Cincinnati, Ohio – President Donald Trump announced on Friday his intention to pardon baseball legend Pete Rose, criticizing Major League Baseball for banning the all-time hit champion from the sport’s hall of fame due to his involvement in gambling. Rose, who passed away last year at the age of 83, was banned from baseball for life after admitting in 2004 that he had placed bets on games, although not against his own team.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “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.” The President highlighted Rose’s record-breaking career, emphasizing that he never bet against himself or his team, and held numerous records in baseball history. Despite these achievements, Rose was not formally convicted of any crimes.
The decision to pardon Rose comes amid controversies surrounding the player, including allegations that surfaced in 2017 regarding a sexual relationship he had in the 1970s with a girl who was reportedly under the age of 16 at the time. The Philadelphia Phillies canceled a ceremony honoring Rose in light of these accusations, although Rose maintained that the girl was of legal age at the time.
Throughout his career, Rose played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1963 to 1986, winning three World Series titles and holding multiple records in Major League Baseball for hits, games played, at-bats, singles, and outs. Despite his contributions to the sport, Rose’s legacy has been overshadowed by his gambling scandal, leading to his exclusion from the baseball hall of fame.
As discussions surrounding Rose’s pardon continue, Trump’s decision raises questions about the intersection of sports, ethics, and personal conduct in the realm of professional athletics. By pardoning Rose, the President seeks to address what he perceives as an unjust punishment levied against a player who made significant contributions to the sport of baseball. Whether this gesture will reshape Rose’s legacy and impact his standing in the baseball community remains to be seen.