Pete Rose dismisses sexual misconduct question at Phillies fest

"It was 55 years ago, baby. Article:

Associated Press

Dan Gelston

PHILADELPHIA — Pete Rose dismissed questions about his franchise on Sunday in 2017.

"That was 55 years ago, baby."Rose said The

But Rose had no trouble remembering the 1980 World Series champion Phillies team, she told the Philadelphia Inquirer's female baseball reporter. That's him 42 years ago, Pete, that was honored before Sunday's game.

The 81-year-old Rose received a standing ovation from his Phillies fans when he stepped onto the field at Park for the first time Citizens Bank.

"They made me feel so good today," Rose said of the cheers. "I don't want to say I expected it. I think I expected it from the Philadelphia fans. That's how they do it. They love sports heroes."

Rose's already tarnished reputation took another hit in 2017 when the Phillies called off a planned induction of the team to the Wall of Fame. Rose curtly answered reporters' questions before the game, and after Sunday's ceremony first said, "Would you mind if I sign 1,000 baseballs for you?" I apologized – and was just as belligerent on the topic after the pre-game celebration. I'm here for my teammates. OK," Rose said. "I'm here for the Philadelphia organization. Who cares what happened 50 years ago?"

A woman identified as Jane Doe in 2017 said Rose He called her in 1973 when she was 14 or 15 and said he had begun a sexual relationship in Cincinnati that lasted for several years. She also claimed Rose met her for sex at a location outside Ohio.

Rose's attorneys said the woman's claims were not confirmed.

Rose said she had an affair with the woman in 2017. but said it started when she was 16 years old.

At the time Rose was in her mid-thirties, she was married and she had two children.

Rose is one of many once-great Phillies, including Hall of Famer Steve Carlton, her fellow World Her Series her champions Bob Boone, Greg Herr Luzinski, and Larry Bois. was. Mike Schmidt sent a videotaped message and was unable to attend her Graduation Day celebrations because she tested positive for COVID-19.

"We've been doing it for a while and we come back every year and thought it was very special to have the peat mixed in," Boone said. I always thought he should have been there you could write anything in there but he was the best hitter in the league put his name up and say he did this

Last month, the Phillies defended their decision to invite Rose to the ceremony.

, we have consulted with teammates about joining Pete," the Phillies said in a statement. “Without Pete there would have been no trophy in 1980, so everyone wants Pete to be in the festival.In addition, the club has received permission from the Commissioner’s Office to invite Pete as a member of the championship team.

The first 1980 anniversary celebration was postponed for two seasons due to the pandemic. In his five years playing for the Phillies, he had 826 of 4,256 hits. There are no immediate plans for Rose to join the Philadelphia Wall of Fame.

"There are people who want to ride the wall of fame," Rose said. "I don't know who made that decision, but God bless them. They made it for a reason. For the biggest event in a long time here in Philadelphia. , I'm still here today, and I'm sitting here talking to you all, and everything will even out."

An MLB investigation by attorney John Dowd found that Rose While playing and managing the team for the Cincinnati Reds in 2012, Rose agreed to a lifetime suspension after it was discovered that he had bet too many times to help the Cincinnati Reds win.

Rose has asked his MLB to lift his lifetime suspension.

"He also did some things wrong and got into trouble because of it," Boone said.

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