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Donald Trump recently took to social media, declaring that he would pardon baseball legend Pete Rose. And now, almost like clockwork, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is suddenly considering whether to remove Rose from the ineligible list—a decision that could finally open the door to the Hall of Fame for one of baseball’s most controversial figures.
Yes, we’re hitting pause on the White House drama—no Oval Office meetings with Trump and Zelensky today—and instead, diving into some baseball. Maybe that’s why Trump brought it up, too. After all, we all could use a change of pace.
Pete Rose died in September of 2024 at the age of 83. In brief, he was baseball’s all-time hits leader, played for 24 seasons, and earned 17 All-Star selections. He won three World Series and three batting titles, holding records for most games played and at-bats.
Growing up in southern Ohio, having a Cincinnati Reds game on the television set wasn’t just a leisure activity; it was the law. It was glorious to watch The Big Red Machine back in the day.
It stands uncontested as the most famous lineup in Reds history: Johnny Bench behind the plate, an infield comprised of Tony Perez at first base, Joe Morgan at second base, David Concepcion at shortstop and Pete Rose at third base with an outfield comprised of Ken Griffey in right, Cesar Geronimo in center and George Foster in left. It is this group that powered the Big Red Machine to consecutive World Championships in 1975 and 1976 and it is this group that made the Machine one of the greatest teams the game has ever seen.
The fabled Great Eight starting lineup was born out of a favor a manager asked of his team captain. It was May 2, 1975 and the Reds were scuffling along with a 12-12 record and manager Sparky Anderson sensed the need for a change to spark the club. – MLB.com
You know the story: Pete Rose was placed on the ineligible list in 1989 after an investigation uncovered that he had bet on his own team, the Cincinnati Reds, while serving as their manager. Never mind that he only bet on them to win. But whatever. Gambling was against the MLB rules.
Rob Manfred is reviewing a petition filed in January by the family of the 17-time All-Star, requesting his removal from the sport’s ineligible list.
Pete Rose was my friend ..so many times I tweeted he should be in the Hall of Fame..I will never forgive MLB for not doing this while Pete was alive (yet let players in who did steroids?) pic.twitter.com/I1cZvjjVQF
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) March 2, 2025
However, Donald Trump’s pardon would only apply to Rose’s tax evasion conviction, for which he served five months in prison—it has no bearing on his lifetime ban from baseball. That’s on the MLB.
The power to reinstate Rose lies solely with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, who will decide whether the all-time hits leader deserves the approval. He does; I’m here to tell you.
Trump did not specify what the pardon would cover. Rose served five months in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion in 1990, but his gambling-related ban from baseball was imposed by MLB, not the federal government.
Rose remains ineligible for the Hall of Fame as the Baseball Hall of Fame excludes consideration of players on the permanent ban list, and MLB has never lifted his ban. Rose has applied for reinstatement multiple times, particularly in recent years as legalized sports betting has expanded nationwide. – The Post Millennial
It’s pretty interesting that after Donald Trump said he’d pardon Pete Rose, now MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is thinking about taking Rose off the ineligible list. The timing seems a little too perfect, like Trump’s public support is pushing the idea forward. It makes you wonder if baseball might finally give Rose a break after all this time.
Also, with Donald Trump pushing to pardon Pete Rose, how many people who once supported Rose for the Hall of Fame will change their minds—just because of Trump?
This isn’t the first time the Victory Girls have talked baseball. In fact, we’ve written about baseball a lot.
The MLB going “woke” and moving the All-Star Game out of Georgia comes to mind, not to mention the chaos of the pandemic and labor union disputes. And who could forget those cardboard cutouts in the stands?
I’ll leave you with this feel-good, nostalgic clip of Pete Rose on The Johnny Carson Show.
Maybe Donald Trump can Make Sports Great Again. And get Pete into the Hall of Fame please.
Feature Image: Pete Rose/Peter Bond/Flickr/License Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic
Stephen C says: Pete Rose is dead, so lifetime ban is finished, so put him in the HOF. He was a great player.
Joe R. says: Pete was a good one. “Moneyball” might work, but you still need superstars with huge personalities, and Pete (with his base stealing and sliding) was something to watch outside of the side-game called baseball.
No one who traded and flipped baseball cards didn’t want Mr. Rose’s.
rbj1 says: Nope, no HoF. There is a sign in each clubhouse warning about a one year ban if those with a duty to perform bet on a baseball game, it’s a lifetime ban if you bet on a game in which you have a duty to perform. Pete Rose knowingly broke the cardinal rule.
And it is no longer up to the BWAA voters anymore either, it’s a committee of retired players who determine who gets in at this point.
American Human says: Yes, please sir. We should only allow perfect people into the Hall of Fame.
Scott says: I know most of his career was in Cinci, but for me he’ll always be a Phillie.. Charlie Hustle.. and yeah, how would betting on your team to WIN possibly influence you to do something other than what you’re supposed to do??
A d good point about the steroid infested freaks that broke all sorts of records by cheating.. damn near as bad as dudes stealing records / medals in women’s sports..
Johnny says: MLB and the Commissioner of Baseball should have inducted him in the HOF while he was alive so he could cherish the moment and celebrate it with his family.
Speaking of being inducted, I still can’t understand why Johnny Maestro from the 60’s rock and roll group the Crest wasn’t inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Gent says: It’s only right to elect him to the HOF!
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