Vin Scully would never give Pete Rose a Hall of Fame vote

(AP) Add legendary broadcaster Vin Scully to the list of people who would never give Pete Rose a Hall of Fame vote.

According to the Associated Press, Scully went on record stating as much during an interview for the upcoming March issue of AARP Bulletin. When asked if he would cast a vote for Rose, Scully simply said, “I wouldn’t. Should he be in? He should be. But by his own hand, he locked the door and kept himself outside.”

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Scully says that knowing it’s a moot point. As of right now, Rose is still not on the Hall of Fame ballot. Though commissioner Rob Manfred rejected Rose’s bid for reinstatement in December, he did leave the Hall of Fame open for discussion. So far though there’s been no word indicating Rose’s status is even on the table. It remains a non-issue, though it will always be topic of conversation in some form, as evidenced by the question posed to Scully.

Of course, Scully is not a true authority on the matter either. Even as a member of the Hall of Fame, he’s not a member of any committee that votes on the Hall of Fame. He’s simply stating his opinion. But it’s a strong opinion, because rarely, if ever, will you hear Scully judge someone or something outside the booth or outside the context of a game he’s calling.

If you ask baseball fans, many will tell you that Scully’s word is as good as gold. If he says it then he believes it, and if he believes then it carries more weight than anyone in his position. That’s what makes you take notice when he takes on a subject that can be as polarizing as that surrounding Rose’s Hall of Fame status.

The soft spoken wordsmith has earned that respect by being honest throughout his near 70-year broadcasting career and by always finding a way to connect with his audience. He is one of the greatest storytellers to ever live, and there’s no debating that. Day in and day out, he’s captivated audiences with his pinpoint description, his ability to weave stories into the fabric of his telecasts flawlessly and a willingness to evolve.

Most importantly though, he never puts himself first, which is difficult for people with his power to avoid. He’s a trusted source with an unwavering perspective.

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Pete Rose remains off the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. (AP) Scully has also been witness to many of the game’s greatest players. He knows what separates the good ones from the great ones, and he knows what separates the great ones from Hall of Fame players. He knows that Pete Rose is one of the truly elite, but like many others, he obviously feels that his sins outweigh the production.

Simply stated, if Vin Scully is not on Pete Rose’s side, then Pete Rose has an uphill climb in both directions to ever again win over the baseball masses.

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