President Donald Trump is stepping up to bat for a fallen baseball legend, announcing plans to posthumously pardon Pete Rose, MLB’s all-time hit leader who was banned from the sport and denied Hall of Fame honors despite his unparalleled achievements on the field.
At a Glance
- Trump announced plans to pardon baseball legend Pete Rose posthumously within “the next few weeks”
- Rose was permanently banned from MLB in 1989 for betting on games but only wagered on his team winning
- The baseball great died in September at age 83 without being inducted into the Hall of Fame
- Trump criticized MLB for lacking “courage or decency” in keeping Rose out of the Hall of Fame
- Rose holds the MLB record for most hits with 4,256 and was known as “Charlie Hustle” for his aggressive play
Trump Stands Up For Baseball Legend
In a powerful defense of one of baseball’s greatest players, President Donald Trump announced he will grant a posthumous pardon to Pete Rose, the legendary Cincinnati Reds player and manager who was banned from baseball for life in 1989. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, pointing out that Rose only bet on his own team to win games, never against them, which Trump sees as a crucial distinction that baseball officials have ignored for decades.
Not all pardons are political, remember! Sometimes it’s about doing what is simply right.
The President was clear in his criticism of Major League Baseball for its treatment of Rose, who passed away in September at 83 without ever receiving the sport’s highest honor. Trump’s pardon, while symbolic, represents a strong rebuke of what many conservative baseball fans have long considered an overly harsh punishment that ignored Rose’s tremendous contributions to America’s pastime.
Trump says he will pardon Pete Rose, delivers scathing statement to MLB on his Hall of Fame candidacy https://t.co/7Qns2ykkD9
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 1, 2025
Specifically, Trump blasted baseball leadership for its unwillingness to forgive Rose despite his record-setting career.
“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,” Trump posted to TruthSocial.
“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!”
The Hall of Fame board adopted a rule in 1991 preventing those on baseball’s permanently ineligible list from appearing on Hall of Fame ballots, effectively ending any chance Rose had of being inducted while alive. This technicality has kept one of baseball’s statistically greatest players out of Cooperstown, despite his record 4,256 career hits, a mark that remains unbroken and is widely considered unbreakable.
Known as “Charlie Hustle” for his aggressive playing style, Rose was a 17-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion during his illustrious career. His permanent ban came after an investigation found he had bet on Cincinnati Reds games from 1985-87 while managing the team. Rose’s legal troubles extended beyond baseball when he was convicted in 1990 for filing false tax returns, resulting in a five-month prison sentence.
What do you think – is this the right thing to do?
