Just days before he passed away in September, hit king Pete Rose made a chilling prediction about his possible induction into the MLB Hall of Fame.
Sadly, he also suggested the outcome would be nearly meaningless to him. Rose made the comments in an interview with Dayton, Ohio, sportscaster John Condit.
“I’ve come to the conclusion — I hope I’m wrong – that I’ll make the Hall of Fame after I die,” Rose said in a video posted by Fox News. “Which I totally disagree with, because the Hall of Fame is for two reasons: your fans and your family. That’s what the Hall of Fame is for. Your fans and your family.”
“And it’s for your family if you’re here. It’s for your fans if you’re here. Not if you’re 10 feet under. You understand what I’m saying?” he added.
The man known to the world as “Charlie Hustle” would pass away just ten days later.
Pete Rose On Getting Into The HOF Posthumously: ‘What’s The Point?’
Rose, who spent most of his career with the Cincinnati Reds, was Major League Baseball’s all-time hits leader with 4,256 hits, a record that still stands. He was one of the most celebrated players in all of sport.
But Rose was banned from baseball for gambling, a shadow that loomed large over his otherwise stellar career. He was found to have bet on baseball games. Including those of the Cincinnati Reds while he was managing the team.
Since his death, fans have vociferously backed him being removed from the ineligible list to give him his proper due. Even President Donald Trump has gotten in on the action.
Rose though, in the aforementioned interview, doesn’t see why at this point.
“What good is it going to do me or my fans if they put me in the Hall of Fame couple years after I pass away? What’s the point? What’s the point?” he asked Condit. “Because they’ll make money over it?”
They will, no doubt. MLB cares more about money than integrity, as evidenced by the Houston Astros cheating scandal in which zero players were punished. Anybody from their trash can-bashing teams who might be eligible in the coming years will have no problem getting into the Hall.
But Pete, who had a gambling issue and bet on his own team and was a more accomplished player than any two players on that Houston squad combined, can’t ever get in.
Still, Rose has many, many fans who would appreciate him getting his just due, even posthumously.
PETE ROSE RESUME
— ᗪOᑎKEYᕼᗩᑕK™ (@DonkeyHack) August 17, 2023
• Career .303 AVG
• 4256 career Hits
• 44 GM Hit Streak
• 17x All-Star
• 3x Batting Title
• 3x World Series Champpic.twitter.com/XIsiD2byQH
RELATED: Could MLB Really Be Thinking Of Removing Pete Rose From The Ineligible List?
The President Calls For MLB To Fix This
The question of Pete Rose finally getting inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame has seen an uptick in interest since his death this past September, and more so in recent days.
This past week, President Donald Trump pressed the issue, stating he would issue a posthumous pardon for the Cincinnati Reds legend.
“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 wrote on his Trusth Social media platform.
“Now he is dead, will never experience the thrill of being selected, even though he was a FAR BETTER PLAYER than most of those who made it and can only be named posthumously. WHAT A SHAME!”
As usual, Trump is right! MLB has to put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame ! pic.twitter.com/Jf9CL7YP7A
— Tom Young (@brui4ns1) March 1, 2025
Pete Rose is one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He currently holds the MLB records for hits and singles. His list of accolades is impressive: three-time World Series Champion, MVP, three batting titles, two Gold Gloves, and Rookie of the Year.
Despite his ban for gambling, his on-field achievements are undeniable. Players with controversial pasts, like Ty Cobb, known for his aggressive play and off-field behavior, have been inducted. So, personal conduct has not always barred entry.
Moreover, Rose’s impact on the game, his role in the “Big Red Machine,” and his influence on how the game is played and appreciated by fans argue for his inclusion as a significant figure in baseball history.
Despite his banishment from the sport’s formal recognitions, the Reds had previously honored him by inducting him into their own Hall of Fame and erecting a statue in his likeness.
It’s well past time that MLB honors him in the same manner.
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