As a child, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was a huge Pete Rose fan.
Back in 1980, when the Phillies won the World Series, Rose was their first baseman and Bob Boone – Aaron’s father – was the catcher. The two families were close, and their children grew up together, admiring Rose’s game.
To no one’s surprise, Boone reached out to Pete Rose Jr. following MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s recent announcement.
Manfred declared that players banned from baseball would become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration after their deaths – making Rose, baseball’s all-time hit king, and 16 others, including the notorious Black Sox figure Shoeless Joe Jackson, eligible once again.
Boone shared that Rose Jr. welcomed the decision, though it was bittersweet that his father wouldn’t live to see it.
“Theres a part of him I’m sure that wanted his dad to experience it and live and realize it, but hopefully it’s something that is ultimately good for the family,’ Boone said.
Boone voiced strong support for Manfred’s ruling.
“I think it’s a good thing,” he said. “Obviously, I have a long history with Pete and his family. Hopefully this is a good thing for baseball and his family.”
Like many others, Boone expressed a long-held belief that Rose deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame.
“At the end of the day, I always think the Hall of Fame is a museum,” Boone said. ‘I’ve always felt like he should be in there while understanding the ban from baseball.
“It’s my era. It’s my love of the game, and because I’ve had a close relationship with that family, I’m happy about it.”
The earliest Rose could be inducted is summer 2028, contingent on being added to the Classic Baseball Era Committee ballot and then securing at least 75 percent of votes from a 16-member panel in December 2027.
“I’ve always felt like he should have been in the Hall of Fame a long time ago,” Boone added. “Again, not discounting what went on and how serious I think that is.
“Maybe (the gambling punishment) should have affected being with the club and all those things … But when it came to the Hall of Fame, it felt pretty simple to me that he always should have been in there.”
Boone also voiced support for Shoeless Joe Jackson’s induction.
Jackson was banned alongside seven teammates following the infamous 1919 Black Sox scandal, in which they were accused of taking money from a crime syndicate to throw the World Series.
Despite the scandal, Jackson hit .375 during the World Series, which the White Sox ultimately lost.
“Man, he was racking up some triples back in the day,” Boone said of Jackson. “Over 60 WAR. We’ll see how this all unfolds. It’ll be interesting to see what the process is.”
What are your thoughts on the whole entire Pete Rose situation? … Do YOU think he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame???
