Pete Rose Says He Bet on His Team `Every Night' on ESPN Radio
By Danielle Sessa
March 14 (Bloomberg) -- Pete Rose said he bet on the Cincinnati Reds ``every night'' when he was the team's manager, rather than four times a week as Major League Baseball's all- time hit leader maintained for three years.
Rose said in his 2004 book that he gambled on his team in the late 1980s, after denying for 15 years that he bet on baseball at all. Major-league rules forbid any sort of wagering on the sport.
``I bet on my team every night,'' Rose said today in an interview on ESPN Radio. ``I didn't bet on my team four nights a week. So I wasn't sending a signal out to the people that I'm not going to use my closer on Friday night or Saturday night. I was wrong.''
MLB banned Rose in 1989 for gambling after investigator John Dowd found he bet on Cincinnati during the 1985-87 seasons. The banishment makes Rose ineligible for the Hall of Fame, even though he holds the record for career hits with 4,256.
Rose managed the Reds for six seasons, compiling a 412-373 record. He both played and managed during the 1984-1986 seasons.
``I bet on my team to win every night because I loved my team, I believed in my team,'' Rose said. ``I was wrong but I believed in my team. I had so much confidence in my team, and what did that make me do? I did everything in my power every night to win that game.''
Book Confession
Rose denied betting on baseball for 15 years until he said in his book, ``My Prison Without Bars,'' that he confessed to Commissioner Bud Selig when he sought to have the ban lifted. He said he told the commissioner he bet on the Reds four or five times a week and only to win.
Selig has refused to grant Rose's request for reinstatement. The commissioner, through spokesman Pat Courtney, declined to comment on Rose's latest statement.
Rose said he would like to manage again, and that he would produce a winner and boost attendance.
``If I was ever reinstated and there is an owner that don't want to win and don't want to draw people, don't call my number,'' he said.
Rose appeared on ESPN to discuss the Reds opening an exhibit on his career.
By Danielle Sessa
March 14 (Bloomberg) -- Pete Rose said he bet on the Cincinnati Reds ``every night'' when he was the team's manager, rather than four times a week as Major League Baseball's all- time hit leader maintained for three years.
Rose said in his 2004 book that he gambled on his team in the late 1980s, after denying for 15 years that he bet on baseball at all. Major-league rules forbid any sort of wagering on the sport.
``I bet on my team every night,'' Rose said today in an interview on ESPN Radio. ``I didn't bet on my team four nights a week. So I wasn't sending a signal out to the people that I'm not going to use my closer on Friday night or Saturday night. I was wrong.''
MLB banned Rose in 1989 for gambling after investigator John Dowd found he bet on Cincinnati during the 1985-87 seasons. The banishment makes Rose ineligible for the Hall of Fame, even though he holds the record for career hits with 4,256.
Rose managed the Reds for six seasons, compiling a 412-373 record. He both played and managed during the 1984-1986 seasons.
``I bet on my team to win every night because I loved my team, I believed in my team,'' Rose said. ``I was wrong but I believed in my team. I had so much confidence in my team, and what did that make me do? I did everything in my power every night to win that game.''
Book Confession
Rose denied betting on baseball for 15 years until he said in his book, ``My Prison Without Bars,'' that he confessed to Commissioner Bud Selig when he sought to have the ban lifted. He said he told the commissioner he bet on the Reds four or five times a week and only to win.
Selig has refused to grant Rose's request for reinstatement. The commissioner, through spokesman Pat Courtney, declined to comment on Rose's latest statement.
Rose said he would like to manage again, and that he would produce a winner and boost attendance.
``If I was ever reinstated and there is an owner that don't want to win and don't want to draw people, don't call my number,'' he said.
Rose appeared on ESPN to discuss the Reds opening an exhibit on his career.
