"Playing baseball for a living is like having a license to steal"

Pete Rose's quote is an amusing method of expressing the happiness of playing baseball for a living. He is recommending that playing baseball professionally is a privilege that permits one to earn a living doing something they like. It is a method of stating that playing baseball is an excellent chance and a terrific way to make a living. The phrase "license to take" is a metaphor for the capability to earn a living doing something that a person likes. It is a method of saying that playing baseball expertly is a great method to make a living which it is an opportunity to be able to do so. In essence, Pete Rose is stating that playing baseball for a living is a terrific chance and an excellent method to earn a living.