Skip to main content

Schmidt Compares Rose Ban to Steroid Cheats

Occasionally, The Sporting News includes a feature called "Since You Asked..." that allows readers to send in questions that are answered by a surprise former or current athlete. In the latest issue of the magazine, a Philadelphia resident named Drew Floyd wrote in, asking if a public campaign, by a forgiving society, could assist in helping Pete Rose gain entry into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Drew also wondered, "is baseball stuck in its ways?" Rose is banned from baseball for betting on baseball games, while he was the Reds' manager in the 1980's. Drew's inquiry mentioned Mark McGwire's steroid use as an example of the baseball public's pardon. Lucky for the Philadelphian, Drew, his letter was answered by Phillies Hall of Fame third baseman, and Rose's friend, Mike Schmidt.

Schmidt's opinions over the years have fluctuated. Years ago he stated that Mark McGwire would get his vote for the Hall of Fame, if Schmidt had one. Schmidt has openly voiced his displeasure for steroid users who have cheated the game of baseball and its record books. At the same time as those supportive McGwire remarks, he stated that positive-steroid-test getting slugger Rafael Palmeiro would likely miss the Hall in his first year of eligibility, if Schmidt had a say. Now that McGwire is an admitted illegal substance taker, Schmidt has backed off his support of the long suspected cheater.

Previously on PhoulBallz (post found here), we reviewed Schmidt's reaction to McGwire's disclosure about using performance enhancing drugs. It included Schmidt proclaiming that McGwire let a lot of people down. And while Schmidt has somewhat backed off his once adamant advocation of a reinstatement of Rose, he still takes opportunities like this one to present his pro-Pete opinions.

SN's "Since You Asked..." reply from Schmidt, to the reader Drew, includes the following excerpts-
"(Rose's situation) is different than an individual enhancing his own body with a stimulant to increase healing and gain strength. Steroid use has legal ramifications outside of the game, but until recently there was no testing or legislation within the game on which to base a penalty."
"Forgiveness from fans is not the problem for Pete; a pardon and reinstatement by the commissioner is the problem."
"Baseball seems to have decided to put Pete in the cold case file, never to be reopened."
"On the surface it would seem Pete's crime is no worse than Mark McGwire's. If baseball can forgive McGwire and all his contemporaries, why not Pete? Gambling on the game vs. cheating in the game-- one gets you banned for life, the other makes you more famous."

Unfortunately for Rose, gambling became a scandal in baseball following the 1919 World Series, when players fixed the outcome then bet on the series, and baseball deemed gambling to be the worst sin of all. Performance enhancing drugs went virtually ignored for decades and only became a hot topic and a matter for stricter rules and tough enforcement in the past several years. The scandal of the 1919 World Series led to lifetime bans being implemented for any Major League player, coach or manager caught gambling on ML games. Still, as strongly as many fans feel about banned substance usage among baseball stars and how it corrupted the sport, it's very unlikely that the punishments for first time drug offenders will ever equal the initial punishment that gamblers would receive.

If an argument is to be made for simply allowing Rose into the Hall of Fame and not for a full reinstatement, SN reader Drew and his reprieving pals should keep in mind that the ban is like their favorite celebrity backside- full and firm. I'd say baseball is pretty well stuck in its ways, Drew. The life-ban from baseball is for LIFE and since the Baseball Hall of Fame is tied to BASEBALL, Rose just isn't getting in.

-----------------------------------------

Be sure to follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Diekman a Late Addition to Mesa AFL Roster

On Wednesday, Phillies lefty pitching prospect Jacob Diekman made his Arizona Fall League debut. Diekman, who was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 amateur draft, was assigned to Mesa late, in order to increase his 2010 innings total, according to Mesa hitting coach Mark Parent, who managed Diekman in Lakewood this past season. Diekman, 23, posted a 2-0 record with 1.90 ERA in 21 games with Class A Lakewood before being promoted to High-A Clearwater on June 24th. In 24 games with the Threshers, Diekman went 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Combined, Diekman tossed 55 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .187 batting average against at two levels in 2010. However, after not pitching in an official game since he threw a shutout inning to wrap up the Clearwater season on September 5th, Diekman was unable to record an out as all seven batters he faced reached base, six with hits, one on an error. Diekman was charged with 5 earned runs in the outing. Diekman had spent time at instructional ball from

2022 Phillies Top Prospects Countdown: #24 RHP Cristian Hernandez

Venezuelan born right-hander Cristian Hernandez has begun to earn recognition as one of the Phillies most promising pitching prospects. Signed as a 16-year-old in 2017 for a reported $120,000, Hernandez got his professional career started the following summer as a starter for the Phillies' Red Dominican Summer League club.  There, in 13 starts, Hernandez tallied a 2-3 record with 2.57 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP as well as a 7.0 K/9 mark. An injury sidelined Hernandez in 2019 and the 2020 season was cancelled due to the global pandemic. In 2021, Hernandez saw his first regular season action in the United States, starting his season in Florida Complex League.  After two appearances there, the six-foot-three 185-pounder was promoted to the Class A Clearwater Threshers.  In 20 combined outings (17 starts), Hernandez notched a 2-7 record with a 3.57 ERA, a .228 batting average against and an 11.2 K/9 mark. Projectability is something that baseball folks like about Hernandez.  His size, consistent

Who is Your Favorite Willie 'Mays' Hayes?

PhoulBallz.com is wondering which individual who has portrayed Willie "Mays" Hayes is the favorite of the public. Hayes, of course, is the character made famous in the Major League motion picture series. In Major League , Willie "Mays" Hayes was portrayed by budding Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes, who would go on to action movie superstardom. Snipes has starred in major motion pictures like the Blade trilogy, Passenger 57 , Undisputed and many more. Snipes remains an impact Hollywood actor, despite legal troubles related to income tax evasion. Snipes was replaced for the sequel, Major League II when his busy career, and possibly the film's budget, would not allow him to return, by Omar Epps. Another budding actor, Epps had previously worked with director David S. Ward, on the film The Program , and landed the role of Hayes, who had become a Hollywood action star over the off-season that occured between the two films. Epps' career portraying athletes rolle