Baseball legend Pete Rose never lived to see his lifetime ban from Major League Baseball lifted, but former U.S. President Donald Trump is now attempting to posthumously clear Rose’s name and push for his long-denied Hall of Fame induction.
Rose, widely known as “Charlie Hustle,” remains MLB’s all-time hits leader, yet his legacy remains clouded by his gambling scandal from the 1980s, when he bet on games while serving as a player-manager for the Cincinnati Reds. His gambling led to a permanent ban from baseball in 1989, preventing him from entering the Hall of Fame despite his on-field accomplishments.
Trump, a longtime supporter of Rose, publicly blasted Major League Baseball on Friday, accusing the league of failing to show “courage or decency” in honoring one of its greatest players before his passing.
Trump’s Fiery Statement on Pete Rose
In a passionate post on Truth Social, Trump slammed MLB and announced plans to issue a pardon for Rose, though the specifics of the pardon remain unclear.
“Major League Baseball didn’t have the courage or decency to put the late, great Pete Rose—also known as ‘Charlie Hustle’—into the Baseball Hall of Fame. 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!
Anyway, over the next few weeks, I will be signing a complete PARDON of Pete Rose, who shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING. 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 all over the place, should get off its fat, lazy ass, and elect Pete Rose—even though it’s far too late—into the Baseball Hall of Fame!”
While MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has repeatedly denied Rose’s reinstatement, citing the league’s firm stance on gambling-related bans, Trump’s direct attack on the league adds a new layer of controversy to the decades-long debate surrounding Rose’s status.
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What Would a Pardon for Rose Actually Mean?
It remains unclear what legal impact Trump’s pardon would have. Rose’s ban from baseball was not the result of a criminal conviction but rather an MLB decision enforced by Commissioner Bart Giamatti in 1989. The lifetime ban has prevented Rose from appearing on Hall of Fame ballots, despite his unmatched career statistics.
However, Rose did have legal troubles beyond his MLB ban. In 1990, he pleaded guilty to filing false income tax returns for not reporting earnings on memorabilia sales and autograph signings. He served five months in prison, paid a $50,000 fine, and was sentenced to 1,000 hours of community service. If Trump’s pardon is connected to that conviction, it would be a symbolic act rather than one impacting his baseball status.
Reds Plan to Honor Rose Despite Past Disputes
While MLB refuses to reinstate Rose, his former team, the Cincinnati Reds, continues to honor his legacy.
Last year, the Reds planned a tribute to Rose but later canceled the ceremony due to disputes with his family. However, the organization is moving forward with multiple honors this season, including:
- Wearing No. 14 patches on their sleeves throughout the 2025 season in tribute to Rose.
- Hosting a special “Pete Rose Night” on May 14, a date chosen to reflect his legendary No. 14 jersey.
Rose’s Unparalleled Career
Despite his ban, Rose’s on-field accomplishments remain some of the greatest in baseball history.
Career Achievements:
- MLB All-Time Hits Leader (4,256)
- 3x World Series Champion (1975, 1976, 1980)
- 17x All-Star (at five different positions)
- 1973 NL MVP
- 1963 NL Rookie of the Year
- 2x Gold Glove Winner
- World Series MVP (1975)
- Led the NL in batting average (3x), hits (7x), runs (4x), doubles (5x), and OBP (2x)
Rose also holds MLB records for:
- Most career games played (3,562)
- Most at-bats (14,053)
- Most plate appearances (15,890)
Will Trump’s Pardon Change Rose’s Hall of Fame Status?
While Trump’s support for Rose is unlikely to influence MLB policy, it may reignite debates over whether Rose deserves posthumous induction into the Hall of Fame.
Some believe Rose’s gambling violations should permanently keep him out, while others argue that his on-field greatness far outweighs his mistakes—especially given MLB’s modern embrace of sports betting partnerships.
Regardless of Trump’s involvement, the fight over Pete Rose’s legacy, reinstatement, and Hall of Fame case is far from over.
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