Every Rose has its thorn

Don't tell Bud Selig, but it's been hard to look past fallen star Pete Rose this year. Mr. Rose may be banned from baseball, but his old team's new stadium still commemorates him. Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park includes photos and mementos of the star slugger amid those of other Reds greats.

A rose garden will mark the spot where his record-breaking hit-No. 4,192-landed in 1985 at the now-demolished Riverfront Stadium. There's also a lounge called Club 4,192. Reds chief operating officer John Allen said "about the only place you won't see him will be with the retired numbers."

Cincinnati baseball fans still revere Mr. Rose, even after the allegations of illegal gambling, the expulsion from baseball, and a tax-evasion conviction. And now more than ever, Mr. Rose could be closer to reinstatement than ever before. The Hit King is scheduled to meet with baseball commissioner Bud Selig about reinstatement this spring. And sentiment among baseball's elite seems to be tipping in Mr. Rose's favor. Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, and Mike Schmidt-all former teammates of Mr. Rose-have each met with Mr. Selig and called for the Hit King's reinstatement.