I bet on my own team to win. That's what I did in a nutshell. I was wrong, but I didn't taint the game. I bet on my team every night because that's the confidence that I had in my players. And I was wrong.
Though he had been banned from baseball since 1989, served five months in a federal prison camp for income tax evasion, was a known philanderer and a largely unsuccessful gambler, Rose remained one of the most beloved former athletes in the nation.
Such is the dichotomy of Peter Edward Rose. He was the squatty switch hitter with the '50s flattop crewcut, the guy in the dirty uniform who ran hard to first base on walks, slid headfirst, signed autographs without hesitation and was a charming, engaging storyteller.
For years, he denied he'd bet on games while a player and manager for the Reds - a team he'd led to glory again and again.
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