Trump to pardon Pete Rose

Pete Rose was one of the most electrifying players in Major League Baseball during the 1970s and 1980s. However, his career was overshadowed by accusations of betting on Cincinnati Reds games in which he participated.

Now, just months after his passing, Rose is set to receive a presidential pardon. On Friday, US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he plans to pardon Rose, who served five months in prison in 1990 for filing false tax returns.

Trump explains why he will pardon Pete Rose

“Over the next few weeks, I will be signing a complete pardon for Pete Rose, who shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING,” Trump wrote. “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 the history of the sport.”

Pete Rose holds numerous all-time Major League Baseball records, including most games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053), hits (4,256), and singles (3,215). Over the course of his career, he played for the Cincinnati Reds, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Montreal Expos.

Rose was a 17-time All-Star, won three batting titles, earned two Gold Gloves, and was named the National League MVP in 1973. He also claimed three World Series championships—two with the Reds (1975 and 1976) and one with the Phillies (1980). His remarkable career achievements have solidified his legacy as one of the most prolific players in baseball history.

While closely linked to MLB, the Hall of Fame follows its own criteria and generally does not honor players who have been banned.

Rose was accused of betting on his team’s games

Pete Rose’s life took a dramatic turn in 1989 when he agreed to a lifetime ban from baseball following accusations that he had placed bets on MLB games while serving as both a player and manager. Speculation swirled that he had wagered on Cincinnati Reds games, which he adamantly denied for years.

However, in his 2004 autobiography, My Prison Without Bars, Rose admitted to having placed bets on Reds' games. This admission has kept him barred from induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, a lasting blemish on his storied career.

Rose sadly passed away in Las Vegas on 30 September 2024, aged 83. “Our hearts are deeply saddened by the news of Pete’s passing,” Reds principal owner Bob Castellini said in a statement. “He was one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen, and every team he played for was better because of him. Pete was a Red through and through. No one loved the game more than Pete and no one loved Pete more than Reds Country. We must never forget what he accomplished.”

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