(PatriotNews.net) – Donald Trump, unbowed by controversy, has set his sights on a posthumous pardon for Pete Rose, the baseball icon with an unmatched hit record but a tarnished legacy.
At a Glance
- Trump announced plans for a posthumous pardon for Pete Rose.
- Rose, banned from MLB for gambling, died at 83.
- The pardon aims to challenge MLB’s Hall of Fame exclusion.
- Trump highlighted Rose’s betting was on his team’s success.
Trump’s Pardon Plans
President Donald Trump, utilizing his platform on Truth Social, unveiled his intention to pardon Pete Rose, baseball’s all-time hit leader. Rose, who passed away in September at the age of 83, amassed 4,256 hits during his illustrious career, mostly with the Cincinnati Reds. Trapped by his legacy of gambling, Rose was permanently banned in 1989 after betting on games and ultimately excluded from the Hall of Fame.
Despite the admission of wagering on his own team to win, Rose insisted these actions did not compromise his integrity. Trump’s move echoes this sentiment, pointing out that Major League Baseball overlooked Rose’s monumental contributions to the sport. The pardon, Trump suggests, is long overdue justice for “Charlie Hustle.”
"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," President Trump wrote on Truth Social while announcing Rose's pardon. https://t.co/mfbRjbfnRG pic.twitter.com/BxP2CbFL7E
— WCPO 9 (@WCPO) March 1, 2025
Criticism of Major League Baseball
Trump’s critique didn’t stop at the lifetime ban; he took aim at Major League Baseball’s inability to induct Rose into the Hall of Fame. He lashed out at what he deemed a failure of courage and decency on MLB’s part, arguing that Rose was a far superior player deserving of recognition, despite the “far too late” decision. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America, not the MLB itself, elects players, adding another layer of complexity to the issue.
“shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING.” – Donald Trump
Amid this backdrop, the Hall of Fame board reinforced its exclusion policy with a rule in 1991 posthumously hindering players like Rose from shaking the hand of recognition. But where MLB failed, Trump intends to set the record straight, albeit symbolically, through the forthcoming pardon.
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
Looking Ahead
While Trump’s plan signifies a gesture of rectifying past injustices, it is also a poignant reminder of Major League Baseball’s contradictions. As it grapples with the ghosts of a man who made so much history for them, yet saw his reputation shredded for a personal failure, the pardon serves as a platform for greater discourse on decency and forgiveness in sports.
“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 stated, highlighting the irony of Rose’s posthumous acknowledgment.
As the paperwork for the pardon is finalized, one message stands clear: the sports world could learn a lesson in fairness and character from this unparalleled sporting figure’s story, despite its complexities.
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