Rose, Clinton, and John Wayne
All Were Elected to the Same Hall of Fame
As a young man, Pete Rose was a member of the Order of DeMolay and is a member of the Order's Hall of Fame. So were Bill Clinton and John Wayne.
The Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball on and off the field. In 1976, Pete Rose became the sixth recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award. Upon presenting Pete with the award, commissioner Bowie Kuhn said "Fans in Cincinnati and throughout the country have been captivated by the way Pete Rose plays baseball. His enthusiasm is obvious off the field as well, as evidenced by his willingness to participate in any number of activities which benefit his community." If only Bowie knew what he was saying.
Pete, Bill, and John Wayne
As a young man, Pete Rose was a member of the Order of DeMolay and is a member of the Order's Hall of Fame. The organization is an international youth fraternity for young men who are mentored in developing leadership skills, civic awareness, and personal responsibility. Being elected to the Hall of Fame is one of the highest of all honors. Some prominent Hall of Famers, in addition to Pete, include President William Jefferson Clinton, Speaker of the House Carl Albert, newscasters Walter Cronkite, Paul Harvey,and John Cameron Swayze, cartoon voice Mel Blanc, football great Fran Tarkenton, writer John Steinbeck,and American icon John Wayne.
Pete Served His Country
Pete Rose was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1963. At the end of the season, Pete joined the Ohio National Guard and was on active duty for six months at Fort Knox, followed by three years in a reserve unit. He served his country with honor in the positions of Fort Knox guide and later, at Fort Thomas, as a cook.
Rose Bet On EVERY Game
Pete Rose has admitted that he bet on baseball games as well as on other sports while he played for or managed the Reds. He has confirmed the allegations that he bet on Reds' games, but the member of the Order of DeMolay Hall of Fame and former Ohio National Guard member adamantly told interviewer Dan Patrick "I bet on my team every night. I didn't bet on my team four nights a week. I bet on my team to win every night because I love my team, I believe in my team. I did everything in my power every night to win that game." So much for the allegation that when he managed, Pete cared more about games on which he wagered.
Some Players Have Been Punished
The Mitchell Report has accused many players of using performance enhancing drugs. Some players have confirmed the accusations while other have vehemently denied their veracity. Andy Pettitte admitted to being injected with growth hormone, explaining that he hoped it would help heal an injury. Other players have admitted using PEDs, and some have been punished, but all have been placed back onto the active list.
There Has Been Enough Pete Rose Bashing
Pete Rose has admitted to his mistakes. Baseball thought so much of Pete Rose that he won the Roberto Clemente Award. He is the Order of DeMolay Hall of Fame with Bill Clinton and John Wayne and served his country in the Ohio National Guard. He never bet against his team. There has been more than enough Pete Rose bashing.
References:
"Rose Given Select Prize." New York Times. 13 May 1976, p. 59.
