Bravo, Greg Brown!

It was a thrill to see Pete Rose, one of greatest baseball players of all time, taking in the Pirates-Cincinnati Reds game at Great American Ballpark Monday evening, 17 June. 

An added delight is that when Rose was shown in the stands, Pirates broadcasters Greg Brown adamantly stated his view that Rose should be reinstated to baseball and admitted to the exalted Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.  His motion was seconded by his broadcast partner and former Major League Baseball player, John Wehner.

Rose's downfall was gambling on baseball and initially lying about it.  As readers of my material know, I am not a fan of liars particularly in the ranks of government officials, but I believe that Pete Rose has paid his debt to society and to this great sport after twenty four years of enduring a league-imposed ban. 

Greg Brown pointed out that unlike those players that used performance-enhancing drugs, Rose did not cheat.  Additionally, he has not been accused of betting against his Reds and he has not ever acknowledged that he did.

Pete Rose should be able to enjoy the place in the Hall of Fame that he has earned through being one of the best ever to play baseball.  He is seventy-two years of age and is not likely to live forever.  I hope the League will act with all deliberate speed so that a living Pete Rose may be able to enjoy the reward of which he has surely dreamed.