Baseball’s time-honored five tools are the ability to hit, run, throw, field, and hit for power. If the Pete Rose situation teaches us anything, baseball needs a sixth tool: character.
The passing of baseball’s all-time hit king, Pete Rose, has once again opened the debate as to whether or not his previous offenses should be forgiven, both by society at large and by the Baseball Writer’s Association of America, which holds his now posthumous Hall of Fame entry vote.
Vintage photo courtesy Cincinnati.com
There is no shortage of differing and strong opinions surrounding the topic, even though Rose knowingly and willingly violated MLB’s most sacred rule: do not bet on baseball.
While the debate over whether Pete Rose should be enshrined in Cooperstown will likely remain heated for some time, his story and situation shed light on a consequential matter: the place of, and expectations involving, personal character in baseball (and, by extension, in all sports).
From my vantage point, it is important enough to be added as baseball’s sixth tool. The first five tools are the ability to hit, run, throw, field, and hit for power; character would be the sixth. That said, in today’s time, how realistic is it to advance such an idea?
Today’s environment includes social media proliferation, enabling closer connections between athletes and fans. In unprecedented fashion, fans now have a lens through which they can see a player’s personal life and daily routines. But this lens is similar to the one we all project through our socials: people see what they want them to see.
Evaluating online presence and social media activity before the draft day is significant because it gives fans a glimpse into a player’s character. We live in an age where mistakes can be exposed globally at lightning speed, and harsh consequences can be issued just as swiftly. So, what is the potential for embarrassment to the organization?
Photo courtesy Boston Big Four
The case of Mitchell Miller in the NHL is an example of a breach of an organization’s core values that was missed during the draft evaluation process.
Miller was, and still is, a highly skilled defenceman formerly of the University of North Dakota and now with Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). After being drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in 2020, Miller’s initial contract was rescinded. Later, the Boston Bruins closely examined Miller’s past behavior and determined that his entry-level contract be terminated.
Those decisions stemmed from documentation of Miller having severely bullied a disabled classmate throughout his grade school years. The offenses were shocking, involving repetitive racial slurs and other disturbing examples of abuse. Despite that, the Coyotes seemed to have taken on a position that Miller deserved a second chance to make amends and commit to behavior change.
For his part, Miller botched the opportunity to repent, apologizing only to NHL teams interested in signing him but never to the victim and his family. Miller showed neither remorse nor took no responsibility for his actions. Even when offered a path to repentance and forgiveness, a pattern of behavior emerged that the clubs could not accept.
For sure, athletes are more exposed than ever. Still, most people are forgiving by nature, and that cultural trait is evident in the widespread belief that Pete Rose should be voted into baseball’s Hall of Fame. But here is a vital part of the story. Rose violated a sacred rule of the sport and failed (like Miller) to own up to what he did. Rose had opportunities to work toward change and become a better person. Instead, he did not.
The margin for error in player evaluation, at least in the character department, is thin. While the expression “nobody is perfect” remains a steadfast opinion in our culture, it carries little to no weight in how an athlete is viewed. The projection of perfection in sports is very much with us, explicit in how an athlete builds and sustains their brand. Behave, play well, smile for the camera, and show some degree of intelligence.
Is it a tall order to expect, if not demand, character in our players? You bet it is. However, that “sixth tool” is as essential as showing excellence in fields of play, and I believe it should be valued more than ever. Pete Rose is a classic case of why.
I WOULD AGREE WITH YOUR ANALYSIS AND I’D GO ONE STEP FURTHER, ARGUING THAT THE 6TH ATTRIBUTE YOU SUGGEST wOULD BE THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT ONE TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE EVALUATION OF A PLAYERS CAREER.