Rose is the best pure ballplayer that has ever lived.

 

Now that he out of the River Denial, maybe the Wendy-o-cracy that is the Brewers/MLB Commissioners Office can get him in the Hall. History is history.

This is ridiculous what because he has the most Josh, it means he's the best? So Rickey Henderson is the best player ever?

 

And Cape, he's the best pure hitter ever... So I guess the fact that Teddy Ball Game hitting 400 was common, the fact that he gave up his best years to defend his country while if he hadn't he most likely would have had 700 Home runs and a few more 400 seasons. That doesn't matter but because Pete Rose has the record he's the best please. He was great but their's a reason he doesn't top most lists.

Pete Rose is the best pure ballplayer that has ever lived.

 

Now that he out of the River Denial, maybe the Wendy-o-cracy that is the Brewers/MLB Commissioners Office can get him in the Hall. History is history.

This is ridiculous what because he has the most Josh, it means he's the best? So Rickey Henderson is the best player ever?

 

And Cape, he's the best pure hitter ever... So I guess the fact that Teddy Ball Game hitting 400 was common, the fact that he gave up his best years to defend his country while if he hadn't he most likely would have had 700 Home runs and a few more 400 seasons. That doesn't matter but because Pete Rose has the record he's the best please. He was great but their's a reason he doesn't top most lists. amen dood

 

nobody over teddy ballgame. nobody. he is the best hitter tha t ever lived.

 

and when he was in teh war he was a fighter jet pilot and one of the best pilots the usa had cuz of his awesome eyesight. he is awesome. and hes in the fishing hall of fame to .

 

teddy ballgame is da man. nobody come close to him in all of baseball. nobody. i dont care who u say and what stat u pull up. nobody .

Rose is better. Ted played in a hitter's paradise while Rose played in the large NL stadiums of his time.

I don't even want to get into this argument, but people have done much worse things and are in the hall. I believe he's payed the price and should be let back in.

Rose is better. Ted played in a hitter's paradise while Rose played in the large NL stadiums of his time.

Once again if he played in Large NL Stadiums than answer me this...

 

Who has more 400 seasons and by what difference?

 

Also how many years did Pete Rose miss in his prime?

teddy ballgame is da man.

 

:cool

This story is not new, I saw a Pete Rose interview several years ago where Rose admitted "betting on baseball." But he also denies betting on baseball while being active participant in the MLB game. Pete Rose goes on to say that he still gambles and that the Casinos are one of his financial supporters thru sports celebrity appearances and autograph signings.

 

Rose probably also collects his MLB pension which starts at age 45.

 

But also, I have seen copies of Rose's betting slips where MLB claims Rose gambled on games that he managed.

Banned from MLB? . . . Yes!

Banned from HOF? . . . . No!

Banned from MLB? . . . Yes!

Banned from HOF? . . . . No!

agreed

Rose is better. Ted played in a hitter's paradise while Rose played in the large NL stadiums of his time.

Once again if he played in Large NL Stadiums than answer me this...

 

Who has more 400 seasons and by what difference?

 

Also how many years did Pete Rose miss in his prime? Who has the rings? Who has the winning record as a manager?

Who has the winning record as a manager?

What does Rings or A Record as a manager have ANYTHING to do with being the best hitter?

 

Please answer this question and not try to run around it. You said best pure hitter why not back it up with facts that have things to do with being the best hitter.

Rune..I said he was the best pure ballplayer. He was good all around. He had all those hits, he played for many years consistantly, he could hit homers, he was clutch, he could swipe a base, he could make a solid defensive play. He helped turn your damned Phillies around a bit in the 70's.

Here is what I said rune

 

Pete Rose is the best pure ballplayer that has ever lived.

Here is what I said rune

 

Pete Rose is the best pure ballplayer that has ever lived.

Cape, do you really feel the need to edit your posts just to try to prove your point?

 

But if you want to do ballplayer Once again you say his managerial skills mean something, what does that have to do with him being a ballplayer. I have yet to see Jack Mckeon pinch hit himself into the game.

 

Also you bring up rings, Does that mean that Darren Daulton is a better baseball player than Barry Bonds? Or what about David Eckstein is he better than ARod because he has more rings? What about Juan Encarnacion is he better than Ted Williams because he has more rings than Williams?

 

Rings are through the team as a whole not through one player, the only sport where one player has enough influence is Football and that's the quarterback.

 

Now Cape, I answered your questions stop skipping around mine, Who has more 400+ seasons and what's the margin and also how many years did Pete Rose miss in his prime compared to Ted WIlliams?

Finally!

 

Now he can go to the Hall of Fame in peace.

 

He should of done this earlier.

Here is what I said rune

 

Pete Rose is the best pure ballplayer that has ever lived.

Cape, do you really feel the need to edit your posts just to try to prove your point?

 

But if you want to do ballplayer Once again you say his managerial skills mean something, what does that have to do with him being a ballplayer. I have yet to see Jack Mckeon pinch hit himself into the game.

 

Also you bring up rings, Does that mean that Darren Daulton is a better baseball player than Barry Bonds? Or what about David Eckstein is he better than ARod because he has more rings? What about Juan Encarnacion is he better than Ted Williams because he has more rings than Williams?

 

Rings are through the team as a whole not through one player, the only sport where one player has enough influence is Football and that's the quarterback.

 

Now Cape, I answered your questions stop skipping around mine, Who has more 400+ seasons and what's the margin and also how many years did Pete Rose miss in his prime compared to Ted WIlliams? I did not edit my post Rune. :angry

 

Once again you say his managerial skills mean something, what does that have to do with him being a ballplayer.

He was a player-manager. His over .500 record proved that he still was able to win even through his last years in baseball.

 

Also you bring up rings, Does that mean that Darren Daulton is a better baseball player than Barry Bonds? Or what about David Eckstein is he better than ARod because he has more rings? What about Juan Encarnacion is he better than Ted Williams because he has more rings than Williams?

You accuse me of dodging auestions, but you can't admit that head to head, Rose has the rings and that makes him even MORE better.

 

Rings are through the team as a whole not through one player, the only sport where one player has enough influence is Football and that's the quarterback.

What about a pitcher or player-manager?

 

Now Cape, I answered your questions stop skipping around mine, Who has more 400+ seasons and what's the margin and also how many years did Pete Rose miss in his prime compared to Ted WIlliams?

 

Ted Williams played in an era of high scoring, small ballpark, and lacking pitching. Rose was in era many would say had some of the largest ballparks, lowest scoring and some of the best pitchers the game has ever seen.

Now Cape, I answered your questions stop skipping around mine, Who has more 400+ seasons and what's the margin and also how many years did Pete Rose miss in his prime compared to Ted WIlliams?

I did not edit my post Rune. :angry

 

Once again you say his managerial skills mean something, what does that have to do with him being a ballplayer.

He was a player-manager. His over .500 record proved that he still was able to win even through his last years in baseball.

 

Also you bring up rings, Does that mean that Darren Daulton is a better baseball player than Barry Bonds? Or what about David Eckstein is he better than ARod because he has more rings? What about Juan Encarnacion is he better than Ted Williams because he has more rings than Williams?

You accuse me of dodging auestions, but you can't admit that head to head, Rose has the rings and that makes him even MORE better.

 

Rings are through the team as a whole not through one player, the only sport where one player has enough influence is Football and that's the quarterback.

What about a pitcher or player-manager?

 

Now Cape, I answered your questions stop skipping around mine, Who has more 400+ seasons and what's the margin and also how many years did Pete Rose miss in his prime compared to Ted WIlliams?

 

Ted Williams played in an era of high scoring, small ballpark, and lacking pitching. Rose was in era many would say had some of the largest ballparks, lowest scoring and some of the best pitchers the game has ever seen.

I saw what I saw Cape, until you can prove to me that you didn't post he's the greatest pure hitter, I'm calling your bluff

 

Now Cape stop telling me that Coaching has something to do with him as a baseball player. So what is Joe Torre one of the greatest baseball players ever, because he had success as a manager as well?

 

Cape stop posting the same exact stuff, Rings are accomplishments as a team you know that as well as I do. Cape, your telling me that Darren Daulton is better than Barry BOnds because Dutch has more rings. That's what I'm picking up considering in your world more rings means a better player.

 

Also I'd like to thank you for helping my side. Rose played in a bigger Nl Park, meaning that obviously his average should have been helped by The Wide Open Spaces, he would have more room to hit the ball while Ted was in a park that you yourself said was small. So answer me this, Why would more room equal a lower average.

 

Now please answer this question, How many years did Pete Rose miss in his prime compared to Ted?

 

Very Simple Question