Pete Rose, baseball's all-time hits leader, remains banned for life for gambling on baseball. But he was recently honored in Cincinnati to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his Major League-record 4,192nd hit — just the third time since 1989 he's been allowed to take part in an MLB ceremony. He spoke with Lance Pugmire of the L.A. Times.
Question: How did the ceremony come about?
Answer: "Behind the scenes, I was approached by the (Reds) owner's son, Phil Castellini, about a month ago about this opportunity. I was overly excited ... I don't know how he got approval. I just told (friends) how thankful I was to Bud Selig, and to the fans. It's been such a long time since I've been on that field. I always played for those fans."
Question: What do those fans think of you?
Answer: "They know what I know: that I screwed up. I let a lot of them down. They want to see a change. It took me a while to change. When Commissioner Giamatti told me to reconfigure my life, it took me years to figure out what he really meant. What I did was no good. I was hard-headed in my denials. It took me longer than it should have to apologize. The longer you wait to apologize, the longer people wait to forgive you. Nobody's bigger than the game. I might have thought I was hot (stuff). I was not. I did an awful thing. What a mistake it was. I'm just lucky to still have some fans in my corner, people who are probably willing to give me the benefit of the doubt and understand how much a second chance would mean to me, and maybe the game."
Question: What is your legacy?
Answer: "To teach young people not to make the mistake I did. If you make a mistake, come forward immediately. Don't hide it, come clean with yourself. It makes you feel better. I know Commissioner Giamatti was telling me, 'Take responsibility for what you did.' I let him down, the fans, everyone around me. I let them all down. I believe I played the game the right way, but off the field I didn't attack things the right way. If seeing me helps a kid heading down the wrong way in life, to know it's better to fess up, that's what I'd hope they'd understand."
Question: Have you reconciled the fact you may never get reinstated, and will remain out of the Hall of Fame?
Answer: "I want to live the rest of my life with a clear conscience. The Hall of Fame is the biggest honor that can be bestowed. ... I probably played with or against every Hall of Famer from 1968 on, from Stan Musial to Andre Dawson. I have an understanding of what it takes to get there."
Question: In light of the steroid era and how drug use affected game outcomes, should baseball's treatment of you be softened?
Answer: "Who am I to judge Roger Clemens or Barry Bonds? Everything I accomplished in baseball as a player, I did it the right way; I got all of those hits with hard work and dedication. I don't know a damn thing about steroids. Those judgments are for you writers to separate. If you're asking me what's worse, steroids or gambling? They're both bad. Wouldn't we like to have Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Hank Aaron sitting at this table and ask them what's worse?"