Rose to Tell of Blackmail Try, Paper Says : Reds Leader to Claim Extortion Attempts Led to Betting Accusations

Reds Manager Pete Rose will tell baseball investigators that an ex-friend’s attempt to blackmail him led to accusations that Rose bet on baseball games, a newspaper reported today.

The Cincinnati Post said that four sources, none of whom would permit their names to be used, told the newspaper Rose will tell investigators that Paul Janszen, a Cincinnati body builder now serving a six-month sentence for evading income taxes, tried twice last fall to blackmail him for $40,000.

Rose will say he rebuffed Janszen, who allegedly first threatened him, then lied to the commissioner’s office that Rose bet on baseball games, including Reds games. “It was extortion and blackmail,” one source told the Post.

Betting on Baseball?

The newspaper said its sources are close to baseball’s investigation of Rose, but it declined to identify them. The commissioner’s office is looking into what it termed “serious allegations” against Rose, and other sources have said the probe involved Rose’s gambling activities and whether he may have bet on baseball.

The Cincinnati Reds manager could be suspended from baseball for life if he bet on Reds games, and for a year if he bet on other teams.

No Comment From Giamatti

Because the Reds are in New York next week to play the Mets, there was speculation that he would meet with Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti, but the commissioner’s office today said it would not comment on whether such a meeting is planned.

Rose was en route with the Reds to Philadelphia for a series beginning tonight with the Phillies and could not be reached for comment. Rose’s lawyer, Reuven Katz, did not return a telephone call from the Associated Press.

Meanwhile, the Boston Globe reported today that a convicted bookmaker who has been linked to the Reds manager said Rose never bet on baseball games with him.

The newspaper said Joseph S. Cambra, 66, of Somerset declined to say during an interview whether Rose ever bet with him on other sports.

“Pete Rose never bet on baseball games with me. Never, you hear? Never,” Cambra is quoted as saying.

There had been reports that Rose had given his 1975 World Series ring to Cambra to pay off gambling debts and that a check from Rose was found in Cambra’s home during a raid Nov. 13, 1984.

Cambra, who had been arrested on bookmaking charges five times before, pleaded guilty after the raid and was given a one-year suspended sentence and fined $2,000.

During the interview, Cambra wore a copy of Rose’s 1975 World Series ring, the Globe said, and produced evidence he bought it Nov. 9, 1987, for $3,150 from the Balfour Co. of Attleboro, which makes World Series rings.

“Pete has his ring, the original, and this is a copy, a gift for my birthday,” Cambra said.