Pete Rose Scandal

Gambling is a huge issue in the sports world, especially in Major League Baseball (MLB). So when someone gets caught red handed, the system tends to make an example out of them. Pete Rose was a prime example of that. Rose is one of the all-time leaders in games played with 3,562, plate appearances with 15,890, and hits with 4,256. He had an incredible career as a Cincinnati Red where, according to InfoPlease, he earned the nickname "Charlie Hustle" for his work ethic.

He had a 24-year long career, during which he made many accomplishments such as three appearances in the World Series (twice with the Reds, once with the Philadelphia Phillies), a career batting average of .303, and a 44 game hitting streak. Rose was basically all but guaranteed a spot in the World Series until 1989, when he was first accused of gambling. More importantly, betting on his team. Rose agreed to a lifetime ban from baseball, which also meant he lost his spot in the Hall of Fame. At the time he did not admit to the gambling accusations in hopes to get reinstated in a few years.

Now in 2015, Rose has still not been reinstated, and he still remains ineligible for the Hall of Fame. A little over a decade ago in 2004, after realizing his hopes for the Hall of Fame would never be, he finally admitted to gambling on the sports and his own team in his book.

According to ESPN, on August 24, 1989, Bart Giamatti, the commissioner of baseball, took the mic in New York City to reveal Rose's fate. He said, "One of the game's greatest players has engaged in a variety of acts which have stained the game, and he must now live with the consequences of those acts."

Also according to ESPN, after it all this came out, Rose said a few words. "My life is baseball," Rose said. "I hope to get back in baseball as soon as I possibly can. I've been in baseball for three decades, and to think I'm going to be out of baseball for a very short period of time hurts." He went on to say, "I made some mistakes, and I'm being punished for them. however, the settlement is fair. One of the mistakes wasn't betting on baseball. I have too much respect for the game, to much love for the game."

To this day, Pete Rose is banned from baseball. I bet he wishes he didn't make that bet. I hope he learned his lesson.