Pete Rose Baseball Scandal

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Throughout the history of America’s pastime, baseball has continually battled scandals and controversies. From the 1919 “Black Sox” scandal to the current steroid debate, baseball has lived in a century of turmoil. While many of these scandals affected multiple players and brought shame to teams, none have affected a single player more than the 1980’s Pete Rose betting scandal. Aside from the public humiliation he brought his family and the Cincinnati Reds, nothing has done more to hurt Pete Rose than his lifetime ban from baseball making him ineligible for hall of fame. While many are for and against putting Pete Rose in the hall of fame, the four ethical theories, Kantianism, Utilitarianism, Egoism, and Ethical Realism, each have their own unique answer to the question. Through Kantianism Pete Rose should be inducted into the hall of fame, while Egoism, Utilitarianism and Ethical Realism all support the lifetime ban.

Before beginning a dissection of the reasoning behind each theory, let us look into who Pete Rose is and why he received a lifetime ban from baseball. Peter Edward Rose was a Major League Baseball (MLB) player with the Cincinnati Reds from 1963-1978. From here Pete went on to join the Philadelphia Phillies and the Montreal Expos, now the Washington Nationals, before returning to the Reds as a player-manager in 1984 before becoming the full-time manager in 1986. During his time as a player Pete was able to compile numerous records and awards. He was the 1963 National League Rookie of the Year, a two-time Gold Glove winner, a three-time World Series winner, the 1975 World Series Most Valuable Player, and selected to the All-Star team 17 times. On top of the accolades Pete Rose is MLB’s career leader in hits with 4,2...

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...as fulfilled part of its duty by banning Rose for over 20 years; it has failed to acknowledge his on the field contributions. MLB has the duty of honoring the greatest players in baseball and those who are record setters; clearly Pete Rose fits into both of these categories. As the holder of multiple MLB career records as well as being considered one of the greatest players ever, Pete Rose has clearly made his mark on baseball. Thus, it is MLB’s duty to honor him for his accomplishments. MLB must now fulfill its second duty and reinstate Pete Rose so he can be acknowledge for his on the field play. With Kantian ethics, MLB’s sense of duty to the game requires the punishment of Rose, as well as the acknowledgement of him in the hall. With the time spent banned MLB has fulfilled one duty and must now allow Pete Rose in the hall to fulfill their duty to the game.

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