In what is believed to be his final interview before his death, baseball legend Pete Rose shared his thoughts on his potential induction into the Hall of Fame. A Cincinnati Reds standout, Rose, who passed away at the age of 83 on September 30, 2024, from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, expressed his belief that he would be inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously.
During a sit-down video interview with Dayton, Ohio sportscaster John Condit on September 20, 2024, for an undisclosed documentary, Rose candidly discussed his views on the matter. “I’ve come to the conclusion, I hope I’m wrong, I’ll make the Hall of Fame after I die,” Rose stated.
He questioned the point of being inducted into Cooperstown after his death, emphasizing that the Hall of Fame should celebrate players’ on-field achievements during their lifetimes. “What’s the point? Because they’ll make money over it? The Hall of Fame is for what you did on the field, not what you did off the field,” Rose added.
The wait has been long
Known as MLB’s all-time hit leader with 4,256 career hits, Rose was a 17-time All-Star, three-time World Series champion, and three-time batting title winner. However, his career was overshadowed by a lifetime ban from MLB in 1989 due to his gambling on games. Despite his impressive statistics, Rose’s name has never appeared on a Hall of Fame ballot.
In the interview, Rose conveyed no bitterness about his exclusion from Cooperstown. “I’m not bitter about everything,” he said. “When you make a mistake, don’t be bitter to other people. I wish I hadn’t made the mistake, but I did, it’s history, get over it.”
President Donald Trump recently announced his intention to sign a complete pardon for Rose, stating that Rose should be recognized for his achievements on the field. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has denied Rose’s previous requests for reinstatement, but there is ongoing speculation about whether Rose will be posthumously removed from baseball’s ineligible list.
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