Pete Rose not recognized by Topps as MLB all-time hits leader
Topps recognizes Barry Bonds but not Pete Rose. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Topps is refusing to recognize Pete Rose as the MLB all-time hits leader who was banned in 1989 from baseball and deemed ineligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame amid findings that he bet on games as a player and manager.
In a report Wednesday from ChicagoSideSports.com, Topps spokesman Clay Luraschi said it was a “simple decision…plain and simple” but would not elaborate on why Rose, 71, was no longer recognized by the baseball card comapny. The former player and manager of the Cincinnati Reds has not appeared on the Topps card, nor has he been referenced on one, since his ban almost 25 years ago.
Despite Topps’ omission of Rose, the baseball card company still recognizes Barry Bonds as the all-time home runs leader. In January, Bonds was denied entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame after he was found guilty on obstruction of justice charges amid longtime allegations of steroid use.
While I understand that Rose not being listed is the result of a permanent ban from the game, it is almost always embarrassing when people try to whitewash history.
Pete Rose was "Charlie Hustle" when he set the major league record for hits. His gambling on baseball occurred
after he stopped being a full time player. Granted he was wrong betting on baseball but what he did after his playing career ended should not be held against him. Which has the greatest impact, a player on PED's, which can alter his level of play and change the outcome of a game, or someone who bets on a game. Who is the real cheater? Topp's and MLB are hypocrit's. There is no consistency in there decision. PED users should be excluded if Rose is.
@RIchardTheryoung Pete Rose is as guilty of illegal PED usage as any modern player.
I'm a Yankees fan and have no personal attachment to the Reds or Pete Rose. Did he bet/gamble on games - yes. But due to the way he played the game (like few ever have), I don't see where this impacted any games as far as wins and losses. Pete Rose ALWAYS played to win. On the flip - you're going to tell me the owners don't bet on games? These people bet on everything. And what punishment should an owner get when he insists his team tank the season or do what the owners have done with the Marlins over the years? As far as the steroid era players: any player found 100 % guilty or obstructed and investigation is also guity. They should have been banned from the game immediately and all their stats removed from the record books. Hits leader: Pete Rose, Home Run Leader: Hank Aaron, Single season HR record: Roger Marris. To all the non cheaters out there - your all in the hall of fame on my vote.
Way to go SI - your crack web team really dropped the ball with your aggregation skills here. Topps CAN'T identify Rose on an MLB-licensed card, lest they find themselves in a legal quandry. The decision was made by MLB, not Topps. To understand WHY Topps can't ID rose on their cards - since you failed to do any substantive research on your own - click here: http://www.beckett.com/news/2013/02/pete-roses-exclusion-in-mlb-products-is-nothing-new-and-its-mlbs-call/
@DanGood To be fair, they could have decided to not be an officially licensed product of the MLB and solely create Pete Rose baseball cards.
@DanGood Made you look!
So what if the headline is somewhat misleading, this site needed hits and my editor told me to get them. So lets just leave it at I'm doing my job, well sort of...
@DanGood
The reporter did his job in speaking to a Topps representative. If a company spokesman can't identify a corporate decision/direction on one of the most polorizing sports figures in history then we should question the spokesman not the reporter who asked a question to the right location.
By the way, Topps has recognized Rose as the all-time hit leader:
http://www.amazon.com/Topps-Baseball-Lifetime-Cincinnati-Philadelphia/dp/B008MBZIF6
@Michael10 That card's from 1986. He was banned in 1989...
This just in: History refuses to recognize Topps as an authority on anything, ever.
who do they recognize as the most home runs in a single season then ??
One of the hardest working ball players EVER!
You people are crazy. Here you have a man that made baseball history (that still holds to this day) and are wipping him clean off the charts for a mistake he made and admitting it, that DID NOT include any kind of drugs or alcohol, but yet you still acknowledge other players with drug and alcohol use, and criminal charges. People,.....WAKE UP!!!!! He paid his dues for his mistakes. In my eyes he is still one of the greatest EVER!!! He belongs in THE HALL OF FAME. PERIOD! cj_masotto@yahoo.com
@chrismasotto Did he take drugs or get sent to jail? No. Did he break a rule that has been posted, from what I've read, in EVERY SINGLE locker room in its organization from Rookie ball to the Show? Yes. That's why Pete Rose is not and likely won't ever have a bust in Cooperstown. Does he deserve to be there? For his playing success, yes. The best solution is induct him into Cooperstown but keep him away from stadiums in all roles but fan. This way everyone gets most of what they want, the purists keep Rose's role limited, the fans can see Charlie Hustle's bust, and the media can finally move on.
@jrholtman @chrismasotto
I bet you've never been in any locker room in MLB so do not say that something is posted that you actually never saw. What a friggin' buffoon.
@TURFKING No, I haven't. That's why I specified "from everything I've read." Maybe you should pay a little more attention before shooting off colorful names.
BTW, do you happen to have the experience of visiting a professional bseball locker room? If not, you have no room to blast me in the first place.
@TURFKING @jrholtman @chrismasotto its called metaphor moron
that ending is rediculous. He didn't get in because of his obstruction of justice charge. Get your speculation right.
I'm sure all the writers were on the fence but once that obstruction of justice charge came down they finally decided not to vote for him. Afterall, who could vote for a monster who was convicted of obstruction of justice?
Well I'm not an expert on the opinions of the writers but I believe the steroid era as a whole is the reason as to why, not only Barry but, many other athletes didn't get in. And if your logic is correct, which I kind of doubt, than a play like Ray Lewis won't get in the NFL Hall of Fame as he was not only convicted of Obstruction of Justice, but plead guilty (albeit to prevent a manslaughter and/or second degree murder charge).
nick, you might want to spell 'ridiculous' right ...