Baseball Fans Back Lifetime Ban of Pete Rose by 56-42 Percent

The Harris Poll

For release: Sunday AM, September 3, 1989 1989 137 ISSN 0895-7983

BASEBALL FANS BACK LIFETIME BAN OF PETE ROSE BY 56-42 PERCENT

By Louis Harris Both baseball fans and the general public endorse Cmissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti's decision to ban Pete Rose from baseball for life. Baseball fans support the Comnissioner's action by 56-42 percent, while the entire public backs his action by a slightly closer 52-41 percent according to this Harris Poll, taken by telephone, between August 25th and 29th among a representative cross section of 1,250 adults nationwide, including 884 baseball fans. while these results show a sizable minority who would not have taken such drastic action, they represent a dramatic change of heart on the part of both the public and baseball fans from last March when the charges against the former Cincinnati Reds manager were first made. Back then, a solid 55 percent majority would have simply had the Comissioner take him to task for betting on baseball, but then would have "given [him] another chance." Now the fans believe Commissioner Giamatti was right by a 14 point margin. The reasons are evident from this special Harris Sports Survey: -- An 84 percent majority of baseball fans are convinced that Rose was guilty of betting on baseball games. Such an infraction of baseball's rules could bring him an automatic suspension from the game for one year. -- A 68-22 percent majority of baseball fans are also convinced that Rose was guilty of betting on his own team, the Reds. Such a violation of the rules calls for a ban from the game for life. These results are significant, since the official agreement signed by both Commissioner Giamatti and by Rose did not affirm or deny that he had bet on baseball games or specifically on Reds games. However, Giamatti did say that in his personal view, from his own investigator's report, in the absence of other data, that Rose did make such bets. The public and fans drew the same conclusions as the Comissioner. In another result, however, a sizable 71-27 percent majority of baseball fans do not believe that Pete Rose should be banned from the Baseball Hall of Fame. The public concurs in this judgment by a 68-25 percent margin. One of the controversies arising from both the Conmissioner's press conference, and the one held by Pete Rose afterwards, is whether or not Rose was treated fairly by the entire process: -- By 69-28 percent, baseball fans believe he was treated fairly. -- On whether or not the Comissioner really wanted to have a hearing for Rose, which Rose implied was not the case, a 62-18 percent majority of fans are convinced it was Rose who avoided a hearing, not the Comissioner. One other interesting finding from this study indicates that baseball fans who bet on games, 26 percent of all the fans, and 18 percent of all adults in the country, have quite a different view of the Rose case. while they think Rose was treated fairly and had a chance for a hearing, a higher percentage is convinced that he did bet on baseball and specifically on Cincinnati Reds games. However, when asked about Giamatti's decision, these bettors come down on his side by only the narrowest of 50-49 percent margins. And a very high 78-19 percent majority of baseball fan bettors think Rose should be admitted to the Hall of Fame. Clearly, bettors tend to believe that betting does not merit the serious penalties it now receives under baseball rules.

( over 1 THE HARRIS POLL September 3, 1989

TABLES Between August 25th and 29th, the Harris Poll asked a nationwide cross section 1 of 1,250 adults, including 884 baseball fans, by telephone: STATEMENTS ON PETE ROSE CASE "Let me ask you about a sports matter -- the Pete Rose case. As you know, Baseball Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti has banned him from baseball for life, because he apparently bet on baseball games, including his own team. Rose can ask for reinstatement each year, but the Codssioner has final say over whether or not he will even consider it. There is no appeal of the Commissioner's ruling now or in the future. All in all, from what you have seen or heard, do you feel (READ EACH STATEXENC) or not?" Follow baseball base: 884 Follow baseball and know someone close who bets base: 332 Don't Not -Feel -feel Sure % % % Pete Rose was guilty of betting on baseball games, which could get him suspended from baseball for one year TOTAL follow baseball follow baseball closely follow baseball and someone close bets Pete Rose was treated fairly in this case TOTAL follow baseball follow baseball closely follow baseball and someone close bets Rose also bet on games his own team was involved in, which could get him banned from baseball for life mAL follow baseball follow baseball closely follow baseball and someone close bets The Commissioner was willing to have a hearing but Rose never agreed to come to such a hearing TOTAL follow baseball follow baseball closely follow baseball and someone close bets The decision to ban Rose from baseball for life was the right decision for the Commissioner to make TOTAL follow baseball follow baseball closely follow baseball and someone close bets Pete Rose should be banned from the Baseball Hall of Fame TOTAL follow baseball follow baseball closely follow baseball and someone close bets

(*) = less than 0.5 percent (continued) b THE HARRIS POLL -3- September 3, 1989

b FOLLOW BASEBALL CLOSELY

"Do you follow baseball closely, somewhat, or hardly at all?"

Closely Somewhat Hardly at all Never (~01.1 ~otsure PATTEEINS OF BETTING ON SPORTS "Do you know anyone who bets on sports, or not?" "Is that person who bets on sports close to you or not?" Follow Follow Total Baseball Baseball Public Closely( 22%) In general(70%) % % % Know someone who bets on sports Know someone Don't know someone Not sure

Bettor close to YOU Close to you Not close to you b Not sure

(*) = less than 0.5 percent (-1 = no response METHODOLOGY This Harris Poll was conducted by telephone within the United States between August 25th and 29th, among a nationwide cross section of 1,250 adults. Figures for age, sex, race and education were weighted where necessary to bring, them into line with their actual proportions in the population. In a sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results have a statistical precision of plus or minus 3 percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult population had been polled. This statement conforms to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls. Contact Louis Harris and Associates, Inc., Information Services, 630 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10111, (212) 698-9600, for complete demographic details for the questions in this release.