Rose: Bonds, Clemens belong in Hall of Fame

Pete Rose says Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens would have his Hall of Fame vote. (USATSI)

Earlier this month, the 2015 Hall of Fame class was announced, and once again no players with some sort of connection — real or speculative — to performance-enhancing drugs were voted into Cooperstown. That includes Roger Clemens and all-time home run king Barry Bonds.

Pete Rose is baseball’s all-time hit king and he isn’t in the Hall of Fame because he’s been banned from the game. Not because of PEDs, of course, but because he gambled on games. Rose can’t do anything about his situation, but, if it were up to him, both Bonds and Clemens would be on their way to Cooperstown.

From Rueters:

A three-time World Series champion with Cincinnati and Philadelphia, Rose thinks some others denied entry in the Hall — due to links to performance enhancing drugs — belong.

“Would I vote for Roger Clemens? You’re damn right I would. Would I vote for Barry Bonds? You’re damn right I would. These guys are seven-time MVPs, seven-time Cy Young Award winner,” said Rose.

With the All-Star Game heading to Cincinnati this summer, Rose also told Rueters he hopes he can be involved in some way.

“I’d be the happiest guy in the world if I’m involved in some way along with … all the other guys on the Big Red Machine,” he said.

“The ball game will be played on Pete Rose Way,” he added about the street bordering the Great American Ball Park.

Commissioner Bud Selig, who is retiring on Saturday, said last year that including Rose in the All-Star festivities will “be up to the Cincinnati club, and they know what they can do and they can’t do.”

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