Former baseball star Pete Rose is suing the lawyer whose investigative report got him kicked out of baseball for gambling, alleging the lawyer defamed him last year by saying on the radio Rose raped young teen girls during spring training.
Rose said in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday that John Dowd damaged his reputation and endorsement deals during an interview on WCHE-AM in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Dowd investigated Rose for Major League Baseball in 1989, leading the game’s all-time hits leader to be made ineligible for the Hall of Fame.
The lawsuit states Dowd claimed Rose associate Michael Bertolini said he “ran young girls” to Rose during spring training, which Dowd called “statutory rape every time.”
A man answering a phone listed for Dowd in Massachusetts abruptly hung up.
METS: Struggling pitcher Matt Harvey was placed on the disabled list because of right shoulder discomfort.
The Mets said he was seen by team doctors and referred to Dr. Robert Thompson for further examination Thursday in St. Louis. The former ace is 4-10 with a 4.86 ERA in 17 starts, but he and the team had insisted all season he was healthy.
BLUE JAYS: Right-hander Marco Estrada went on the disabled list because of a sore lower back and will not play in the All-Star Game.
Estrada, who left Saturday’s start after five innings because of back pain, still intends to travel to San Diego for All-Star festivities. The first-time All-Star is 5-3 with a 2.93 ERA in 16 starts.
MARINERS: Seattle placed right-hander Taijuan Walker on the DL with a lingering problem in his right foot just as injured ace Felix Hernandez took a big step toward his return from the DL by pitching in a simulated game.
PIRATES: Chicago police said Tuesday that they are investigating an allegation of sexual assault against infielder Jung Ho Kang.
CUBS: Chicago placed catcher David Ross on the seven-day concussion DL and designated veteran reliever Joel Peralta for assignment.
MARLINS: Miami placed first baseman Justin Bour on the 15-day DL with a sprained right ankle. Bour is batting .268 with 15 homers.
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