Pete Rose’s Final Words on the Hall of Fame, Trump’s Pardon, and the Lingering Controversy

Pete Rose, the MLB’s all-time hit king, passed away in September at the age of 83, leaving behind a legacy defined by both extraordinary achievement and enduring controversy. In one of his final interviews, conducted just ten days before his death, Rose reflected on his long-standing exclusion from the Baseball Hall of Fame and the reasons behind it. His words, aired on Fox & Friends, offered a poignant glimpse into his perspective on his career, his mistakes, and the meaning of baseball’s highest honor.

"I’ve come to the conclusion, I hope I’m wrong, I’ll make the Hall of Fame after I die," Rose told sportscaster John Condit. He continued, expressing his disagreement with this hypothetical scenario. "The Hall of Fame is for two reasons: your fans and your family. It’s for your family if you’re here. It’s for your fans if you’re here, not if you’re 10 feet under. What’s the point? Because they’ll make money over it? The Hall of Fame is for what you did on the field, not what you did off the field."

Rose’s statement encapsulates the core of the debate surrounding his Hall of Fame candidacy. His on-field accomplishments are undeniable. With 4,256 career hits, he stands alone atop the MLB’s all-time list. He earned the National League MVP award in 1974, was a 17-time All-Star, a three-time World Series champion, and a three-time batting title winner. These statistics firmly place him among the game’s all-time greats.

However, Rose’s career was irrevocably altered when allegations of gambling on baseball games surfaced. In 1989, he accepted a lifetime ban from MLB, effectively ending his playing career and indefinitely suspending his eligibility for the Hall of Fame.

Despite the ban, Rose maintained that he never bet against his own team. "I didn’t hurt any of my fans by betting on the game of baseball, and by the way betting on the game of baseball to win. Every game I played in I wanted to win," he stated in the recent interview. "I happened to win more than anybody else, but that’s OK, not bad."

Rose claimed he harbored no bitterness regarding his banishment from Cooperstown. "I’m not bitter about everything," he said. "When you make a mistake, don’t be bitter to other people. I wish I hadn’t made the mistake, but I did, it’s history, get over it."

Adding another layer to the complex narrative, former President Donald Trump announced his intention to grant Rose a complete pardon. In a Truth Social post, Trump lamented MLB’s "lack of courage or decency" in failing to induct Rose into the Hall of Fame, adding, "Now he is dead, will never experience the thrill of being selected, even though he was a FAR BETTER PLAYER than most of those who made it, and can only be named posthumously. WHAT A SHAME!"

Trump argued that Rose "shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING. He never betted 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." He urged MLB to "get off its fat, lazy a–, and elect Pete Rose, even though far too late, into the Baseball Hall of Fame!"

Rose applied for reinstatement in 2020 and 2022, citing the growing acceptance of legalized sports betting across the country as a potential justification. However, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred rejected both requests, deferring any Hall of Fame discussions regarding Rose to the Veteran’s Committee. Manfred also dismissed any speculation about Rose’s reinstatement in 2023, highlighting the league’s partnerships with sportsbooks.

Despite these rejections, there appears to be a glimmer of hope for Rose’s posthumous enshrinement. Manfred is reportedly considering a petition from Rose’s family to have him removed from baseball’s ineligible list. Removing him from the list is a crucial step in making him eligible for Hall of Fame consideration. If Manfred grants the petition, it would potentially pave the way for the Veteran’s Committee to reconsider Rose’s case and potentially fulfill his prediction of being inducted after his death.

While the Baseball Hall of Fame remains out of reach for now, Rose did receive recognition from the Cincinnati Reds, the team with which he achieved his greatest success. In 2016, the Reds inducted Rose into their own Hall of Fame and retired his No. 14 jersey. He also made several appearances at MLB ballparks in recent years, demonstrating his continued connection to the game and its fans.

The debate surrounding Pete Rose’s Hall of Fame eligibility is a complex one, involving questions of on-field achievement, off-field conduct, and the balance between the two. While Rose’s statistical accomplishments arguably merit induction, his violation of baseball’s cardinal rule against gambling has created an obstacle that has yet to be overcome.

Whether Rose ultimately receives baseball’s highest honor remains to be seen. The decision now rests largely with the Veteran’s Committee, who will have to weigh the evidence and decide whether his on-field brilliance outweighs his off-field transgressions. Regardless of the final outcome, Pete Rose’s legacy will forever be etched in baseball history as a player of unparalleled talent and a figure of enduring controversy. The coming months may reveal whether his final prediction regarding the Hall of Fame will come to pass, allowing his family and fans to finally celebrate his achievements within the hallowed halls of Cooperstown.