On Double Standards

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente had played major league baseball for 18 seasons before being tragically killed in a plane crash on December 31, 1972. During that long career with the same team, he had become a fan favorite for his actions both on and off the field. He was adored by fans across baseball and intent on helping others, especially young people.

Roberto Clemente with a young, admiring fan

Clemente making a spectacular play in the field

His statistics are proof of his professional expertise as a player. He won 12 consecutive Gold Glove awards, appeared in 15 All-Star games, won the National League batting title four times, and was the 1971 World Series Most Valuable Player. He had an even 3,000 hits during that career and a lifetime batting average of .317.

Off the field during the off season, Clemente was busy doing charitable work. When Nicaragua was hit by a devastating earthquake, he planned a trip to deliver humanitarian aid to the people there. He was en route to deliver that aid when his plane crashed. His body was never found.

Immediately after Clemente's death, the Baseball Writers' Association met and waived not only the mandatory five-year waiting period for consideration of a player for the Hall of Fame but also the provision of a six-month waiting period for any player who dies during his playing career. He was thereby elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. And he certainly deserved to be there.

Pete Rose played for three different teams during his 24-year major league career: Cincinnati Reds (18 years), Philadelphia Phillies (5 years), and Washington Nationals (1 year).

Pete Rose, a switch hitter, batting left

During that time, he amassed the following records: Most games played, most at bats, most hits, and most singles. Many of his singles were the result of his style of play, running out every ball he hit as fast as he could. He even ran to first when he got a walk; hence, his nickname: "Charlie Hustle." He famously admitted, "That's the only way I know how to play. I play to win."

He was on teams that won three World Series titles and was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1975 World Series. He was selected to 17 All-Star teams--in 5 different positions! He won three National League batting titles, won two Gold Gloves, was the Rookie of the Year in 1963, and was the National League Most Valuable Player in 1973.

Rose was also a player-manager of the Reds for two-and-a-half seasons--at the age of 43, when most major league players (except knuckleball pitchers) have long since hung up their spikes, gloves, and bats.

Rose aggressively sliding home to score ahead of the throw

As impressive as Clemente's statistics are, Rose's far surpass them in many categories. For example, Clemente had 9,454 at bats; Rose had 14,053. Clemente scored 1,416 runs; Rose scored 2,165. Clemente had 3,000 hits; Rose had 4,256. Clemente walked 621 times; Rose walked 1,566 times. Clemente had 83 stolen bases; Rose had 198.

Overshadowing Rose's illustrious career, however, is his ban from baseball for life over his having bet on baseball games while a player and a manager.

Rose was not known for his philanthropic or charitable work; neither was Clemente known to have bet on baseball. In looking back at how these two players were treated, however, there is an obvious and glaring double standard. For Clemente, who was by all indications an affable, well-liked person, the rules concerning when a player could be considered for the Hall of Fame were easily and quickly waived. Apparently, they didn't apply to him.

For Rose, who was not universally liked and in some circles actually was detested for his caustic personality and intense style of play (e.g., his collision with Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game), however, all rules applied--and then some. He was banned from not only participation in baseball but also from ever being eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame.

But since when did personality or style of play enter into consideration for the Hall of Fame? Ty Cobb was not well liked as a person, and players disliked his intensity of play; yet, when it came to the Hall of Fame, it was his statistics that were the only consideration, and he was voted in based on his achievements. And that's as it should be. Forget the person and look at what he did, what he accomplished.

Clemente, undoubtedly, belongs in the Hall of Fame--for his play on the field, not for his off-the-field activities and certainly not simply because he was a nice, likable guy who was tragically killed. Hall of Fame voting is not to be a sympathy vote.

The booklet by Rose and McLain that I devoured as a kid learning to play the game

Neither is it to be a weapon of vengeance or retribution, as I believe it has been in Rose's case. In many ways, he "rubbed me the wrong way" as a fan of the game. He had attitude, and I disliked that, especially when he played with the "Big Red Machine" against my beloved Atlanta Braves. But as a kid learning to play baseball, I revered him and his "hustle." I even bought and read and reread a little booklet that he and Detroit pitcher Denny McLain coauthored, How to Play Better Baseball. I especially liked his hustle when I lived in Pennsylvania and he was part of the Phillies "Wheeze Kids," a team of relatively older players.

I was saddened to learn that Rose had bet on baseball. It revealed yet another flaw in his personal character. That he lied about it for a time before finally admitting it was yet another character flaw. But he never bet against his team; he always bet on them to win, which eliminated any hint that he had somehow "thrown" or "rigged" any game. None of those facts condone his conduct or imply that he shouldn't have been disciplined. But his eligibility for the Hall of Fame should consider only his statistics, not his character flaws.

In my humble opinion, Clemente and Rose were treated by a double standard. And why, if Rose was justly treated for betting on baseball games, does major league baseball now promote during televised games fan betting on gambling programs such as Fanduel? If it was wrong for Rose then, it's wrong for fans now.

Clemente deserved to be in the Hall of Fame but only at least six months after his death or five full calendar years after leaving baseball, just as has been required for all other players. Rose also deserves to be in the Hall of Fame based solely on his playing record.

If there are going to be rules, they should be followed across the board, and there should be no resect (or disrespect) of persons. No double standards, either for or against any player.