Rose issued a statement saying, “Although I am incredibly grateful that the Phillies fans chose me to be this year’s Wall of Fame inductee, I worry that other issues will overshadow the goodwill associated with Alumni Weekend, and I agree with the decision not to participate.”
PHILADELPHIA: The Phillies Wall of Fame will not induct Pete Rose.
On Wednesday, the Phillies declared that Rose would not be attending Alumni Weekend, which is set for August 10–13, “due to recent events”. According to the crew, Rose approved of the cancellation.
Rose’s plaque will not be affixed to the Phillies Wall of Fame in his absence as part of the decision.
There are no signs that Rose will be included on future Wall of Fame ballots, according to a source close to the organization.
“Recent events” refers to testimony given in court earlier this week.
“Jane Doe,” a Cincinnati woman, claimed in a sworn declaration submitted to a federal court on Monday that she had a sexual relationship with Rose starting in 1973 when Rose was 14 or 15 years old. The relationship, she stated, lasted for a number of years.
Since the statute of limitations has passed, Rose cannot be prosecuted for statutory rape based on the claims.
Rose accepted a lifelong suspension from Major League Baseball, including the Hall of Fame, in 1989 as a result of John Dowd’s 1989 inquiry into Rose’s gambling, and the evidence was part of Rose’s defamation claim against Dowd.
Major League Baseball’s all-time hits leader, Rose, 76, filed a lawsuit in July 2015 alleging that Dowd had defamed him when he appeared on a radio program and claimed Rose had sex with young girls throughout his playing career.
Rose acknowledged having sex with the lady in a written declaration included in Monday’s petition, but he claimed the relationship started in 1975 and that, at the time, he believed she was 16 years old, Ohio’s legal age of consent.
On April 14 of that year, Rose, who was married with two kids and a member of the Cincinnati Reds at the time, turned 34.
Rose played for the Phillies for five seasons (1979–83), and he contributed significantly to the 1980 World
team that won the series. During his tenure as a Phillie, he amassed 826 of his career record 4,256 hits and was named an All-Star four times.
“While I am truly honored that the Phillies fans voted for me to be this year’s Wall of Fame inductee, I am concerned that other matters will overshadow the goodwill associated with Alumni Weekend, and I agree with the decision not to participate,” Rose said in a press release.
The Phillies, in their highest honor, announced on April 10 that Rose would join the ranks of the Wall of Fame as its 39th member. The Phillies will honor previous Wall of Fame inductees on August 12 during a pre-game ceremony in lieu of inducting Rose.
Additionally, the team will not be giving away the Pete Rose bobble figurine giveaway that was previously slated for August 11. On August 13, more than 40 former players are anticipated to be honored on the pitch.
At any Citizens Bank Park sales window, fans with tickets for the games on August 11 or August 12 can swap them for any other 2017 game or get a refund.
