ESPN report: Rose bet as player
ESPN says it obtained a notebook that shows Pete Rose bet on Cincinnati Reds games during his last season as an active player in 1986.
The career hits leader agreed to a lifetime ban from baseball in 1989 after an investigation by John Dowd, a lawyer retained by Major League Baseball, concluded he bet on the Reds to win from 1985-87 while he was a player and manager.
Rose repeatedly denied the allegations before admitting in a 2004 autobiography he bet on Cincinnati to win while he managed the team. Rose became player-manager in 1984 and managed the team until the suspension in August 1989.
ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” said it obtained a notebook seized by U.S. Postal Inspection Service in October 1989 from Rose associate Michael Bertolini, which reflect betting records from March to July 1986. The documents are under seal and stored in the National Archives’ New York office, ESPN said.
Tigers’ Cabrera takes lead
Some later-voting fans aren’t on the Kansas City Royals’ All-Star bandwagon.
Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera has overtaken Kansas City’s Eric Hosmer in the latest results of All-Star fan voting, leaving seven Royals on track to start the game next month.
The leads of Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas and designated hitter Kendrys Morales narrowed.
The game is July 14 at Cincinnati. Major League Baseball says the record for the most starters from one team is held by the 1939 New York Yankees with six.
Cabrera, a nine-time All-Star, has 9.3 million votes and leads Hosmer by 1.38 million. A week ago, Hosmer was ahead by by 470,000. Cabrera’s vote total of 9.3 million is second overall in the A.L. to Royals catcher Salvador Perez’s 10.2 million.
Kansas City second baseman Omar Infante, hitting .229 with 18 RBIs, extended his lead over major league batting champion Jose Altuve of Houston.
Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar also leads. The Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout moved into the outfield lead, trailed by Kansas City’s Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon. Detroit’s Yoenis Cespedes is about 1.9 million votes behind for the third and final starting spot.
Female SS registered for MLB
A female 16-year-old French shortstop has been added to the sport’s international registration list, making her eligible to be signed starting July 2.
MLB said it believes Melissa Mayeux is the first female player added to its international registration list. The sport’s international signing period runs from July 2 through June 15.
Aiken receives bonus from Indians
Brady Aiken, the 17th overall pick in this year’s amateur draft, will receive a signing bonus of just over $2.5 million from the Cleveland Indians. Aiken was the No. 1 overall selection in last year’s amateur draft by Houston but didn’t sign after the Astros became concerned about his elbow. Aiken had Tommy John surgery in March and won’t be able to pitch until next year.