Baseball has always been known as our nation's pastime, a simple sport that has captivated millions and given us memorable moments over the last century. Decades of youngsters have dreamt of one day playing center field for the home team, all the while playing ball with the local kids at the sandlots. A select few actually get to carry out this dream, getting to play professional baseball for a living someday. These athletes are the cream of the crop, the best that the minor leagues have to offer. But then there are those special players who stand out because of their extraordinary skills. They become stars and gain fans, respect, and of course, big contracts. And then there are those rare elite stars, the ones who stand out in every fan's mind, and who are worthy of the highest of accolades. These players are the ones found in the baseball Hall of Fame. Their names are etched in stone forever, always to be remembered. Unfortunately, there is one famous player who may never see his name in the Hall, Peter Edward Rose. The all-time base hits leader and owner of countless major records may never be inducted.
             You see, Pete Rose was caught gambling on sports near the end of his career, and as the manager of a professional baseball team, this is not too highly looked upon. In this speech I will summarize why Pete Rose was banned from baseball, give examples of other athletes who've committed worse acts, describe his on-field accomplishments, and tell you why I think he should be allowed reinstatement.
             To begin, Pete Rose was a member of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team from 1963 to 1978. He then would go on to play for the Phillies and Expos before rejoining the Reds for the 1984 season. He became a player slash manager for the team for two seasons, retiring in 1986. Three years later, Rose would come under fire for allegedly gambling thousands of dollars on baseball games during those last two seasons in t...