KC Kingdom Editorial: Should MLB Lift Ban on Pete Rose
By Paul York
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Legend
The all-time Major League hits leaders, Pete Rose, is still banned from baseball by MLB. Is it time for than banned to be lifted.
As a kid of the 80’s, born and raised in Kansas City, there was one ball player I wanted to emulate–former Kansas City Royals great, George Brett. I batted left-handed, played third base, modeled my swing after Brett’s, snagged the number five jersey whenever I could, and packed as much Big League Chew bubble-gum into my cheeks to mirror the appearance of Brett’s chewing tobacco.
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I wasn’t determined to be the next George Brett, I was determined to be George Brett.
Everyone saw it. Everyone recognized exactly what I was doing. The leaned-back approach at the plate. The sweet swing with a one-handed follow-through. The high stirrups/socks. I was nailing it.
Brett was the hometown hero. He played the game the right way, and that was the way I was going to do it. One thing though, my dad and my coaches kept referencing this guy named “Charlie Hustle”, A.K.A. Pete Rose.
I wasn’t playing for some sort of national team, or traveling baseball team. No, I was grinding it out on the WyCo circuit on Leavenworth Rd. in Kansas City, KS, playing for Fritz’s, L.L. Tire Service, Sonic, or any other local sponsorship we could get. My dad was from KC. My coaches were from KC. So, who the hell was this Pete Rose or Charlie Hustle guy they kept referencing?
Next: The Legend Continued