Keep Red Players Out of Inquiry, Rose Says

Pete Rose said Saturday that anyone who believes his Cincinnati players can aid an investigation of charges that he gambled on the Reds is “looking for trouble.”

Rose, facing a lifetime ban if the charges are proved, has received the support of at least one player and the club’s radio announcer in attempting to downplay testimony obtained by baseball investigators.

In testimony to baseball investigator John Dowd, Paul Janszen alleged that Rose gambled on Red games and further charged that several people connected with the Reds knew about it. Janszen has said he traveled with and placed bets for Rose.

“I spend more time than anybody with Pete Rose,” Red broadcaster Marty Brennaman told the Dayton Daily News, adding that if Dowd “left no stone unturned, how come I was never talked to?”

Red relief pitcher John Franco had been linked to the investigation by reports that he introduced Rose to Michael Bertolini, a baseball memorabilia dealer who allegedly also helped Rose make bets. Bertolini and Franco went to the same Brooklyn high school, and Dowd’s report to Commissioner Bart Giamatti says Franco knew of Rose’s gambling.

Franco told the Dayton paper he met Bertolini once in a Brooklyn restaurant and, asked if Rose and Bertolini were close friends, said: “Could be.”

“We all know Pete liked to gamble,” Franco said, “but I don’t know anything about him gambling on baseball.”

Franco called Janszen’s testimony laughable. Brennaman said it was true, as Janszen testified, that Brennaman knew of Rose’s gambling, but “that might be one of the more truthful things Paul Janszen said. I have no indication, subtlely or openly, that Pete Rose bet on baseball.”

Rose told Newsday it was ridiculous to ask his players what he did off the field “because none of them know. They don’t know anything about what I do away from the ballpark. I’ve heard lots of stuff in the last couple of weeks that’s ridiculous, but I don’t think it’s funny.”