Some Ohio lawmakers believe a “living legend” needs to represent Cincinnati when the Major League Baseball All Star Game is played July 14 at Great American Ballpark. No one would better reflect the host city and state’s baseball history like hit king Peter Edward “Pete” Rose, says a resolution introduced in the Senate Monday.
Just one little 25-year problem with that: Charlie Hustle’s banned from baseball.
That’s what Ohio state Sen. Cecil Thomas, D-Avondale, who sponsored the resolution, hopes can be changed with the plea from the Ohio legislature to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to reinstate Rose.
The resolution asks the fourth commissioner since Rose accepted a lifetime ban, to remove the 17-time major league All-Star from the permanently ineligible list “as soon as possible.” The resolution also urges the Baseball Writers’ Association of America to include Rose on the Hall of Fame Ballot.
Then-Commissioner Bart Giamatti banned Rose from the game in 1989 for betting on ball games, including those he managed for the Reds. No evidence was found Rose ever bet against the Reds.
Rose, who turned 74 this month, played for the Reds from 1963-1978 and was a linchpin of the dominating, two-time World Series champion Big Red Machine of the ‘70s.
The concurrent resolution, which has no legal sway over Manfred’s decision, was cosponsored by Sens. Shannon Jones, R-Clearcreek Twp.; Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati.; and Jim Hughes, R-Columbus.
A bill cleared the Senate last week also — also prompted by the MLB All Star Game coming to Cincinnati — that will allow some cities to create districts where open alcohol containers are permitted.
