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I'm possibly not the one to do judgement. I never saw him play as a player or as a manager. I know the sport, I occasionally watch the sport. I even like the sport, with some reservations, but I certainly don't know enough about it. It's my offhand opinion that he should certainly be in HOF. Ten, thirty, years ago. He is numerically one of the best there ever was. Is that not the main criteria for HOF? I've always been of opinion that sportsman achievements should stand by themselves, we simply don't know how good or bad some people are in their private lives. Possibly the biggest philanthropist is a bad person, and the most outspoken hater, does have a good heart hidden inside. I suspend my verdict on all public persons because of this. I don't idolise anyone, and I try not to condemn anyone as well.
Regarding Pete Rose. Wasn't his playing career near flawless? One of the best hitters ever, he hit extremely well in an era that was pitcher friendly. His biggest detraction is that he was a bad manager, that he did wrong as a manager. But he would not get into HOF as a manager, that's a different criteria. His main player drawback is often cited that All Star game, where he injured an opposing catcher. As I understand it, It wasn't a meaningless game, it wasn't a meaningless play. It was a play that decided that All Star game. Yes, he injured a player, that player had playing consequences, but he really didn't end his career. He ended being a game commentator. Would he get that job if he wasn't known as a player that Pete Rose injured in an All Star game? Who knows. Another thing, here I'm probably at a loss regarding baseball rules. As I understand them, it was Pete Rose that was in the right at that play. Catcher could then block the plate, if he did, runner had the right to crash into him. It's a nonsensical rule to me, and I believe that it was changed lately, but per rules, Pete Rose did nothing wrong, he just played the game as it was allowed.
Again, I may be very wrong on that one. Despite that, even if he did bad on that play, he should still be in HOF. Put an asterisk next to his name, mention his bad behaviour as a manager, but just put him in there.
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