Pete Rose, 20 years later...HOF or not?

[shilala]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Jack

Most definitely he needs to be let in as a player. You can go in as both a player and a manager. His stats as a player would have made him a first ballot hall of famer.

From 84 to 86 he was a player/manager.
He broke Ty Cobb's all-time hits record as a player/manager.
That makes things a bit more sticky and confusing.

I think Pete screwed up from the get-go because he was pretty egotistical. Had he just said "hell yeah, I love gambling, and I love my boys, and I'm sorry and I won't do it again", he'd have been embraced, cause everyone loved Charlie Hustle.
He's a knucklehead though, and he had a serious gambling problem that's obvious to anyone who's ever followed his ups and downs. Whether he's ever got that under control, I don't know.
Add to all his other accomplishments on the field, he's also a Vet.
We should send him some cigars.