Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 4, 1991 TAG: 9102040162
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
The Hall of Fame's board of directors meets today and will consider a proposal that would bar the former Cincinnati Reds star and manager from the ballot. Under the current rules, Rose would become eligible for consideration next year.
A special committee of the Hall voted 7-3 on Jan. 10 for a rule that would prohibit players on the ineligible list from being considered for election by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Today's vote is expected to ratify that rule. Four members of the special committee who voted against Rose also are Hall directors.
"It's out of my hands," Rose said on Jan. 14 in his only public comment on the Hall vote.
Two of the 16 directors have said they will not attend today's meeting. Commissioner Fay Vincent is vacationing in Jamaica, and Hall of Famer Charlie Gehringer said he has stopped attending Hall meetings.
The majority of the board consists of baseball's old guard, a group that fears Rose may win election to the Hall one day. Although the guidelines on the ballot say that character should be taken into consideration, many writers have said they would vote for Rose based only on his on-the-field accomplishments.
Among the directors are American League president Bobby Brown, former AL president Lee MacPhail, National League president Bill White, former NL president Chub Feeney, former commissioner Bowie Kuhn, Hall of Fame president Ed Stack, former Montreal Expos president John McHale, Hall of Famer Roy Campanella, Milwaukee Brewers owner Bud Selig, Boston Red Sox owner Jean Yawkey and Detroit Tigers chairman Jim Campbell.
Brown, MacPhail, Feeney and McHale voted against Rose at the Jan. 10 committee meeting, while Stack opposed the new rule.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Bob Broeg also is on the Hall board, as are Cooperstown Mayor Harold Hollis and Stephen Clark Jr., the son of the Hall of Fame founder.
Rose was placed on the permanently ineligible list on Aug. 23, 1989, by the late Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti following a six-month investigation. Giamatti determined that Rose placed bet on baseball games while he was managing Cincinnati, including bets on games involving the Reds.
Rose denied placing the bets, but ultimately signed an agreement accepting the lifetime ban. He can appeal for reinstatement at any time to Vincent, but has not chosen to do so yet.
Rose finished his illustrious career as baseball's all-time leader in games played, at-bats and hits, and was generally considered a shoo-in for Hall of Fame selection in his first year of eligibility.
by CNB