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President Donald Trump said Friday night on social media that he will pardon baseball great Pete Rose after his death last year.
The president also blasted Major League Baseball for failing to induct Rose into the Hall of Fame before his passing.
“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. 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!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Anyway, over the next few weeks I will be signing a complete PARDON of Pete Rose, who shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING. He never betted against himself, or the other team. He had the most hits, by far, in baseball history, and won more games than anyone in sports history. Baseball, which is dying all over the place, should get off its fat, lazy ass, and elect Pete Rose, even though far too late, into the Baseball Hall of Fame!” he added.
Rose, nicknamed “Charlie Hustle” for his style of play that included sprinting to first base following being walked, was one of the league’s top baseball players with a career stretching from 1963 to 1986. He also served as manager for the Cincinnati Reds from 1984-1989 where he played most of career.
A switch hitter, he was the league’s all-time leader in hits, games played and other records during his career. During his last year as a manager, he received a permanent suspension from baseball over sports gambling allegations. He denied the claims at the time, later admitting in 2004 that he bet on the Reds.
Rose passed away in September at the age of 83 from heart disease.
Following Rose’s death, Trump posted that the league should add him to the Hall of Fame before his funeral.
“The GREAT Pete Rose just died. He was one of the most magnificent baseball players ever to play the game. He paid the price! Major League Baseball should have allowed him into the Hall of Fame many years ago. Do it now, before his funeral!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
