Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced via his social media platform, Truth Social, that he will grant a posthumous pardon to Pete Rose and push for his induction into the Major League Baseball (MLB) Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Rose passed away in September 2024 due to heart disease.
Who Was Pete Rose, and Why Is His Case So Controversial?
Pete Rose, also known as “Charlie Hustle,” holds the record for the most hits in MLB history (4,256). Over his career, he was named Rookie of the Year, made 17 All-Star appearances, won three batting titles, an MVP award, and three World Series championships.
However, in 1989, MLB found him guilty of betting on baseball games while managing the Cincinnati Reds, violating one of the league’s strictest rules. As a result, he was banned for life and deemed ineligible for the Hall of Fame.
Trump’s Statement and His Criticism of MLB
In his post, Trump harshly criticized MLB for keeping Rose out of the Hall of Fame, claiming he was “MUCH BETTER” than many inducted players. He stated that MLB “should get off its fat and lazy ass” and recognize Rose, even if it’s too late.
Trump did not specify what crime the pardon would apply to, but Rose previously served five months in prison for filing false tax returns.
Here’s part of Trump’s statement:
**”Major League Baseball didn’t have the guts or the decency to put the great and now deceased Pete Rose, aka ‘Charlie Hustle,’ into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Now he’s dead, and he will never experience the thrill of being selected, even though he was MUCH BETTER than most of the players who made it. What a disgrace!
Anyway, in the coming weeks, I will be signing a FULL PARDON for Pete Rose, who should not have bet on baseball, except ONLY on his own team to WIN. He never bet against himself or the other team. He had the most hits, by far, in baseball history and won more games than anyone in sports history. Baseball, which is dying everywhere, should wake up and finally induct Pete Rose into the Hall of Fame!”**
Could This Actually Change Anything?
One day after Trump’s announcement, reports surfaced that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred had met with Pete Rose’s daughter and his former attorney in December to discuss the case.
Manfred is currently reviewing a petition to remove Rose from MLB’s ineligible list, which would allow him to be considered for the Hall of Fame again.
Rose had previously requested reinstatement in 1997 and 2015, but both petitions were denied. In 2022, he wrote a letter to Manfred apologizing for his past gambling. However, Manfred told The Athletic:
“I believe that when you bet on baseball, from Major League Baseball’s perspective, you belong on the permanently ineligible list.”
Back in 2015, Manfred also stated:
“Mr. Rose has not presented credible evidence of a reformed life, nor has he honestly accepted responsibility for his misconduct, as clearly outlined in the Dowd Report. He has also not engaged in a rigorous, conscious, and sustained effort to distance himself from the circumstances that led to his permanent ineligibility in 1989.”
While Trump’s support could put additional public pressure on MLB, his pardon has no direct impact on the league’s disciplinary actions, which ultimately determine Rose’s eligibility for the Hall of Fame.
