CINCINNATI -- Baseball commissioner Bud Selig kept a low profile in Pete Rose's hometown Monday as the Cincinnati Reds officially opened a new ballpark that pays tribute to the hits king.

Elder Bush throws first pitch

CINCINNATI -- Former President George Bush threw the ceremonial first pitch -- a strike that left him delighted -- as the Cincinnati Reds dedicated their new ballpark Monday to a patriotic theme. The Reds invited current President Bush to open Great American Ball Park, but he declined without explanation, allowing his father to fill in. The pregame ceremonies were wrapped in a patriotic theme. Reds owner Carl Lindner began by paying tribute to U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf, and fans waved 6-by-9-inch flags placed on each of the 42,263 seats. A trainer from the Cincinnati Zoo brought a bald Eagle onto the field before Daniel Rodriguez -- the "Singing Policeman'' from New York City -- sang "The Star-Spangled Banner.'' Dozens of red-white-and-blue streamers were shot from the roof and swirled in the wind as the crowd chanted "U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!'' Two transport planes from an Ohio military base flew overhead before former President Bush walked onto the field wearing a black Reds jacket to throw the ceremonial first pitch. Bush, a left-handed first baseman at Yale, stood on the grass in front of the mound and threw a strike to Reds shortstop Barry Larkin, crouched behind the plate. Bush waved his arms in delight at the on-target throw as the crowd roared. Bush then walked to a microphone behind home plate and told the crowd that it was an honor "to be off the bench substituting for another guy you know, the president of the United States of America.'' -- The Associated Press

Rose wasn't allowed to participate in the closing of Cinergy Field or the opening of Great American Ball Park because of his lifetime ban for gambling. Selig is highly unpopular in Cincinnati and stayed off the field for pregame festivities.

Many fans were angered that Rose was allowed to go on the field for two baseball-sponsored promotions at the World Series in recent years, but wasn't permitted to do the same with the Reds.

"I understand the feelings of people here,'' Selig said. "As somebody who knows baseball, I understand how popular he is here. That's one of the great things about baseball, the passion that it arouses in people.''

Rose applied for reinstatement in 1997 and met with Selig last Nov. 25. Selig hasn't given a timetable for deciding on the request.

"There's really not anything new,'' Selig said. "We're looking at a lot of things, and we'll continue to look at a lot of things, but I think it would be inappropriate to discuss it publicly.

"I know it's a subject that creates a lot of intense feelings on both sides. I know I've talked to Hall of Famers about it, including Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan and Mike Schmidt. That's one constituency that I have to listen to.''

Selig doesn't plan to poll Hall of Famers about their feelings. Some have publicly said that Rose doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame, while Schmidt and Morgan have pushed for Selig to reconsider the ban.

"A lot of people thought I was going to ask them to vote on it, but I don't want to polarize that group, and I know this is an issue that could do that,'' Selig said. "We're evaluating a lot of information, some that we haven't looked at before.''

Rose accepted a lifetime ban in August 1989, then spent time in prison for failing to pay federal taxes. He acknowledged gambling with bookmakers, but denied betting on baseball.

The new ballpark features photos and other mementos of Reds stars, including Rose. A rose garden will mark the spot where his record-breaking hit No. 4,192 landed in 1985 at adjacent Cinergy Field.

Rose turned down invitations to be grand marshal of the pregame parade and sit with the mayor in the ballpark for the opening game.