Herald wire services
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Pete Rose is appealing directly to baseball’s Hall of Fame to restore his eligibility, arguing the lifetime ban he agreed to in 1989 was never intended to keep him out of Cooperstown.
A seven-page letter to Hall president Jeff Idelson on Tuesday makes the case that the settlement agreement reached by Rose and then-Commissioner Bart Giamatti didn’t include a provision that he be ineligible for election to the Hall of Fame.
“At the time Pete agreed to the settlement, the consequences of being placed on the ineligible list were clear and specific — and did not include a Hall of Fame prohibition,” according to the letter, signed by Rose’s longtime attorney Raymond C. Genco and attorney Mark Rosenbaum.
The Hall of Fame changed its bylaws two years after Rose’s banishment to make permanently banned players ineligible for the Hall, which shut out the career hits leader as long as he remained barred from baseball.
Genco is asking the Hall to amend that bylaw specifically to allow Rose to be eligible for baseball writers to elect at their discretion.
“We believe that the institution of Baseball will be strengthened by this act of grace — an act that would give Pete Rose the same treatment that every other Major League Baseball player and manager received throughout the first 55 years of the National Baseball Hall of Fame,” the letter said.
In a statement, Idelson said, “Pete Rose remains ineligible for Hall of Fame consideration, based on the Hall of Fame’s bylaws, which preclude any individual on baseball’s ineligible list from being considered for election.”
Cubs reward Epstein
PITTSBURGH — President Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs have agreed on a five-year contract extension.
Epstein, who has overseen a mass rebuild of a franchise in serious contention to win its first World Series since 1908, and Chairman Tom Ricketts were scheduled to be in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night to announce the new deal.
“In the five years under Theo’s leadership, he has brought in a strong executive team and acquired and developed some of the best players in the game,” Ricketts said in a statement on Wednesday. “Now, the results are on the field. My family and I have no doubt that we have moved closer to our goal of delivering Cubs fans the World Series Championship they deserve.”
ChiSox: Ventura can return
Robin Ventura has managed the White Sox to five straight seasons without the playoffs, but the team reportedly will retain him beyond this season if he wants to return.
Ventura’s contract expires after this season, and many viewed him on the hot seat, as he has compiled a 373-432 record since being hired before the 2012 season. That includes a 76-81 record with five games to play this season.
But according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Sox front office refuses to blame Ventura for the club’s issues and will give him a new contract should he want to come back.
Tebow homers on 1st pro pitch
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New York Mets prospect Tim Tebow homered on the first pitch he saw Wednesday in his instructional league debut against the St. Louis Cardinals club.
Tebow hit a high fastball in the bottom of the first inning over the left field fence off Cardinals prospect John Kilichowski, a left-hander who pitched for Vanderbilt University and two minor league affiliates for the Cardinals this year.
The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner finished 1 for 6 at the plate.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
