Wilson, Rose Led Similar Paths

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:



Today I’d like to say a brief word about former Kansas City Royals centerfielder Willie Wilson. Wilson was one of my heroes growing up; it pained and confused me to learn of his legal issues, and his post-retirement distance from the club has been a thorn in my side as well.



A recent article in The Pitch, a Kansas City area weekly, discusses his desires to lift the gray associated with his name and the organization. He wants to shed his bitterness, embrace the brilliant career that he had here as a player and start a new one as an instructor; the feeling appears mutual.



Wilson was one of four Royals suspended by the late commissioner Bowie Kuhn in 1984. Wilson’s original yearlong suspension was reduced, and Wilson was the only player kept by the club. My point in bringing all of this up centers on second chances. If Wilson was offered second chances by both the commissioner of baseball and the entire Kansas City Royals organization, why can’t Major League Baseball do the same for Pete Rose?



Rose deserves another chance. Please, set a token model for forgiveness, and lift the ban. It’s far time Rose had the opportunity to remove the gray associated with his name and with professional baseball.