Noriega: Lifting Pete Rose’s Hall of Fame ban is a mistake
May 13, 2025, 6:00 PM
Dave Noriega's dad, John Noriega, played for the Cincinnati Reds back in the late 60s and early 70s. (Dave Noriega, KSL NewsRadio)
(Dave Noriega, KSL NewsRadio)
Editor’s note: This is an editorial piece. An editorial, like a news article, is based on fact but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom.
I’m a Cincinnati Reds fan living in Utah. There’s not a lot of us, but we’re strong and we’re proud.
As Reds fans, we still ride the coattails of the “Big Red Machine.” We death-grip the nostalgia of the All-Time greats: Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, Joe Morgan, Davey Concepcion, Sparky Anderson and Old Charlie Hustle himself — Pete Rose.
I’m not a Reds fan by choice, I was obligated.
My dad, John Noriega, played for the Reds back in the late ’60s and early ’70s. He pitched in a baker’s dozen worth of games in the big leagues.
Dave Noriega’s dad, John Noriega, played for the Cincinnati Reds back in the late 60s and early 70s. (Dave Noriega, KSL NewsRadio)
His first roommate was Pete Rose.
When I saw ESPN break the news that Pete Rose would be reinstated by Major League Baseball and become eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, I found myself conflicted. He’s undoubtedly one of the greatest players in MLB history and not just for his 17 All-Star appearances or his all-time hits record of 4,256, but he played the game with such love and passion that it captivated a nation.
He cared so much about winning that he barreled over Ray Fosse to score the game-winning run in the 12th inning of the 1970 All-Star Game. In a game that held no meaning, other than bragging rights for the National League, Rose collided head-first into Fosse, fracturing and separating his shoulder.
Why would he do that? Was Pete dirty? Did he have a blood feud with Fosse?
No.
Pete played the game at one speed, full-tilt, all the time.
His teammates, my dad specifically, loved him for it.
When Pete was banned from baseball in 1991 for betting on games while he was the manager of the Reds, I asked my dad what he thought and if Pete should be voted into the Hall of Fame.
He turned the tables and asked me what I thought.
I gave a very impassioned pitch to my dad about Pete being one of the greatest hitters of all time, playing the game the right way, leading his teams to three World Series Championships, his Rookie of the Year season in 1963, winning three batting titles and winning the National League MVP in 1973. He was the easiest Hall of Fame vote since Mickey Mantle.
My dad thought differently.
It was well known that Pete liked to gamble, especially on the dogs and the horses. My dad never believed that Pete bet against his team, but it certainly didn’t surprise him that he’d bet on his team.
That was the deal breaker, the point of no return, the unforgivable act. He bet on baseball and that was the disqualifying act.
My dad loved him as a player, but he explained to me that every day, the players would walk into the locker room past a bulletin board. Tacked to the board was Rule 21(d) from Major League Baseball—to summarize, no betting on baseball.
No ambiguity. Clear as day.
He told me that it was simple for him.
“Pete bet on baseball.”
“Pete knew what he was doing was wrong and he did it anyway.”
“It’s only fair that he suffers the consequences.”
My dad passed away on Sept. 29, 2001.
Twenty-three years later, almost to the day, Pete Rose joined him.
Do I personally believe that Pete Rose should be reinstated to baseball and allowed into the Hall of Fame? I’ll defer to his teammate, my dad, and his vote was “No.”
