Pete Rose’s Suspension Appeal Turned Down by Review Panel

Pete Rose’s 30-day suspension was upheld Friday by a review panel, which turned down the Cincinnati manager’s appeal after refusing to accept his reasons for shoving an umpire.

The National League’s three-member Executive Committee unanimously affirmed the harshest punishment for a manager in 40 years. But NL President Bart Giamatti, who imposed the ban and a $10,000 fine, made the suspension retroactive to Monday and said Rose could return June 1 instead of June 4.

“I’m a whole lot disappointed. I thought then and now that the suspension is too long,” Rose said. “I got a chance to tell my side of the story.

“It was wrong to touch an umpire, especially twice, but he provoked me by touching me in the face. I hate to say it, but I’d probably do it again if the same situation came up.”

Rose was penalized for twice pushing umpire Dave Pallone in the ninth inning of last Saturday night’s Mets-Reds game at Riverfront Stadium.

Rose’s fine was left intact.

“I thought I’d get 5 or 10 days and a couple thousand dollars,” Rose said at a news conference in his hotel after the panel’s decision. “It’ll all be forgotten when we win the West.”

The Executive Committee said: “The committee carefully reviewed all of the videotapes of the incident, heard evidence from Mr. Rose and his representative, and heard a full explanation of the reasons for the suspension from Mr. Giamatti. In view of all of the evidence and testimony heard, and after careful deliberation, the executive committee unanimously upholds the 30-day suspension imposed.”

The panel that heard Rose’s 1 1/2-hour appeal consisted of Bill Bartholomay, board chairman of the Atlanta Braves; Claude Brochu, president of the Montreal Expos, and Chub Feeney, president of the San Diego Padres and former NL president.

Giamatti immediately said he was pleased with the decision and then modified the suspension.

“I have heard Mr. Rose’s explanation, and in light of his service to baseball and the remorse expressed, I will count the time he has spent away from the team this week as part of his suspension,” he said.

Rose has not managed since Sunday because he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.

Rose met with Giamatti before facing the review board, hoping to persuade him to reduce the suspension to two weeks. Giamatti was said to be amenable to lessening the monthlong penalty, but not to 14 days.

Rose will be permitted to be in uniform and in the dugout and on the field before games. He cannot be in uniform and near the field, dugout or clubhouse during games.

“I’ll probably sit upstairs with Murray,” Rose said, motioning toward Red General Manager Murray Cook.

Coach Tommy Helms will run the club in Rose’s absence. Earlier Friday, Helms called Rose about the lineup for Friday night’s game against New York and asked whether Rose wanted Tracy Jones to start against Met pitcher Dwight Gooden.

Rose arrived at league headquarters with videotapes and accompanied by his lawyer, Reuven Katz, and Cook.

“This was the one appeal we get. It’s over and we accept it for that,” Katz said.

Cincinnati first baseman Nick Esasky said: “We all think it was kind of steep. Maybe they were trying to make an example of Pete.”