Dan Gelston, The Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — Pete Rose has dodged questions about his first on-court appearance in Philadelphia since the Phillies canceled a ceremony in his honor in 2017 after a woman claimed she had sex with the King hits when she was underage.
“That was 55 years ago, honey,” Rose shot back when a reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer wanted to ask her about it.
On the other hand, Rose had no problem remembering the 1980 Phillies team — 42 years ago — which won the World Series.
Rose, 81, received a standing ovation from Phillies fans — many of them unborn or too young to remember his playing days. He hit the field at Citizens Bank Park for the first time since being banned for life from Major League Baseball in 1989.
“It warmed my heart,” Rose said of the reception he received. I don’t want to say I expected it, but maybe I expected it from Phillies fans. They are like that. They love their sports heroes.”
Rose’s already tarnished reputation took another hit in 2017 when the Phillies planned to honor her on their Wall of Fame. A woman then accused Rose of sexual misconduct. Rose responded abruptly to a reporter’s question about it before the game. He apologized personally after the ceremony after first asking if he would forgive her if he offered her “1000 signed balls”.
Rose, however, was just as combative when the subject came up again after the pre-match ceremony.
“I’ll tell you another time: I’m here for the Phillies fans, I’m here for my teammates. OK? I’m here for the Phillies organization and who really cares about what happened 50 years ago?” Rose said.
The woman, identified in 2017 as Jane Doe, claimed Rose contacted her in 1973, when she was 14 or 15 years old. They began having sex in Cincinnati and kept in touch for several years. She also claimed that Rose had met her somewhere other than Ohio to have sex with her.
Rose’s lawyer claimed the woman’s allegations were unverified.
Rose admitted in 2017 to having a relationship with the woman, but claimed she was 16 when she started. He also claimed that they never had sex anywhere other than Ohio.
At the time, Rose was in her mid-30s, married, and had two children.
Rose was one of many former Phillies members to be honored on Sunday, including Steve Carlton, Bob Boone, Greg Luzinski and Larry Bowa. Mike Schmidt had sent a video message, he who missed the celebrations due to testing positive for COVID-19.
“We have seen each other several times each year. It was special to see Pete back with us, Boone said. When I go to Cooperstown (to the Baseball Hall of Fame) I always think he should be there. You can write whatever you want, but he’s the greatest hitter in league history. Add his name and you can also write what he did, that he was punished, etc.
Last month, the Phillies defended the decision to invite Rose to the ceremony.
“In planning the 1980 meeting, we consulted with Pete’s teammates regarding his inclusion,” the team said in a statement. Everyone wishes Pete was part of the celebrations since they wouldn’t have won the trophy without him. Additionally, the team received permission from the commissioner’s office to invite Pete as a member of the champion team.”
The Phillies originally planned to honor the 1980 team two years ago, but the event was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Rose hit 826 of 4,256 in his five seasons with the Phillies, from 1979 to 1983. The Phillies have said they have no immediate plans to add him to their Wall of Fame.
“Everyone would love to be on that Wall of Fame,” Rose said. I don’t know who made the decision, but God bless him. There must be a reason. I’m still here for the biggest event in a long time in Philadelphia. I am here talking to you. Everything balances out in the end.”
Rose accepted a life ban from Major League Baseball after an investigation determined he bet for Cincinnati Reds wins between 1985 and 1987 when he was a player and manager of the team.
Rose has asked Major League Baseball to end his lifetime suspension.
“He also made mistakes and got into trouble, but he’s here,” Boone said.
