10 Years and Counting ...

DURING THE 1970S, Pete Rose earned the nickname "Charlie Hustle" for playing baseball with a "give-it-your-all" attitude. By the rime he retired, in 1986, Rose had a career total of 4,256 base hits--making him baseball's all-time hit leader. But baseball officials say Rose was hustling more than just around the bases. In the late 1980s, he was accused of gambling on baseball games when he was the manager of the Cincinnati Reds.

In 1989, after an investigation of Rose's gambling activities, baseball commissioner Bart Giamatti concluded that Rose had bet money on baseball games, including Reds' games. Rose eventually admitted to betting on football games and horse races, but he did not admit to betting on baseball. Soon, however, Rose accepted a lifetime ban from baseball. The ban prevents Rose from taking part in any activities connected to major-league baseball. It also prevents him from being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Recently, Rose has said he wants the ban lifted and to be considered for the Hall of Fame. Rose said he might sue Major League Baseball in order to reverse his lifetime ban from the game.

A Tough Call

John Dowd, the lawyer who investigated Rose, wrote a 200-page report that included tape recordings, fingerprints, and testimony of associates connecting Rose to betting on baseball games. Dowd said, "If [Rose] did adroit to betting on baseball, we'd all support him to ... get into the Hall of Fame."

But Rose insists he never bet on baseball games. He says he wasn't given the opportunity in 1989 to argue against Dowd's allegations.

Unfair Treatment?

Rose's critics say the former superstar should accept his punishment and move on. Steve Buckley, a sportswriter, wrote, "Rose has become one of the game's most unwelcome guests." Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn says he will never set foot in Cooperstown, N.Y. (the home of the Hall of Fame) if Rose is admitted.

Others, though, think Rose's deeds as a player outshine his alleged misdeeds as a manager. Attorney Gary Spicer said, "Even if [Rose] bet on baseball ... ten years out of the game is enough."

President Bill Clinton commented on Rose's situation in an interview in People magazine. Clinton said, "I think just about everybody ought to get a second chance. I'd like to see it worked out, because [Rose] brought a lot of joy to the game, and he gave a lot of joy to people, and he's paid a price."

Should Pete Rose be allowed into baseball's Hall of Fame?

RELATED ARTICLE: Baseball Commissioner

The position of baseball commissioner was created on January 12, 1921 as a result of the scandal of the 1919 World Series. During that series, eight members of the Chicago White Sox allegedly took bribes from gamblers to intentionally lose the series. The commissioner's office was set up to "assure that the public interests would first be served, and that therefore, as a natural sequence, all existing evils would disappear." Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis was elected the game's first commissioner. The commissioner is empowered to investigate actions alleged or charged to be detrimental to the best interest of baseball, and to hand out punishments when appropriate. Allan H. "Bud" Selig is currently serving as baseball's ninth commissioner.

RELATED ARTICLE: Baseball Hall of Fame

Baseball Hall of Fame, located in Cooperstown, New York, is one of the best-known sports shrines in the world. The Hall of Fames serves as a repository of sports memorabilia as well as individual and team accomplishments. Cooperstown was the home of Abner Doubleday, who is considered one of the founders of baseball.

The Hall of Fame was officially dedicated on June 12, 1939. Attendance at the Hall of Fame is approximately 350,000 people each year.