No way to know how he would have done. Pitchers were generally better in his era, but so were the bats. He also juiced. Who knows how much that helped him. He was a great all around player. Great OF and base runner. I still think he's far from the best hitter. I have bias against him because he juiced. I am likely letting some of that bias me when comparing him.
We just watched the Arkansas game and she said “this is terrible, how in the world could we play this bad and win this game?” & “if you made me sit here and watch while we get beat, I’m going to be so mad”. Then the fumble happened and her mouth just dropped open. It was fun letting her see what I experienced and my feelings during the game.
I don't think Pete was a cheat. He absolutely broke the rules of baseball, but I don't recall there ever being proof he bet against himself, and I find it hard to believe he would have. Anyone who watched Pete play could see how serious he took the game. He played with everything he had at all times. And I think his own arrogance and just belief in himself would have prevented him from ever throwing a game. I think that same arrogance and belief in himself is what led to him gambling on baseball to begin with.
McGwire and Sosa did get the ball rolling for Bonds on the cheating...none get a pass. It’s one thing to cheat to improve your performance in order to HOLD ON to a MLB career. Still no pass but understandable. When you use artificial means to bump up elite skills in order to reach and surpass hallowed records, then you deserve the requisite repercussions. Brady Anderson using the juice to become a one time 50 hr hitter when his previous max in the preceding 8 seasons was 21 is dubious. Bonds using the juice in an already established HOF career to best Maris and Ruth’s single season marks (I don’t count McGwire and Sosa) and then Aaron’s career total, is a travesty. We know when he ramped up the PED’s in response to the two others, but I trace it back to his first season with the Giants. 46 in that first season when his previous high was 34 the last season with the Pirates. He simply didn’t go all-in until he saw the national attention and glory involved with that stat. I think the writers who are barring his HOF entry will eventually die off and the new guard will vote him in...but I’m glad his punk azz has to wait.
That's an opinion piece. Read this article from ESPN, which involved Dowd, who investigated the case for MLB. It says that Rose bet on Reds games but there is no evidence he bet against them. And why would a bookie accept bets against the Reds knowing Rose could very easily influence the outcome? Makes no sense.
