Pete Rose, the former Major League Baseball player and manager, has an unlikely connection to New Bedford.

Recently the baseball pro has been dealing with the brunt of his infamous betting scandal that has become synonymous with the Rose legacy.

The scandal has been hanging over his head for years now and even affected a man, Tommy Gioiosa, with connections to both Rose and the SouthCoast.

Gioiosa, a New Bedford native, went to jail in 1990 rather than betray his hero and friend Pete Rose. Back when the sports player was being investigated for tax fraud, betting on games and involvement with cocaine Gioiosa refused to speak to investigators about the case and eventually paid the price.

Gioiosa speaks to Vanity Fair about the worldwind of being with Rose during that difficult time and even details a visit to New Bedford. To view the entire story visit Vanity Fair News.

On Monday the notebook kept by Rose’s bookie, Michael Bertolini, was released by ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” and it showed that Rose did in fact bet on baseball when he was a player.

Rose has admitted in the past to betting on the sport as a manager for the Cincinnati Reds, but has denied ever betting as a player.

Additional reporting by Victoria Meneses

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