Quite a gamble

On this day in 1989, Pete Rose accepted a lifetime ban from baseball. Major League Baseball had the goods on him - iron-clad evidence that Rose had been gambling on games for years, including betting on his own Reds while managing the team.

Rose knew he was dead to rights. Why else would he willingly agree to a lifetime ban? But it was the wording of the agreement that really screwed him up. In signing, Rose admitted that there was a reason for his ban, but did not admit what that reason was. MLB, meanwhile, agreed to not release the findings of their investigation into Rose's gambling habits and to remain mum on the topic. It was a nod-nod-wink-wink situation of the highest order, and one can only imagine that Rose was motivated to sign it with an eye toward the Hall of Fame. Well aware that no man known to have gambled on baseball, no matter how great he was, would gain entry to the Hall, Rose obviously thought this little bit of sleight of hand might keep his candidacy alive.

So he bullheadedly, ridiculously stood by his claim for years - yes, I gambled, but not on baseball. It was quite a gamble in its own right - very Pete Rose, really. Damn the torpedos. Of course, he lost, and he lost big. But it was bound to happen. As any good gambler knows, you can't bluff when the other guy's holding the nuts.