Being elected into National Baseball Hall of Fame is one of, if not the greatest honor a baseball player can receive. Even though some recent (and questionable) additions have drawn the ire of some hardcore baseball fans who only want to see the the absolute best of the best enshrined in Cooperstown, the overwhelming majority of Hall of Famers are, in fact, elite.
But fans of the Cincinnati Reds have long claimed that the Hall of Fame is incomplete without Pete. Of course they’re referring to Major League Baseball’s all-time hits leader, Pete Rose. “The Hit King,” based on his on-field resumé alone, deserves to be included among baseball’s best. But a checkered past that included betting on baseball (among other things) has made his induction into the Hall of Fame impossible.
That could all change based on recent reports suggesting that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is considering a petition that would posthumously remove Rose from the ineligible list. Rose’s family met with Manfred late last year and filed a petition for reinstatement with the Commissioner’s Office in January.
Rose’s name has been on the ineligible list since 1989, and in 1991, the Baseball Hall of Fame passed a rule stating that any player on the ineligible list is unable to be included on the Hall of Fame ballot. But if Manfred removes Rose’s name from the list, he’d then eligible for induction.
Rose passed away last year at the age of 83. The Reds organization has big plans to honor the hometown hero in 2025 with the No. 14 emblazoned on the sleeve of every Reds player’s jersey this season. Rose’s No. 14 will also adorn on the outfield wall in left field at Great American Ball Park this season.
The Reds also plan to celebrate the life and career on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 with what’s being called Pete Rose Day. The Reds game against the Chicago White Sox that evening will start at 7:14 p.m. ET and feature a special giveaway that includes a replica of Rose’s jersey from his days with the Big Red Machine.
The winds are seemingly changing, and something that few ever thought possible could be on the horizon. Even President Donald Trump is planning to offer a posthumous pardon to Rose in the next few weeks, and recently advocated for “The Hit King” to be included into the Hall of Fame.
It’s unknown when Manfred will announce his decision whether to reinstate Rose, and even then, it’ll be up to the Eras Committee to actually cobble together the necessary number of votes. Rose may never be elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but this latest revelation at least gives hopes to those who feel that the Hall is incomplete without Pete.