Baseball Needs Pete Rose

Baseball Needs Pete Rose

   Major league baseball needs a facelift extremely bad. Take this into consideration. Do you know who played in the last two super bowls? Now, do you know who played in the last two world series? Die hard baseball fans will be able to answer the second question, but other people will have to really think on it for a moment. My point is this, baseball has become dull and boring, sorry but it has. Empty stadium seats can be seen in all parts of this country. Followed by the surplus of unsold merchandise. Fans across this nation are crying out for the old ball game, but their cries fall on the deaf ears of team owners ,officials and the commissioners office. Are we not the ones that buy the tickets and wear the gear? We want the games that not only got us to buy the seats but keep us on the edge of those seats. The scent of freshly roasted peanuts beckoning for you to raise your hand and scream to the vendor "Over here". Gloves in hand, we watched and waited for the once in a lifetime opportunity when a long homer would come zipping over the center field wall into seats that from home plate must have looked like they were occupied by ants. Some would call this the good old days, but they don't have to be.

   Let me be clear on the fact that I do not believe that inducting Pete Rose into the baseball hall of fame would be the grand cure to the dilemma. With that said, pause for a moment and think of the sheer media frenzy that would be unleashed with the announcement of his induction. Baseball and its players would be trending and liked. Fans would be yanking their favorite teams jerseys, hats and posters off the shelve. Baby's would be named Pete , anything could happen. Now in that moment when you grant his induction, you give the fans what they want and whole world is watching you, simply entertain us. Play like you never played before. Run, jump off the wall with a spin catch that robs the other team of a much needed home run. Anything it takes to keep us watching. Take pictures with kids and sign autographs, go on television shows ,to show us you want us to keep watching.

   I know some of you want to bring up his questionable past. I agree that during his coaching years, he may or may not have done some suspicious doings. But as a player he was unmatched and out performed his fellow players often. His stats speak for him when you won't allow him to. He has earned his placed to be remembered in the hall of fame with abundance of skills and love of the game. It is not as if he was the only bad boy in baseball. In the age we live in, one could easily search for players of the past that may have had a drinking problem, or drugs, domestic violence and let us not forget the steroids. For those that do not see my point it is like this, the man played the game and played it well. He has earned his spot like the others have before him. Induct Pete Rose into the hall of fame and bring baseball back to its roots. Remember this, nobody is perfect and everybody deserves a second chance.

Thomas Spradlin

www.collectey.com