Would Have Rehired Him : Cincinnati Reds Owner Thanks Rose for ‘the Great Memories’

Marge Schott, owner of the Cincinnati Reds, says she’s written to former Manager Pete Rose to thank him “for a lot of great memories.”

In her first comments since professional baseball banned Rose for life for gambling, Schott said she was responding to a letter in which Rose said he was sorry for the trouble he caused the team.

“It wasn’t exactly an apology,” Schott said Wednesday. “It’s sad that Pete to this day doesn’t feel he did anything wrong.”

Schott said she mailed her response to Rose on her way to Milwaukee for the meeting of club owners that elected Francis T. Vincent Jr. to replace the late A. Bartlett Giamatti as commissioner of major league baseball.

Giamatti banned Rose for life from professional baseball after Rose admitted to gambling illegally on sports.

“The only thing I feel bad about with Pete, and I’m sure he does too, in his heart, is that he had a very strong image to give to the children,” Schott said.

Schott said if Rose’s gambling hadn’t come to light, she would have rehired him to manage the Reds in 1990.

“If Pete were to ever come back and work for us in any capacity, things would have to change so his image would be a little better. The same things could not go on,” Schott said.