Let Pete Rose into Hall of Fame

In the end, all the debates, all the excuses and all the platitudes didn’t matter.

Major League Baseball said Manfred contacted Rose on Monday to inform him of the ruling.

Pete Rose broke one of MLB’s most widely known and cherished rules back when he was employed by the Cincinnati Reds.

“And, significantly, he told me that now he bets recreationally and legally on horses and sports, including Baseball”, Manfred wrote. “Those bets may have been permitted by law in the jurisdictions in which they were placed, but this fact does not mean that the bets would be permissible if made by a player or manager subject to Rule 21”.

“Rose initially denied betting on baseball now and only later in the interview did he “clarify” his response to admit such betting”, Manfred wrote. The Hall’s series of veteran committees, many comprised of Rose’s peers, might take an even dimmer view of welcoming Charlie Hustle to Cooperstown.

Manfred upheld the lifetime ban that was posed upon Rose, which was first instituted in 1989 by first-year Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti.

And when a paper trail follows you and sheds light on previously unreported claims that you did in fact gamble as a player, well, the guilt should be punishment enough, but it isn’t, because baseball has other ideas.

But Manfred didn’t need to base his decision on Rose’s demeanor.

Manfred said in his verdict that Rose didn’t have a “mature understanding of his wrongful conduct”.

“As such, Pete seeks to be judged not simply by the mistakes of his past – but also by the work he has done over the last three decades in taking responsibility for his actions – constantly working to remain disciplined, compassionate and grateful”. Manfred said Rose presents “an unacceptable risk”.

On Monday, Dowd called Rose a liar who doesn’t deserve a second chance that admitted or accused performance-enhancing drug users such as San Diego Padres bench coach Mark McGwire and new Miami Marlins hitting coach Barry Bonds have received. Rose resubmitted his application for reinstatement in late February 2015.

Here’s Manfred’s statement regarding his decision.

And that’s really the point here.

Rose, who amassed a record 4,256 hits during his 24-year playing career.

Manfred believes betting went further: The commissioner cites recently uncovered notebooks of one of Rose’s associates who was also known to be his bookie. If Manfred wants to condemn his betting on baseball, then fine, I’m okay with that. He just does not know how to tell the truth.