The debate over the eligibility of Pete Rose, the late Cincinnati Reds star, for the Baseball Hall of Fame has intensified, with President Donald Trump adding his voice to the discussion.
Rose's eligibility became a hot topic following his death last year, and the subsequent removal of his name, along with several others, from the ineligible list by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in May.
According to Fox News, Manfred acknowledged during a news conference at an owners meeting on Wednesday that Trump's support for Rose was among the factors that influenced his decision. "The president was one of a number of voices that was supportive of the idea that this was the right decision," Manfred stated. "Obviously, I have respect for the office and the advice that he gave I paid attention to, but I had a lot of other people that were weighing in on the topic, as well."
In March, Trump announced on Truth Social his intention to pardon Rose. He met with Manfred in April to discuss Rose's Hall of Fame candidacy. Trump expressed his disappointment that Rose, also known as 'Charlie Hustle,' had not been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame during his lifetime.
"Major League Baseball didnt have the courage or decency to put the late, great, Pete Rose, 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!" Trump wrote.
Trump further stated his plan to pardon Rose, who he acknowledged had gambled on baseball, but only on his own team winning. "Anyway, over the next few weeks I will be signing a complete PARDON of Pete Rose, who shouldnt 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. Baseball, which is dying all over the place, should get off its fat, lazy a--, and elect Pete Rose, even though far too late, into the Baseball Hall of Fame!"
Rose, who passed away last September at the age of 83 from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, had been a controversial figure in the baseball world. His admission to gambling in 2004, after years of denying the allegations, only added to the controversy.
It was discovered that Rose had gambled on the Reds, but only when he was confident of a win, during his tenure as both a player and a manager.
The campaign to secure a place for Rose in Cooperstown gained momentum on May 13. "This issue has never been formally addressed by Major League Baseball, but an application filed by the family of Pete Rose has made it incumbent upon the Office of the Commissioner to reach a policy decision on this unprecedented issue in the modern era as Mr. Rose is the first person banned after the tenure of Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis to die while still on the ineligible list. Commissioner Manfred has concluded that MLBs policy shall be that permanent ineligibility ends upon the passing of the disciplined individual," the MLB announced.
Rose, who predicted 10 days before his death that he would not be inducted into the Hall of Fame until after his death, if at all, remains a figure of contention in the baseball world. His story serves as a reminder of the complexities and controversies that often accompany the world of sports.
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