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Thursday 6 February 2020

Pete Rose asks for reinstatement, cites Astros and steroids

By RONALD BLUM credible evidence of a re- season for their role in the
AP Baseball Writer configured life either by an Astros' use of electronics to
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Pete honest acceptance by him steal catchers' signs in 2017
Rose again asked Major of his wrongdoing, so clear- and 2018 but to not disci-
League Baseball to end ly established in the Dowd pline players.
his lifetime ban, saying the Report, or by a rigorous, "Proportionality has long
penalty is unfair compared self-aware and sustained been the governing norm
with discipline for steroids program of avoidance by when Major League Base-
use and electronic sign him of all the circumstanc- ball commissioners have
stealing. es that led to his perma- assessed discipline," the
Rose's lawyers submitted nent ineligibility." petition said. "That guiding
the application Wednes- Rose cited the joint drug principle has not changed,
day to baseball Commis- In this June 17, 2017, file photo, former Cincinnati Reds player agreement between MLB but Major League Base-
Pete Rose attends a news conference during his statue dedica-
sioner Rob Manfred, who tion ceremonies before a baseball game between the Reds and and the players' associa- ball's reactions to poten-
in December 2015 denied the Los Angeles Dodgers in Cincinnati. tion, which calls for 80- tial threats to the integrity
the previous request by the Associated Press game suspensions for first of the game have greatly
career hits leader. offenders for performance- evolved since Mr. Rose's
"The time has come to rec- Reds to win from 1985-87 this is clearly not the case. enhancing drugs, 162- conduct resulted in a life-
ognize that Mr. Rose's pen- while playing for and man- They have intentionally and game bans for second of- time ban from the game in
alty has become grossly aging the team. dramatically affected the fenders and lifetime bans 1989, and more particularly
disproportionate relative "There has never been any results of plays and games, for thirds penalties with a since his 2015 petition for
to Major League Baseball's allegation that Mr. Rose's including the outcomes of chance for reinstatement. reinstatement."
treatment of severe wrong- misconduct was intended two consecutive World Se- Manfred reinstated reliever Rose also asked baseball's
doing by ownership, man- to gain a competitive ad- ries. These acts manifestly Jenrry Mejia, the only play- Hall of Fame to remove the
agement and players," the vantage over other teams," and deliberately violate er disciplined three times prohibition adopted by the
petition said. stated the petition, which the spirit and letter of the for PEDs under the major Hall's board of directors in
Rose agreed to the lifetime was first reported by ESPN. rules." league drug program. 1991 to prohibit players on
ban in August 1989 after "When it comes to subse- Rose, who turns 79 in April, Rose also referenced Man- the permanently ineligible
an investigation for MLB by quent violations of Major asked to meet with Man- fred's decision on Jan. 13 to list from appearing on the
lawyer John Dowd found League Baseball rules — fred, who in his 2015 de- suspend Houston manager Hall ballot of the Base-
that Rose placed numer- namely steroid use and nial wrote that the 17-time AJ Hinch and general man- ball Writers' Association of
ous bets on the Cincinnati electronic sign stealing — All-Star had "not presented ager Jeff Luhnow for one America.q