John Dowd: Pete Rose committed statutory rape throughout baseball career

Gambling on baseball isn't close to the greatest transgression committed by Pete Rose, according to a recent claim by John Dowd.

Dowd, the investigator whose eponymous report was instrumental in getting Rose banned from Major League Baseball, alleged in a recent interview that one of Rose's former associates, Michael Bertolini, said the all-time hits leader committed statutory rape on young girls during his career as a player and manager.

"Michael Bertolini told us that he not only ran bets, but he ran young girls for him down in spring training," Dowd said during a recently surfaced July 13 interview with WCHE in West Chester, Pa. "Ages 12-14. Isn't that lovely? So that's statutory rape every time you do that."

Rose, who recently applied for reinstatement and was treated to a thunderous ovation before the All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park last month, was incredulous when apprised Thursday of Dowd's recent allegations.

"Oh, my god," Rose said when contacted via phone by Randy Miller of NJ.com. "Where was my family all of this time in spring training? I never went to spring training without my family except for first year when I was a rookie. It's shocking.

"What level are they going to reach to next? What's Dowd going to talk about next? Something from 50 years ago when I was 24 years old? I don't know why anybody would believe that. It's unbelievable. That's the best one so far."

Rose's attorney, Ray Genco, further denied and denounced Dowd's claims.

"The statements were malicious, untrue and are categorically denied," Genco wrote in an email. "They impact Pete's family and I respect his instinct to immediately protect them. I'd ask any person or entity associated with these statements to fully and immediately retract them."