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Sportswriter Jeff Pearlman thinks Pete Rose is “the grossest human being on the planet,” but he also thinks he should be in the Hall of Fame and explained why in a TikTok video this week.
Pearlman, who has written books about the 1986 New York Mets, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Bo Jackson, so he has spent a lot of time in and around the game of baseball. He has gathered a treasure trove of insider knowledge over the years that gives him a unique perspective on the game.
This week, he expressed his opinion on one of baseball’s long-running debates: Pete Rose and whether he belongs in the Hall of Fame.
“Pete Rose is the grossest human being on the planet,” Pearlman said in a new TikTok video. “He’s truly disgusting in every way, shape, or form. He’s gross. There’s just no getting around how disgusting, vile, disturbed, awful, selfish, self-absorbed Pete Rose is. We all know that.
“He also bet on sports, bet on baseball, violated every rule about gambling. When he was banned from the game and ineligible for the Hall, I was all pro. I really was. I just thought ‘You f—– up, man. You f—– up.’
“Now baseball has gone all-in, one million percent on gambling. Like a million percent. It is all-in on gambling. Gambling sponsorships. Lines everywhere, etc., etc. Since baseball made that decision, you have to let Pete Rose in. There’s just no doubt about it. You just have to let Pete Rose in. Because you can’t condemn the gambler but embrace gambling. It doesn’t work that way. So, he deserves it.”
@jeffpearlmanauthor Pete Rose belongs in the baseball Hall of Fame. I don’t love it, but he does. #peterose #halloffame #mlb #reds #cincinnatireds #writersoftiktok #sports ♬ original sound – Jeff Pearlman
Is Jeff Pearlman’s logic here on Pete Rose and the Hall of Fame flawed?
Many people in the comments section of his TikTik video thought so.
“There are CONSEQUENCES when one partakes in actions that put the integrity of your livelihood in danger,” one person wrote. “Rose put himself in this position, PLUS he agreed to the ban. ABSOLUTELY no HOF, end of story.”
“Betting on your own sport, especially on a team you have lineup control over, is the worst crime,” another replied.
“Allowing gambling advertising is very different than condoning illegal betting on your own team – especially when that rule is posted in every clubhouse,” read another comment.