Team cancels plans to honor Rose

The Phillies canceled plans to honor Pete Rose next week because of a woman’s claim she had a sexual relationship with baseball’s hit king when she was a minor.

The woman, identified as Jane Doe this week in a court filing, said Rose called her in 1973, when she was 14 or 15, and they began a sexual relationship in Cincinnati that lasted several years. She also alleges Rose met her in locations outside Ohio for sex.

Rose’s lawyer says the woman’s claims are unverified.

The Phillies were going to induct Rose into their Wall of Fame in an on-field ceremony Aug. 12. Rose bobbleheads were going to be distributed Aug. 11.

The Phillies will not give away the collectibles and said fans with tickets for either game can exchange them or get a refund.

“While I am truly honored that Phillies fans voted for me to be this year’s Wall of Fame inductee, I am concerned other matters will overshadow the goodwill associated with alumni weekend,” Rose said. “I agree with the decision not to participate.”

Rose helped the Phillies to one of their two World Series championships during his five seasons in Philadelphia from 1979-83. He was to become the 39th inductee into the club’s Wall of Fame.

“My baseball years in Philadelphia were amazing, not just because we won it all in 1980 and came close in 1983 but because the fans welcomed me from day one,” Rose said in April.

Rose acknowledged in a statement accompanying Monday’s filing that he did have a relationship with the woman, but he said it started when she was 16. He also said they never had sex outside Ohio.

At the time, Rose was in his mid-30s and married with two kids.