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Former President Donald Trump announced his intention to issue a full pardon for Pete Rose, renowned as Major League Baseball’s (MLB) all-time hits leader, who faced a lifetime ban from the sport due to his involvement in sports betting. This announcement on Truth Social occurred on a Friday evening, shortly after Rose’s passing in September at the age of 83.
In his post, Trump acknowledged that while Rose should not have engaged in gambling on baseball, he emphasized that Rose only bet on his own team’s victories. This remark highlights a recurring belief among some supporters of Rose that his actions, although against the rules, were not malicious in nature.
Notably, Trump did not touch upon Rose’s tax issues from 1990, where he pleaded guilty to two counts of filing false tax returns, resulting in a five-month prison term. Instead, Trump’s focus was solely on the possibility of restoring Rose’s legacy through a pardon, which he pledged to complete within the upcoming weeks.
Rose’s ban from MLB was instituted in 1989 after an investigation uncovered that he had wagered on games involving the Cincinnati Reds, where he served as both a player and manager from 1985 to 1987. This decision effectively removed him from consideration for the Hall of Fame, solidified by a 1991 resolution from the Hall of Fame board that barred anyone on the permanently ineligible list from being nominated.
Trump’s announcement has reignited discussions about Rose’s controversial past and the broader implications of sports integrity and gambling. Many fans and sports analysts continue to debate whether a pardon would allow Rose a chance at redemption or further complicate the convoluted narrative surrounding his career.
As the situation develops, the intersection of sports, ethics, and presidential actions will remain a focal point of discourse in the sporting community and beyond.
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