Pete Rose's misogynistic response to a woman Phillies reporter disgusted MLB fans
Pete Rose continues to be a repulsive blemish on the Philadelphia Phillies and baseball as a whole.
The Phillies honored their 1980 World Series championship team Sunday and brought Rose back onto the field in Philadelphia as part of the celebration. Most known for his lifetime ban from baseball after betting on the Cincinnati Reds while he played for and managed the team, Rose also has been accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a minor during the 1970s.
In 2017, an unidentified woman accused Rose of statutory rape as the two allegedly had a sexual relationship before she turned 16, which was the age of consent in Ohio. At the time of the relationship — which Rose acknowledged but denied happened before she was 16 — the MLB’s all-time hits leader was in his mid-30s and married with two kids.
When the story came to light, the Phillies canceled their plans to honor Rose and induct him into their Wall of Fame that same year. Five years later, however, the Phillies have brought Rose back into the public eye to the dismay of many fans.
Ahead of Sunday’s game, Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Alex Coffey asked Rose what he would say to those who believe his presence at the event sent a negative message to women. Rose’s response? “It was 55 years ago, babe.”
Rose’s response is inappropriate at best and misogynistic at worst. Unfortunately, it only gets worse from here, as after the ceremony, Rose attempted to apologize to Coffey by jokingly offering her a thousand signed baseballs.
When asked by the Associated Press about his interaction with Coffey, Rose said, “if you don’t know a damn thing about it, don’t talk about it.”
Previously, the Phillies defended their decision to bring Rose back for the 1980 World Series celebration:
“In planning the 1980 reunion, we consulted with Pete’s teammates about his inclusion. Everyone wants Pete to be part of the festivities since there would be no trophy in 1980 without him. In addition, the club received permission from the Commissioner’s Office to invite Pete as a member of the championship team.”
As expected, Phillies fans and baseball fans in general were quite disgusted with Rose’s behavior toward a woman reporter who had every right to ask the question she did.