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My opinion on this sways back and forth from time to time. I'm willing to listen to arguments now about why he should be in, but in my mind, I'm not convinced.
Was he a great player? Yes. Should he be in based on the merits of his playing career? Hell yes. However, As far as everything says, he bet on baseball, and that is subject to a lifetime ban if you are caught. It doesn't say you are banned if you are racist, or beat your spouse, or anything along those lines. However, if you bet on the game, and are caught, you are banned. Pete was banned for betting, and at least through the laws of baseball, is banned for life.
After he dies, could he be inducted? Maybe, but in my mind, I need to see Joe Jackson inducted before Rose gets in. I mean, Jackson was found innocent by a jury when it came to throwing the 1919 series, and if he did throw it, he did a pretty bad job at doing it. I don't know if he had contact with gamblers about it, but batting around .375 in the World Series is certainly not trying to throw it. If Jackson somehow, someway finds a way in, I'm all in favor of Pete Rose getting in. Until then, he can be the guy that got embarassed at three straight Wrestlemanias for all I care.
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