Pete Rose as a lesson in forgiveness

By Charles Christian

This is not a sports column. However, the recent passing of baseball legend Pete Rose at the age of 83, can provide a short exercise in theological concepts like confession, forgiveness and reconciliation.

Rose, who played in the major leagues from 1963 to 1986 (an impressive feat in itself) still holds many records. The best-known and most impressive one is this: Rose collected more base hits in his career than anyone in baseball history. He also was the last player/coach (doing both at the same time toward the end of his career) in baseball. But again, this isn’t a sports column. It’s about confession, forgiveness and reconciliation.

This applies to Rose because in 1989 he was banned for life from Major League Baseball. This means he could not coach in any way or even attend games. Because of this, a committee chose to keep him off of the Hall of Fame ballot.

Fans have protested. Many players (though not all) have come to his defense, especially after years passed. However, Major League Baseball has remained firm in denying Rose a place in the game he spent decades playing and coaching. His crime: Rose bet on baseball. His competitive personality led him to violate one of the most sacred rules of the game. He gambled on baseball and other things, as well. In fact, after his ban, he went to prison for five months for non-payment of taxes because of gambling.

First, the confession: Though Rose pleaded guilty to gambling and served prison time, he publicly denied betting on baseball for almost 20 years. In 2004, he wrote a tell-all autobiography where he admitted to betting while he was managing the Cincinnati Reds. Confession means “coming clean” and telling the truth, even if it hurts. While it would have helped if Rose had admitted this aspect of his gambling sooner, the confession finally came.

Then, we come to forgiveness: Many chose to forgive Rose for gambling. Forgiveness does not mean the absence of consequences. Nor does it mean pretending that nothing happened. Instead, it means choosing not to continue to punish a person — or yourself — by carrying a grudge. Rose admitted that he was wrong and kept the constraints of his ban. He even said that he held no grudges for the decision that was made against him. In short, he forgave.

Finally, there’s reconciliation: This is the part that takes two parties. It takes one person to forgive, to choose not to hold a grudge and to move forward. However, reconciliation occurs when the relationship that has been broken by a wrong is made whole because both parties decide to restore trust and resume the relationship.

Reconciliation didn’t come for Rose in his lifetime. Though baseball is not a church or a religious entity, people of faith can ask themselves, “Is there something I need to confess?” “Is there someone I need to forgive?” “Is there a way to open the door for reconciliation?”

Maybe Rose’s story is a good reminder not to wait too long to do all three.