‘One of the greatest injustices’: Oscar Goodman defends Pete Rose to the end

Former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, a man who once said he would bet on two cockroaches racing across a kitchen floor, detested Pete Rose’ lifetime ban from Major League Baseball.

“Major League Baseball disgraced itself, the way they treated Pete Rose,” Goodman said Monday afternoon after learning Rose had died at age 83. “There is nothing wrong with someone betting on themselves. That’s the American way. If you believe in yourself, you bet that you’re going to win.”

Rose admitted in his 2004 autobiography that he bet on baseball, including Reds games, though he said he never bet against his own team.

Rose retired after the 1986 season with a Major League-record 4,256 hits, but his lifetime ban prevented him from being on the ballot to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

“I think it’s one of the greatest injustices that Major League Baseball, and maybe all major league sports, ever suffered,” Goodman said. “They just jumped on this poor guy.”

No signs of foul play

Clark County spokesperson Stephanie Wheatley said Rose’s cause of death was natural, brought on by Hypertensive and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease with a significant condition of Diabetes Mellitus.

Publicly, Rose was not known to be in grave health in the days leading to his death and had reportedly not been under the care of a doctor. Media reports indicate a family member found Rose. There were no signs of foul play.

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Rose said in divorce filings in 2018 he was “in poor health and disabled.” At that time, Rose’s lawyers said he struggled to walk, was taking blood thinners and had undergone three heart procedures in five years.”His health is deteriorating,” the court documents said.

Still drawing a crowd

Nonetheless, Rose was traveling across the country, especially as a hired sports star at sports-memorabilia events. Such Rose-autographed items as baseballs, hats, bats and posters have listed between $100 and $400 online.

Rose usually charged $100 to sign in-person at Las Vegas memorabilia shows, at such businesses as Field of Dreams at the Forum Shops at Caesars, and the Art of Music shops at Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand and The Mirage.

In a Facebook post Monday, just a day before his death, Rose was photographed while sitting in a wheelchair, with several of his Big Red Machine teammates, at the Music City Sports Collectibles and Autograph Show in Tennessee.

“Amazing that they all got to see each other one last time,” the post said.

In what would be the last video of Rose, a fan asks in a 15-second clip, “What is your gas-station snack-food of choice? What do you get at a gas station?” Rose looks up from signing a red Reds No. 14 jersey and says, “Gas!”

Rose posted about his grandson Peter Edward Rose III — known as PJ Rose — on Sept. 21, what would be his last social-media activity. The younger Rose has committed to play next year at La Salle University in Philadelphia, and was featured in a Philadelphia Inquirer story.

“Couldn’t be more proud of my grandson,” Rose posted. “Keep hustling with La Salle baseball. The #Rose legacy lives on.”

Vegas action

Rose lived the last several years of his life in Las Vegas, a frequent site at sports books. He was a frequenter of the books at Mandalay Bay and MGM Grand, where he hosted a radio-talk show in the 1990s.

In 2016, Goodman and Rose participated in a promotional video campaign for sport-wagering company William Hill. The two co-starred in a pair of commercial spots.

The clips were recorded after Goodman left office. At the end of the second ad, Goodman asks Rose, “So Pete, who do you like tonight?”

Rose’s reply: “Just don’t bet on Cincinnati.”

Goodman loved the “Hustle,” in Charlie Hustle.

“He was one of the greatest ball players of all time,” Goodman said, referring to Rose’s on-field tenacity. “I think he was a role model for every kid who wants to win, and that’s why he was nicknamed Charlie Hustle. I wish more kids would hustle these days.”

Cool Hang Alert

Invoking one of Goodman’s favorite haunts, The Mob Musuem, The Underground is popping with live entertainment Fridays through Sundays. This Friday it’s Katrina Bree, a popular singer-songwriter who has just released “Special Again,” her latest single.

Saturday it’s the terrific Amanda King and her Prohibition Three. Show times are 8 p.m.-midnight, no cover for those who can find the secret door (which everyone seems to know about) and know the password, published daily on Instagram @MobMuseum_Underground.

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.