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Baseball’s Forgotten Son On July 23, 2000, Sparky Anderson, considered one of the best managers in the game of baseball, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Sparky remains the only manager to win the World Series in both the American and National Leagues and has won a title with two separate teams. His accomplishments include three World Series titles, seven divisional titles, and five pennants. All these wins have led to a .619 winning percentage in the post-season (National). Being inducted into the Hall of Fame was something that Sparky had worked his entire career for and his moment of glory had finally come. That particular bright and beautiful day in July had a Cincinnati theme to it. Sparky Anderson managed in Cincinnati, and was particularly famous for managing the Big Red Machine, the powerhouse group of 1976 that many have called the best team ever. Cincinnati Reds first baseman Tony Perez stood on the podium with Sparky, honored for years of hard work at first base. A major leaguer for twenty-two years, he was finally being rewarded for decades of hard work and perseverance. Legendary Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman was honored with the Ford C. Frick award, which recognizes those in the broadcasting field who have made major contributions to the game (National). Similar to Perez, Brennaman had been a Reds broadcaster for over twenty-five years and had been with the team in both first and last place. These three men had worked hard their entire careers in order to gain Hall of Fame recognition, and their moment had come. Three stars from the same legendary team inducted on the same day would be cause for celebration, wouldn’t it? The 2000 Hall of Fame inductions were bittersweet for many fans of the game as it reminded them of the greatest mistake in baseball. Peter Edward Rose, arguably the best hitter to ever play the game, remained outside of the Baseball Hall of Fame. While his former teammates and associates celebrated a memorable day inside the Hall of Fame, Rose sat in a tent and watched the ceremony on television. While fans stopped by the tent to have him sign memorabilia and pose for pictures, Rose took it all in stride, waving to smiling supporters of his cause (MacGregor). As much public support that Pete Rose has, he will never be allowed back into the game of baseball unless the acting commissioner raises the lifetime ban. Eleven years earlier, on August 24, 1989, Pete Rose was permanently banned from America’s pastime because of his involvement with bookmakers and felons and apparently betting on baseball. While gambling on baseball was the major charge against Rose, a signed agreement between then-baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti and Rose stated that there was no formal finding on the subject of Rose’s betting on baseball (Rose and Kahn 232). Rose did so much to help the game of baseball. It would be a shame for him to be wrongly punished for something without concrete evidence of his guilt. Pete Rose broke onto the scene in 1963 as an unpopular rookie. He had amazing talent, but most of the veteran Reds players were threatened by Rose, especially then-second baseman Don Blasingame. Blasingame had batted .281 in the previous season, and no one expected there to be any competition for his job at second base. But Pete Rose was different.
Approximate Word count = 2257
Approximate Pages = 9
(250 words per page double spaced)
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