President Trump has announced plans to posthumously pardon Pete Rose, the legendary baseball player whose remarkable career was overshadowed by a ban from Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Hall of Fame due to sports betting.
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his belief that while Rose “shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball,” he only placed bets on his own team to win. This statement reflects a nuanced perspective on Rose’s controversial past, especially considering he passed away in September at the age of 83.
The former president did not address Rose’s earlier legal issues, including his guilty plea in 1990 to charges of filing false tax returns, which resulted in a five-month prison sentence. However, he indicated that he would sign the pardon “over the next few weeks,” reigniting discussions around Rose’s legacy.
As news of Trump’s intentions spread, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred began reviewing a petition submitted by Rose’s family aimed at lifting his ban from the league. Reports indicate that Manfred met with Rose’s attorney, Jeffrey Lenkov, and his eldest daughter, Fawn Rose, in December to discuss this matter.
Lenkov clarified to ESPN that he is not actively seeking assistance from the White House to facilitate Rose’s posthumous removal from the ineligible list, which would allow for his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In a prior attempt for reinstatement in 2015, Rose’s petition was denied.
The permanent ban on Rose was agreed upon in 1989 after an investigation revealed that he had bet on games involving the Cincinnati Reds from 1985 to 1987 while both playing for and managing the team. Consequently, the Hall of Fame’s board of directors established a rule in 1991 prohibiting individuals on the permanently ineligible list from appearing on Hall ballots.
FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience 
