Yes, I am sad that Pete Rose passed away. He was a legend and he was a great. I first remember him when he played in the 1980 World Series with the Phillies. When I was 11-12 years old I played on a Little League team called the Reds, and Rose earned his legendary status playing for the Cincinnati Reds. All of that. More hits than any player in history. Legend.

He also bet on baseball games. He claims he never threw a game and he only bet on his own team. He was banned from Major League Baseball for life and good riddance. He always came off to me as if he were an insufferable prick and I had no problem with the ban. No Hall of Fame for Charlie Hustle, even though he does hold the MLB record for hits.

Now that he’s passed, and it is sad that he’s passed for sure, the conversation is going to happen again. Should his ban be lifted and should he be allowed into the Hall of Fame.

I say no. As long as Shoeless Joe Jackson remains banned for betting on baseball, specifically as a member of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox team that threw the World Series (against the Cincinnati Reds, of course) then Pete Rose remains banned too. Rose was a brilliant player but by all accounts he wasn’t even close to as good as Jackson (who was a .400 hitter one season). Who knows what Joe could have accomplished if he’d been allowed to play out his full career. There is also very little evidence of him actually participating in rigging games. Hell, he had a great series in 1919 when his co-conspirators were clearly tanking.

If they lift the ban on Joe Jackson then we can talk about lifting the ban on Pete Rose. Before then? I don’t give a shit what anyone says about Rose. If Jackson remains out then Rose remains out. That’s how it needs to be.

I have spoken.