Mike Schmidt pleased Phillies can honor Pete Rose, doubts Hit King will see Cooperstown

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CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Mike Schmidt is happy that his former 1980 Phillies teammate Pete Rose has made it on this year's ballot for the team's Wall of Fame.

"I think that it's fantastic," Schmidt said Friday. "I think since they've allowed Pete to be recognized by major league teams in stadiums, I think it would be a wonderful thing for Pete to receive that honor.

"I think that him playing with us had a great impact on us winning that World Championship and going to another World Series. He helped all the guys around him get better -- especially me. I think that his stay in Philadelphia helped the team and the city. I think he should definitely be on the Phillies Wall of Fame."

Rose, baseball's all-time hits leader, was placed on baseball's permanently ineligible list in 1989 for wagering on baseball during his time as manager of the Cincinnati Reds. The ban precludes him from appearing on the ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Rose is still on the ineligible list and there are no indications that is about to change. However, commissioner Rob Manfred has shown some leniency in recent years and Rose has been able to participate in some ceremonial events. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds' Hall of Fame last summer and the Phillies recently received permission to put him on their ballot. Fans can vote on candidates on the team's website. The Wall of Fame ceremony will happen on Aug. 12.

Schmidt, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1995, has backed Rose for reinstatement to the game, a move that could open the door to Cooperstown. But Schmidt has doubts that will ever happen.

"We can talk all we want about whether he is deserving to be in the Hall of Fame," Schmidt said. "But there are certain rules and regulations that makes talking about it ridiculous. We all know that his statistics as a player are Hall of Fame statistics, maybe one of the greatest ever. But this subject has been beat around for how many years and I would say more than likely, Pete will never get into the Hall of Fame. I'm just giving a realistic opinion."

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