ESPN

• Vote: Is it time for Major League Baseball to reinstate Pete Rose?

Is a Hall of Fame really a Hall of Fame if neither the game's all-time hits leader nor its all-time home runs leader is enshrined? Or does the souvenir shop full of tacky gifts pretty much cover things?

As we hit 20 years since Bart Giamatti banned Pete Rose from the game for life, baseball's all-time hits leader appears no closer to earning a place in Cooperstown, despite support from the likes of Hank Aaron. And as it appears more and more evident that Barry Bonds has played his last MLB game (when Jason Giambi can get another look and you can't, it's over), the clock is ticking on his waiting period for Cooperstown consideration.

Could you have a hockey hall of fame without Gordie Howe or Wayne Gretzky? A Pro Football Hall of Fame without Walter Payton or Joe Montana? A National Museum of Play without jump ropes and crayons? The equivalent may soon be the case for baseball.

• 73 percent of SportsNation says Bud Selig's legacy is tied more closely to Rose than Goodell's legacy is to Michael Vick .
• SportsNation rates Rose's career ahead of those of Bonds, Roger Clemens and Shoeless Joe Jackson.
• SN Flashback: After his 2004 confession, 55 percent of voters wanted Rose in the HOF.
• SN Flashback: In 2002, more than 80 percent of SN wanted Rose in the HOF.
• Chat wrap: Rose biographer Mike Sokolove took questions Monday.

“

what everyone forgets is that unlike the NFL hall, the baseball hall has a 'morals clause', because of the Black Sox scandal. this allows the writers and veterans to look past a players numbers and keep them out of the hall, for whatever reason they chose.

” -- radioswade

“

Rose made people question his integrity. PED users made people question the integrity of baseball.

” -- god_of_modesty

“

Sorry to say but What i think is going to happen for Pete to get in really stinks I think that after the man dies he will be reinstated and get in to the hall which i think really sucks yeah he bet as a manager not player and has the most hits ever by a player LET HIM IN!!! Before baseball makes one of the biggest mistakes ever come on as humans are we not taught to forgive and forget?

” -- norm7289