CBS News: Take Our Poll: Should Pete Rose be in the Hall of Fame

Source:CBS News- Pete Rose with the Cincinnati Reds.

Source:The New Democrat 

The only reason why Pete Rose is not in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame and he would've gone in I believe 1992 which I believe would've been is first year of eligibility, but the only reason he's not there has to do with his gambling on Major League Baseball games. Which he gambled on even as manager of the Cincinnati Reds and even betted on Reds games. Pete being out of the Hall of Fame has nothing to do with his playing career and nothing to do with his playing career is keeping him out of the Hall of Fame.

I could understand banning Pete from ever being a MLB manager, coach or executive for life. Because betting on your own team's games is a pretty bad offense. Especially if you are betting that they lose and have a say in the outcome of their games. But to keep him out of the Hall of Fame in general, when he's arguably the best all around player of his era and generation and we are talking about a career that covers twenty-four seasons from 1963-86, makes no sense from a Hall of Fame perspective.

Keeping Pete out of the Hall of Fame also does more damage to Reds fans and the Cincinnati Reds organization that Pete. Because of all the respect and luster that comes from not just seeing one of your own players in the Hall of Fame, but having that person in the Hall of Fame. "That player was not just a great player, but he played for us and we won a lot of games with him and he's in the Hall of Fame as one of us". Things that the Reds organization and the Reds fans can't say right now because they are denied of seeing Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame.

We are not talking about whether Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame as a manager or even as a human being. He would never make it to the Hall of Fame based on that criteria. We are talking about Pete Rose the player and based on his playing career and because of the facts that he's the best player who's been retired for at least five years from playing, not in the Hall of Fame. And of course what he did as a player would've put him in the Hall of Fame over twenty-years ago. Pete Rose should definitely be in the Hall of Fame. Just don't allow him to manage or be an executive. 
Source:Sports Illustrated

MLB Productions: MLB 1967- World Series Game 1- St. Louis Cardinals @ Boston Red Sox: Highlights

Source:MLB Productions- St. Louis Cardinals 1st or 3rd Base coach. You make the call.

"1967 World Series Game 1: Cardinals vs Red Sox" 

From Baseball Ruski

The Red Sox had a great team in 1967 but so did the Cardinals, which is what made this World Series great. Carl Yastrzemski had two great opportunities to win World Series with the Red Sox in 1967 and 1975 but they played two great teams, Cardinals with Bob Gibson, Orlando Cepeda, Lou Brock and others in 1967. And the Big Red Machine Cincinnati Reds in 1975 led by Sparky Anderson, with Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Pete Rose, Tony Perez, and others. And lost both times in very close seven game series that we're decided by a matter of plays, rather than games.

MLB Productions: The 1986 New York Mets Season

Source:Mike I- The New York Mets are 1986 MLB World Series champions!

"Here's a compilation from the 1986 Mets season. The clips stop late august, I have little from there on but replace it with a year in review type local show." 

From Mike I

Looking back the 1986 New York Mets 25 years later, I don't think they look as good today, as they did back then. In the mid and late 1980s, the New York Mets looked like they were loaded offensively, excellent starting pitching, good bullpen, excellent manager in Davey Johnson and his coaching staff, deep bench, great home ballpark as far as fan atmosphere in Shea Stadium. 

Other than Gary Carter and Keith Hernandez, who are the great players from those teams, as far as what they accomplished before 1986 or after 1986? 25 years later the 1986 New York Mets had a lot of talent, but they still only have one Hall of Famer, in Gary Carter. I would argue that Keith Hernandez should be in the Hall of Fame, but he's not right now. 

I think the best way to look at the New York Mets is to say they were a team with a lot of talent and potential, but who came up short. Similar to the 1985 Chicago Bears or the 1983 Los Angeles Raiders, if these teams were more disciplined, if they were more mature, more professional, I think the Mets win at least one more World Series in the 1980s. But they were like an outdoor insane asylum: they were just too crazy and had too much fun to be able to put it together and dominate the National League and win more than they did.