Rose back in baseball?
Western league team considering hiring former Reds manager
Posted: Thursday December 31, 1998 06:47 PM
| |
Rose's banishment doesn't extend to the Western League, which operates outside of MLB's farm system Kirk Schlea/Allsport |
SACRAMENTO, California (AP) -- Former Cincinnati Reds manager
Pete Rose might become manager of the Sacramento Steelheads, a newly formed
team that will begin play next year in the independent Western Baseball
League.
Rose's agent, John Esposito, confirmed that he has had several
negotiating sessions in recent weeks with Steelheads owner Bruce Portner.
"It seems like it's got a chance, but we still got a lot of work to
do," Esposito said in an interview published Thursday in The Sacramento
Bee.
Portner said he has negotiated only with Esposito so far, but that he
expects to contact Rose directly in a few days.
"Pete and I still have to talk, and he has to feel good about the
league and the situation," Portner said. "One of the things he likes about
us is that we're not affiliated with organized baseball. I think it's
important for him to show organized baseball that he's still a very viable
and popular guy with the public."
Rose was banned from baseball in 1989 by then-Commissioner Bart
Giamatti for betting on games while managing the Reds.
Rose's banishment from baseball doesn't extend to the Western League,
which operates outside of Major League Baseball's farm system and is
roughly equivalent to Class A minor league ball.
Rose, 56, has operated a restaurant in Florida, hosted a sports radio
talk show and made appearances at many sports memorabilia events since
being banned from baseball.
During his 24-year playing career, Rose set records for most hits, most
games played and most at-bats.
Esposito said Rose is interested in the Steelheads because he views
Sacramento as a major media market where his managing efforts would draw
national attention.
"He doesn't want to manage in some independent league in New
Hampshire," Esposito said.
In addition to Sacramento, which is the California capital and the
nation's No. 20 broadcast media market, the best-known city in the Western
League is Reno, Nevada.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
| 
