Displaying items by tag: Pete Rose

While the New York Yankees fans always had a disdain for teams that were bitter rivals of the Bronx Bombers, a la the Boston Red Sox for a very long time and, for a short time, the Kansas City Royals, the Mets fans always seemed to be more direct and target a player. And quite often it was for good reason.

Take John Rocker of the Atlanta Braves. Or Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies (actually he was with the L.A. Dodgers at the time of the infraction.) And we can’t forget the utter disgrace of the Cincinnati Reds Pete Rose. Each of those opponents drew the eternal ire of Mets fans. And for good reason.

But why Derek Jeter?

Let’s make one thing clear…Pete Rose was NOT the “best hitter in the game.” Not even close. I don't understand how fans can even view him as such.

The one thing that is true is that Pete Rose accumulated the most base hits (4,256) while playing in the Major Leagues.

And here are some other things that are true that will contribute to that one truth that has everyone believing something that is NOT true – Pete Rose also played in more games than any other player in Major League history (3,562), had more plate appearances than any other player in Major League history (15,890), and had more at bats than any other player in Major League history (14,053).

Pete Rose with those 4,256 base hits ONLY hit for an average of .303.

Pete Rose was always an arch nemesis in the eyes of New York Mets fans. It goes back more than 50 years. They never forgave him.

And now Major League Baseball has decided to forgive him and reinstate him, posthumously. They also reinstated members of the Chicago White Sox…rather…Black Sox as they were called…as well as some other players who gambled their careers away.

As a lover of baseball, and lover of history, I always was intrigued by the stories about those Sox players who were banned by the very first commissioner of baseball, Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Regardless that those players were never found guilty in a court of law, they were acquitted, Landis banned them. For life.

I just saw a headline that read “MLB Celebrating the Greatest of All” in regards to the 2021 Major League Baseball All Star Game. Greatest of all? Come on. You’re kidding me.

I also have read in multiple places where fans, especially Mets fans, are claiming, and complaining, that Pete Alonso will have ruined his swing by participating in the Home Run Derby. Again…you’re kidding me.

As for Alonso, and anyone else who participates in a “home run derby,” it is absolutely absurd to think that someone’s swing will be affected. These players sport a swing that is geared to home run derby every game. Launch angles…exit velocity…linear weights…terms in 1971, 50 years ago, were associated with a NASA spacecraft launch are now the science behind hitting a baseball.

And it was 50 years ago, the 1971 All Star Game, that it truly was an exhibition of some of the “greatest of all” in baseball history. In that game, 21 players that went to that game in Detroit made it to the Hall of Fame.

It happened in 1973...I was there. The Mets pitching staff had halted the attack of the Big Red Machine and the Reds had their backs against the wall in the National League Championship Series. Something had to give. Someone had to light a fire and get the Reds back in the series. That's when Pete Rose went in hard...VERY hard...into the Mets beloved shortstop Bud Harrelson to break up a double play. It did not break up the double play but it DID incite a riot at Shea Stadium.

Even after the players returned to their respective dugouts and bullpens, the raucous fans at Shea would not let up. When Rose went to take his position in left field, he was showered with all kinds of debris. It was actually a horrible display. The public address announcer made an announcement telling the fans that the game would be forfeited if they didn't stop. Finally, Tom Seaver, Cleon Jones, Willie Mays, and Rusty Staub - acting as goodwill ambassadors - walked out to left field and appealed to the fans to halt. The game resumed, the Mets won, but not before Rose claimed the title for the most hated athlete in New York...long before he became the most despised person in baseball period.

And now another has claimed the title that Rose so eloquently carried for so many years...and under some somewhat similar circumstances.