It is ironic that the most uniquely major league baseball player of my youth passed away on the last day of the regular season. When I was learning the game in Little League, Pete Rose was showing the world his wealth of talents. He earned the nickname “Charlie Hustle” by giving all he had every time he put on his number 14 uniform. 

Speaking of numbers, Pete Rose in his 24 years in the big leagues was a transcendental player. Here are some of the records he holds. In no particular order most career at bats 14,053, most career hits 4256 which broke Ty Cobb’s long-standing record, most career games played 3562 and  he was the only player to play at least 500 games at 5 different positions first base, left field, third base, second base, right field.

Rose was a lock to get into the Hall of Fame. When his playing career was over, he managed the Cincinnati Reds. It was revealed that he had bet on baseball; breaking a rule that players were not allowed to place bets on the games. The punishment was a lifetime suspension. Soon thereafter the Hall of Fame ruled that he was ineligible to be put on the ballot for possible enshrinement.

Baseball is still a game of numbers. Players compile statistics that enable them to earn a living that years ago was unheard of for a baseball player. I remember as a kid learning that Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale on the Los Angeles Dodgers were holding out for $100,000 a year. And this year the Dodgers again made the headlines regarding a player’s salary. Shohei Ohtani signed a very unusual contract. The total package is $700 million although most of it is spread out over a prolonged period of ten years.

Like Pete Rose, Shohei Ohtani is a one-of-a-kind ballplayer. He is a premier pitcher and has offensive skills that were showed off this past season. His race to be the first player to have fifty home runs and fifty stolen bases captured the sports news on an evening basis.

Before the season started this year, Ohtani was accused of betting on sporting events including baseball. But this was a different time and a different era from the situation that Pete Rose was found in. 

When his gambling came to light it presented a big problem for Major League Baseball. Shohei Ohtani is the poster child and face of  baseball. Eventually it was announced that although it was his money, he was unaware that his translator had taken money from his account and bet millions on sporting events. Ohtani claimed to know nothing about that. Major League Baseball was content with his denial of sports betting. The blame was not on him but fell on his translator.

But here’s what really bothered me. When you sign a contract worth $700 million you must have a team of accountants, lawyers and advisors watching your money. 

I don’t believe that they didn’t know what was happening with Shohei Ohtani’s finances. It seemed too convenient to blame everything on the translator. That saved Major League Baseball from finding or suspending Ohtani for part or all of the season.

 I can’t believe that Shohei Ohtani was not told of the situation when it was first discovered. However, when they saw millions of dollars being taken from his account didn’t his reps have the responsibility to tell him. And if not, didn’t they violate their fiduciary responsibility.

Like Pete Rose, Shohei Ohtani is an incredibly unique ballplayer. He has all the skills. In the history of baseball, the only player who excelled at pitching and batting was the legendary Babe Ruth. Ohtani excels at both.

There’s so much irony in the association between Pete Rose and Shohei Ohtani. Both excelled at the game and somehow both were caught up in a gambling scenario.

This year’s regular season of baseball began with the Shohei Ohtani gambling investigation and announcement. As a fitting ending to the same baseball season Pete Rose went to the Hall of Fame up in heaven.

Hudson Cooper is a resident of Sullivan County, a writer, comedian and actor.