Baseball Fans Want Pete Rose Ban Lifted Following Astros GM, Manager’s One-Year Suspension
Pete Rose began trending on Twitter today (January 13), but it was for a good reason: Baseball fans are calling for Charlie Hustle’s lifetime ban to be lifted following the announcement that Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch received a one-year suspension for stealing pitching signs during their 2017 World Series-winning season.
Luhnow and Hinch were later fired from the Astros following the suspension announcement. Per MLB.com, the Astros will forfeit their first and second-round draft picks for the 2020 and 2021 MLB Draft as well as be fined $5 million, “which is the highest allowable fine under the Major League Constitution.”
Rose was famously banned by both MLB and the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989 for betting on games when played for and managed the Cincinnati Reds. Considering Rose’s activity never helped determine the potential outcome of a game, unlike the actions of Luhnow and Hinch, baseball fans took to Twitter to point out the punishment hypocrisy. Here are some of the best reactions.
The MLB banned Pete Rose for life for gambling but apparently cheating your way to a World Series title isn't enough to strip you of a ring https://t.co/jma32Zebrw
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 13, 2020
Hammered?! No player suspensions?! They knew what they were doing. Braun lost his MVP for cheating why not Altuve? Baseball will keep Pete Rose out of the Hall but let actual cheaters walk off with a wrist slap. Disgusting. https://t.co/7vRocDgOjB
— Ryy (@ryymotz) January 13, 2020
A year for cheating that directly changed the outcome of games....
— Jeremiah (@SYRmotsag) January 13, 2020
Meanwhile Pete Rose is still permanently banned for betting on his team to win and was never accused of cheating in any form. https://t.co/wYPznL549C
After seeing this punishment all I can really think is how can Pete Rose be banned for life for betting on games while the Astros cheated to win a World Series. https://t.co/54Iyun3ltL
— Sam Kuffel (@SamKuffelWx) January 13, 2020
Pete Rose didn’t cheat - he bet on his team to win
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) January 13, 2020
End the stupidity and put Charlie Hustle and his unsurpassed records in the Baseball Hall of Fame where he belongs
Pete Rose: *Places bets on his team to win*
— Dave Dawn (@FromDaveTilDawn) January 13, 2020
MLB: BANNED FOR LIFE.
A.J. Hinch: Oversaw the biggest cheating scandal in MLB history, lied about it.
MLB: pic.twitter.com/ZWGWhvmxWR
Free Pete Rose pic.twitter.com/yptPrtQ7NP
— Connor Chase (@ConConTweetin) January 13, 2020
So Pete rose did nothing to hinder the games he coached and gets a lifetime ban but A.J hinch cheats to win the World Series and gets a one year ban🤷🏻♂️🤔 pic.twitter.com/M64gJKmEHZ
— caleb clines (@clines_caleb) January 13, 2020
Strip the title or reinstate Pete Rose!
— nah (@noroomfortoo) January 13, 2020
So Pete Rose gets banned for life for gambling on baseball but AJ Hinch & the Astros’ GM only get a year suspension for blatantly cheating to the result of a WS championship AND they get to keep the championship...this doesn’t add up to me #MLB #Astros #Cheaters pic.twitter.com/EuH8C4QupW
— Eric Sklar (@TheDukeOfSports) January 13, 2020
All Pete Rose did was bet on his own team to win...fairly
— Phil Hughes (@PJHughes45) January 13, 2020
Time for Pete Rose to get his plaque in Cooperstown. pic.twitter.com/bo6iccBoop
— EaglesFlyersPoconos (@PikeCountyEagle) January 13, 2020