the Philadelphia Phillies are trying to shift the blame elsewhere after inviting Pete Rose back to the ballpark. Rose, who the team previously distanced itself from after he was accused of having a relationship with a minor, is expected to appear at Citizens Bank Park on Aug. 7 as part of a celebration of the team’s 1980 World Series win.
The team said it consulted with Rose’s former teammates and said the commissioner’s office approved the invite.
The invitation is notable, as it marks the first time in years Rose was invited to the park. The team was supposed to honor Rose’s induction into the Phillies’ wall of fame in 2017, but rescinded that offer after court documents alleged Rose had a relationship with a minor in the ’70s.
Rose was accused of having an extra-marital relationship with a girl under the age of 16.Those documents emerged after Rose sued John Dowd, who oversaw MLB’s investigation into Rose in the ’80s, for defamation. They did not result in a criminal charge for Rose because the statute of limitations in Ohio passed when the allegations emerged.
In addition to those accusations, Rose is also banned from baseball due to a gambling scandal. If Rose appears at Citizens Bank Park on Aug. 7, it will mark the first time since his ban that he’s been back on the Phillies’ field since accepting a lifetime ban.
