Former Expos Groundskeeper Accuses Pete Rose of Corking Bats

Pete Rose? Unsavory behavior? No way. Must be a different Pete Rose.

Per a recent report, the Hit King's defense of his gambling (that he only bet on himself to win, and didn't negatively affect the game) may be a farce, in and of itself. According to former Expos groundskeeper Joe Jammer in a piece in the Montreal Gazette, Rose would routinely cork his bats in the visitor's clubhouse in Canada, part of a pattern of behavior that he suggests could have extended beyond merely Charlie Hustle's days in an Expos uniform.

According to Jammer, he uncovered a corking machine in the visitor's locker room that clubhouse assistant Bryan Greenberg claimed was for Rose's use. Rose circumvented the Expos' equipment manager, who he didn't believe would help him.

“The guy (Greenberg) was saying Rose had been corking his bat for 20 years,” Jammer told the Gazette. “The guy said that nobody checks him because he’s a singles hitter.”

Shortly thereafter, Rose was traded back to the Reds, where the next chapter of his scandal was soon publicized.

Greenberg refused to comment for the story, claiming, “I really can’t answer those questions. I really can’t talk about it.”