Reds Inducting Pete Rose Into Team Hall Of Fame, Retiring His Number
CINCINNATI (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Pete Rose is headed to the hall of fame -- the Cincinnati Reds' hall of fame, that is -- the team announced Tuesday.
The Reds' announcement came after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred last month rejected Rose's application for reinstatement. Manfred concluded that baseball's career hits leader continued to gamble even while seeking to end the lifetime ban imposed in 1989 for betting on numerous Reds games while playing for and managing the team.
The Reds' team hall of fame induction is planned for the weekend of June 24-26. The Reds will also retire Rose's No. 14.
Rose, 74, began and played most of his career with his hometown team.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991 adopted a rule keeping anyone on the permanently ineligible list off the ballot. Rose said after Manfred's decision that he still held out hope he would one day be inducted into the national hall.
Manfred said last month that his decision continuing the MLB ban was separate from any determination on National Baseball Hall of Fame eligibility. He added that while Rose remains banned from working for any major league team or minor league affiliate, he could make ceremonial appearances with the commissioner's approval.
At the time, Reds' chief executive Bob Castellini said the club was pleased "to have opportunities to commemorate Pete's remarkable on-field accomplishments." He said any future celebrations involving Rose would be discussed first with the commissioner. Rose has rejoined his teammates from the 1975-76 world champions in recent years in on-field reunions and other ceremonies in Cincinnati.
"I haven't given up on Cooperstown," Rose told reporters Tuesday. "I'm not the type who's going to give up on anything. But this is fine. I'm happy. And I'm not going to say this is the second best thing because it's not. It's not. Maybe it would be if I weren't from Cincinnati, because I'm from Cincinnati. This is the first big thing."
On Tuesday, Castellini said in a statement that inducting Rose into the Reds' hall will be "a defining moment" in franchise history.
"He is one of the greatest players to ever wear a Reds uniform, and it will be an unforgettable experience watching him being honored as such," he said.
Rick Walls, executive director of the Reds hall of fame and museum, said "in front of his fans and with his teammates, 'Charlie Hustle' will be recognized for his contributions to the rich and distinguished history of the Reds."
The club's hall of fame board chose Rose as the sole inductee for this year. Ken Griffey Jr., who will be inducted into the national Hall of Fame this summer, was among the latest inductees to the Reds' hall, which has 85 members.
It already has much of the "Big Red Machine" team, including the late manager Sparky Anderson. Rose will be the last inductee from the regular starting eight of Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, David Concepcion, George Foster, Cesar Geronimo and Ken Griffey Sr.
During his 24-year career, Rose batted .303 and had 4,256 hits. He also played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos.
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