Some Ohio lawmakers say the greatest player in major league baseball has been barred from the sport for far too long. Legislators are putting forth bills in both the Ohio House and Senate to try to get Pete Rose re-instated into the sport.
Pete Rose has been banned from baseball for life because he bet on games as the Manager of the Reds. Democratic State Senator Cecil Thomas from Cincinnati says the man often called “Charlie Hustle” is simply one of the best players in the history of the game and deserves to be reinstated.
“It’s not fair to Pete as well as the public who supports him to say never," says Thomas. "That’s just not fair. He’s paid his dues. And we expect folks who pay their dues… we give them a fresh state. Pete should have been given a fresh start a long time ago."
Thomas’ resolution calls on the Baseball Writer’s Association of America and the National Baseball Hall of Fame to include Pete on the next Hall of Fame ballot. The proposal has bipartisan support in both the Ohio House and Senate.
Rose has already been given permission, by the league, to participate in this summer’s All Star Game in Cincinnati.