Sports
Reflections on Pete Rose, the Hall of Fame and the spot where his plaque will never hang
I know exactly where Pete Rose’s Hall of Fame plaque should have been hanging — for the past three decades.
You’d have found it in the middle of a powerhouse cluster in the plaque gallery — nestled in between the plaques of Tom Seaver and Reggie Jackson. Among others.
Thousands of baseball fans would have gawked at it by now. I can still imagine them, reading that plaque and trying to comprehend that more than 23,000 men have played in Major League Baseball — and Pete Rose got more hits than any of them.
But that’s what could have and should have happened, in a What-If World in which the Hit King was known only for those 4,256 hits and not for … well, so much else.
For three decades, it has saddened me to gaze at that spot on the wall in Cooperstown, N.Y., and reflect on why Rose’s plaque was missing from this Land of the Legends. And on Monday, that sadness only grew, as the news spread that Rose had died, at age 83.
I’ve said and written many times that Pete Rose was the saddest baseball story I ever covered. Now let me explain where that sadness comes from. Like so many others who knew him, it comes from the inescapable thought that his story shouldn’t have ended this way.
Pete Rose was so good at baseball. But more than that, it was so much fun to watch him play baseball. He was a daily fireball of dust and dirt, line drives and headfirst bellyflops, quips and quotes that made you laugh out loud.
He was a Rookie of the Year at 22, an MVP at 32 and still the league leader in hits at 40. The Pete Rose Show was something, all right.
He got a hit in 44 games in a row. He passed Stan Musial to set the all-time National League record for hits. He passed Ty Cobb to lead the whole continent in hits. He was a walking, talking, baseball history museum. And he knew everything about everything that anyone could possibly have stuffed inside that museum.
He was the most magnetic baseball figure of my lifetime. And I don’t say that casually. I’ve thought about this for years. We couldn’t stop watching Pete Rose any time he set foot on a baseball field. We couldn’t stop talking about him when he stepped off that baseball field.
He had an infectious smile. He sprinted to first base after all 1,566 walks. He could turn on his nightclub act and entertain you any time that came in handy. He could make himself the center of the baseball universe. He was the most powerful presence in every room he ever entered.
If only we’d spent the last few decades talking about that guy.
But once the truth began to seep out about that other world Rose lived in, it would never be the same. If only there had never been such a thing as gambling. If only the Hit King hadn’t gravitated toward so many of the unsavory figures in that other world. If only he hadn’t left so many other troubling allegations in his wake, particularly involving his treatment of women. If only …
If only he’d understood that he wasn’t bulletproof. If only he’d taken it all more seriously when the commissioner, Bart Giamatti, asked to talk with him about these gambling allegations the commissioner’s office had caught wind of. If only that had been a wake-up call … instead of the impetus for the suspension that would define Pete Rose for the rest of his life.
It’s now 35 years since I sat in that ballroom in New York where Giamatti announced that he was banning “Mr. Rose” for life for gambling on his own team. I’ll never forget the murmur that rippled through that room as the commissioner uttered those words on Aug. 24, 1989. How could this be happening – Pete Rose’s career ending not on a ballfield but in a ballroom?
That felt all wrong — but not because Giamatti’s decision was wrong. Because the man he was suspending had made so many wrong turns and so many wrong decisions that he brought that fate on himself.
Except it turned out that was not the end of the story. Over the next 15 years or so, Rose had his chances maybe not to get reinstated and work in baseball, but to at least get himself onto a Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. Of course, you know how that worked out.
He had so many chances to save himself. But whatever it was he needed to do to make that happen, it felt as though he did the opposite. Over and over and over again.
Pete Rose connects for his 4,192 career hit to surpass Ty Cobb as baseball’s Hit King. (Bettmann / Getty Images)
In 2002, his friends, Mike Schmidt and Joe Morgan, arranged a secret meeting between Rose and Bud Selig, then the commissioner of baseball. The Hit King had to know he would never have a greater opportunity than this one.
Selig spelled out what baseball expected of him if the league was even going to consider adjusting his life sentence. Rose would need to stop gambling — all the gambling. He would need to stop hanging out at all those casinos and racetracks.
And finally, there was this: He would need to hold a press conference — to admit to his “crime,” to admit that yes, he’d bet on baseball, to apologize to everyone he’d betrayed and to promise none of this would ever happen again. They shook hands. And then …
Rose walked out of that meeting and headed directly for an appearance at a sports book in Las Vegas. The commissioner and those around him were furious. Rose’s fate was sealed forever that day. It’s hard to argue it was anyone’s fault except his own.
I’ve known since then exactly how this saga was going to end. I’ve known since then that Pete Rose’s Induction Day in Cooperstown would never arrive. I’ve known since then that there would always be that spot in the gallery where his plaque would never hang. I’ve known since then that I’d be writing this column, on the day he died.
But knowing this was coming doesn’t make it any less sad.
Can you feel that sadness and yet understand that no one was more responsible for how this ended than Rose himself? I believe you can. Why can’t both things be true? I think it’s possible — even sensible — to have two sets of Pete Rose memories.
The hits, the hustle, the records, the indelible moments, the laughs, the fun that flowed from watching the Hit King play baseball — I’m not banning those for life. I’ll think of them forever and smile.
But the turn the rest of his life took — why would I not look at that with sadness? I think about what should have been, and I wish he’d done so many things differently.
It’s strange to think now that he was suspended “for life” by Giamatti. And now that the “lifetime” part of his suspension no longer applies, does that mean that someday, there could be a door the league might open to allow Pete Rose a place in the Hall?
Why not? It never made sense to me that the Hall of Fame wouldn’t find some sort of way to honor the man who got more hits than anybody who ever stood in a batter’s box.
Why isn’t it possible to celebrate all the hits while honestly acknowledging the other side of the story? Why can’t his plaque do both? That’s what I’d do if I was the “Plaque Czar.”
But you know and I know that’s not what will happen. I’ve met many writers who feel as though Rose served his time, so if he ever appeared on our ballot, they’d vote for Pete Rose, the Hit King, even if they had issues with Pete Rose, the Bet King. But it’s a waste of time even to think about that. There’s a better chance of Taylor Swift appearing on our ballot than there is of Rose ever appearing on the writers’ ballot.
And even if Rob Manfred or some future commissioner were ever to change his mind, what version of any veterans committee would ever elect him? Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens found out two years ago that their door is still slammed shut. So why would we think Rose would be any different?
Could Pete Rose end up in Cooperstown? At the moment, it’s difficult to see a pathway. (Getty Images)
And now that he’s gone, it could never carry the same meaning anyway. I’ve always wondered what Pete Rose’s Induction Day would have looked like. Haven’t you? How many baseball fans would have spread out on those Cooperstown hills to hear that speech?
What would he have said that day? What would the other Hall of Famers have said about him? How many would have found something else to do that weekend? It would have been an Induction Day unlike any other — one we would have talked about for decades.
Just like the Hit King himself.
It’s going to take a little while for this to sink in. For as long as I’ve been covering baseball, there has always been Peter Edward Rose to make our lives far more interesting. He was always there, any time we needed a column topic on a slow day. And everyone who knew him had a story to tell.
Now there’s one thing I know for sure. I’ll never forget the life and times of Pete Rose — but especially when I walk through the halls of Cooperstown and stare at that spot where his plaque should hang.
Required reading
(Top photo of Pete Rose in 1984: George Gojkovich / Getty Images)
ORLANDO, Fla. — Well, the glass-one-quarter-full perspective on the Bronny James Show this weekend is to say it could have been worse. But it certainly could have been better.
The NBA G League Winter Showcase came to Orlando, Fla., this weekend, and with the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to assign James for this event, he immediately became the star attraction, with both games nationally televised.
This was a 20-year-old rookie playing his third month of professional basketball, and I’ve certainly seen more tragic performances from young prospects learning the hard way at this level. But on a court mostly filled with players whose NBA careers will be measured in 10-day increments, James failed to stand out and at times struggled to keep up.
He got off to a hot start in his first game Thursday en route to a 16-point, five-assist night but struggled badly in the second one (six points, seven assists, six turnovers) and was plagued by cringe ballhandling miscues in both. Single-game plus-minus is pretty unreliable, but James taking home a minus-13 in a game his team won by 16 on Saturday conformed with the general eye test.
Based on James’ other G League performances, these two games were not outliers. James drew attention earlier this month by scoring 30 points in a G League game against the Valley Suns, but that was far and away his best outing. In his other seven games at this level, he’s shot just 24 of 76 with an alarming turnover rate.
No, we don’t have this level of scrutiny for other late second-round round picks, many of whom have struggled just as badly or worse in their first two G League seasons (*cough* Maxwell Lewis *cough*). At least three players drafted ahead of James have been demonstrably worse in their G League minutes this season, and several others have failed to distinguish themselves as notably better.
But if you’re looking for something to get excited about, Lakers fans, I’m not sure I have much for you just yet.
Let’s start with the positives. James showed some flashes of pick-and-roll viability in his on-ball reps, especially when he could start the move with a hard dribble left around the screen. He was comfortable getting to a right-handed floater going that way and judicious about snaking it back to his right hand to either get to the rim or force a rotation and hit the big man.
In grab-and-goes and other transition situations, his hit-ahead passes were on point and caused problems for opponents. James also showed his two-footed leaping ability at times, including an impressive traffic rebound Saturday and a flying swat in transition.
Unfortunately, that didn’t offset the other areas in which he fell short. Generally a player ready to contribute at the NBA level will cook G League defenses pretty easily, especially an aspiring guard. James’ South Bay teammate Devonte’ Graham, for instance, rolled in off his couch and scored 24 on Saturday after going unsigned following his 2023-24 season in San Antonio.
For James, that did not happen. He struggled to control his dribble at several points, a red flag for a small guard who is listed at 6-foot-3. In Saturday’s second half, he committed the holy trinity of turnovers trying to bring the ball up against pressure, getting his dribble picked on one trip, failing to clear the backcourt in eight seconds on another and wandering back into the backcourt on a third. Asking him to play the point feels like a complete non-starter.
In the half court, he could work with a screen, but isolations were a different story. James has no wiggle to his game and couldn’t shake defenders in one-on-one matchups after switches and hasn’t established himself as a legitimate 3-point threat either on or off the ball. He made two of his eight attempts from 3 in Orlando and is 7-of-33 from distance in his G League season. Between that and his limited ability to get to the cup on his own steam, his true shooting percentage of 45.4 heading into Saturday was alarmingly poor.
Of perhaps equal concern is that James’ likely role at the NBA level would be as an athletic energy guy, but his motor just doesn’t seem to run that hot and cut out at several different points. James is a good athlete with a strong frame, but you don’t “feel” him in the course of a game because his activity level is so low. Notably, there were several moments when he lazed back in transition rather than sprinting back to interfere with an opposing break; off the ball, he wasn’t nearly as active or handsy as you would hope for a small guard.
In what is perhaps a related story, fatigue seemed to be a real issue for him in both games, especially after a few minutes on the court. It was only two games, but watching him here, it sure seemed like he’d start each stint on the court with two or three good minutes, and then his glitch rate would go through the roof soon after.
Ultimately, the takeaway from many here to chronicle his performance was to go ahead and get familiar with our surroundings, because we’ll probably be doing the same thing again next year. The same can be said of a lot of the players here, especially the late draft picks, but only one of them is the son of a legendary superstar.
(Photo of Bronny James: Scott Audette / NBAE via Getty Images)
Sports
Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes eases ankle injury concerns, sets personal rushing mark on touchdown run
The status of Patrick Mahomes’ ankle was widely discussed leading up to Saturday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans.
While there was some doubt during the week whether the star quarterback would play against the Texans, he was able to fully get through the Chiefs’ practice Thursday.
Mahomes was cleared to play and finished Saturday’s 27-19 victory over Houston with 260 passing yards.
But the three-time Super Bowl winner turned some heads when he managed to stay on his feet after nearly being tripped and sprinted into the end zone for the first score of the game.
Patrick Mahomes (15) of the Kansas City Chiefs runs past Danielle Hunter (55) of the Houston Texans in the first quarter of a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium Dec. 21, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (Jason Hanna/Getty Images)
Mahomes was sidelined in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ Week 15 game against the Cleveland Browns. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz stepped in for Mahomes and finished the 21-7 win over the Browns with 20 passing yards.
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Mahomes’ 15-yard scramble Saturday marked the longest rushing touchdown of his career. Moments after Mahomes crossed the goal line, broadcaster Noah Eagle wondered, “What bum ankle?”
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass during the first half against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 21, 2024. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)
This was not the first time Mahomes dealt with an ankle injury.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes chews his mouth guard during warmups before a game against the Denver Broncos Nov. 10, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File)
During the 2022 NFL postseason, Mahomes sustained what appeared to be a high ankle sprain in a divisional round playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The win over the Texans improved the Chiefs’ record to 14-1. Kansas City had already clinched a playoff berth after winning the AFC West a ninth straight year.
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Don’t doubt the Eastvale Roosevelt Mustangs this basketball season. Runner-up to Harvard-Westlake last season in the Southern Section Open Division final, the Mustangs return most of their top players and gave everyone a reminder of how good they could be by winning the Tarkanian Classic Platinum Division championship on Saturday at Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas.
Roosevelt (11-1) fell behind by as many as 15 points in the early going before handing Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (12-1) its first defeat 76-58. Brayden Burries, considered the best unsigned senior in California, was named tournament MVP and finished with 26 points. Issac Williamson had 19 points and Dominic Copenhagen 10.
Notre Dame trailed 35-34 at halftime and by 10 points after three quarters. Lino Mark received little playing time because of an apparent injury. Tyran Stokes had 20 points and 11 rebounds while Zachary White added 18 points for Notre Dame.
Redondo Union 79, Layton Christian 66: The Sea Hawks (10-1) took third place in the Platinum Division of the Tarkanian Classic. Hudson Mayes made 10 of 15 shots and finished with 24 points. SJ Madison added 18 points.
Leuzinger 75, Denver South 66: In overtime, Leuzinger won its division in the Tarkanian Classic. Joshua Garland scored 23 points and tournament MVP Malachi Knight had 17 points for 10-3 Leuzinger.
Seattle Rainier Beach 82, Westchester 74: Tajh Ariza scored 36 points in the loss for the Comets.
Chatsworth 75, Wilsonville (Ore.) 45: Alijah Arenas had 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Chancellors (8-1) in Oregon. Tekeio Phillips added 13 points.
St. Pius X-St. Matthias 88, Arizona Basha 67: Harvard-bound Douglas Langford Jr. finished with 37 points.
Camarillo 76, Righetti 27: The Scorpions improved to 12-1 behind Jackson Yeates and Cajun Mike-Price, both of whom had 16 points.
Saugus 64, Palisades 62: Bryce Mejia made the game-winning basket for Saugus and finished with 17 points. Max Guardado led the way for the Centurions with 25 points.
Santa Margarita 87, Murrieta Valley 64: Kaiden Bailey made five threes and finished with 18 points and Drew Anderson added 18 points for the 8-1 Eagles.
Foothill 65, Ventura 42: Lorenzo Turner had 15 points for 10-3 Foothill.
Heritage Christian 67, Oakwood 23: Tae Simmons made all 15 of his shots and finished with 30 points for 12-0 Heritage Christian.
Girls basketball
Sierra Canyon 75, Nevada Democracy Prep 47: The unbeaten Trailblazers (8-0) won their division of the Tarkanian Classic. Center Emilia Krstevski led the way with 23 points.
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