In a recent announcement, former President Donald Trump declared his intention to pardon the late Major League Baseball icon Pete Rose.
Trump took to Truth Social on February 28 to express his views on Rose's controversial past, stating that while the baseball legend "shouldnt have been gambling on baseball," he only placed bets on "HIS TEAM WINNING." Trump further emphasized Rose's unparalleled achievements, noting that he "had the most hits, by far, in baseball history, and won more games than anyone in sports history."
As reported by Straight Arrow News, Rose, affectionately known as "Charlie Hustle," faced a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball and the Hall of Fame in 1989 due to his involvement in sports betting. An investigation revealed that Rose had placed bets on Cincinnati Reds games from 1985 to 1987, a period during which he both played for and managed the team. In 2004, Rose admitted to these allegations.
The Hall of Fame's board of directors subsequently decided that individuals on baseball's permanently ineligible list would not be eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot. Despite Rose's application for reinstatement, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred denied it in 2015, citing the fundamental rules of the sport.
"Pete Rose violated what is sort of rule one in baseball, and the consequences of that are clear in the rule, and weve continued to abide by our own rules," Manfred explained to the Baseball Writers Association of America in 2023.
John Dowd, who led the investigation into Rose for MLB in 1989 and later served as Trump's attorney, remarked to ESPN that MLB is "not in the pardon business nor does it control admission to the HOF." Trump's proposed pardon, which he plans to sign "over the next few weeks," remains unspecified in its scope. Rose's legal troubles extended beyond baseball, as he served five months in prison following a guilty plea to tax evasion charges in 1990.
Rose's illustrious career, spanning from 1963 to 1986, was predominantly with the Cincinnati Reds. He secured three World Series titles and holds Major League Baseball records for career hits, games played, at-bats, singles, and outs. Tragically, Pete Rose passed away in September 2024 at the age of 83 due to natural causes, leaving behind a complex legacy that continues to spark debate within the baseball community and beyond.
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