We’re referring, of course, to Pete Rose, the legendary “Hit King” of baseball. His decades-long ban from the sport recently got a political twist. On February 28, President Donald Trump declared on social media his intention to intervene. He revealed his plans to issue “a complete PARDON of Pete Rose.” Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred later revealed the league’s stance. Two weeks ago, he reportedly met with President Trump at the White House, and Rose’s status was discussed.

Even with Manfred’s comments, Rose’s path to the Hall of Fame remains extremely difficult. The standard route for Hall of Fame induction through the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) is firmly closed. As Jon Heyman of the New York Post noted: “The Hall’s rules exclude the all-time hit king from placement on the writers’ ballot since time technically expired — rules today say writers are disallowed from considering players more than 15 years after their retirement.” That leaves only the Veterans Committee—now known as the Era Committees—a much less forgiving option.

These committees consider players outside the writers’ timeline. However, the strict 1991 rule banning ineligible individuals also applies to them. If Manfred were to grant reinstatement, Rose would likely be considered by the Classic Baseball Era committee. The voting will be again in December 2027. Heyman pointed out that this sends him “straight to an occasionally less forgiving Veterans Committee for 2027 consideration.” With fewer voters, earning the required 75% becomes an uphill battle.

But the reasons for this uphill battle extend beyond the original betting scandal. Hall of Fame voters are instructed to consider “integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions.” But in 1990, Rose was convicted of filing false income tax returns for failing to report gambling winnings. Evidence also surfaced suggesting the use of a corked bat during his pursuit of the hit record—raising further doubts about his ethics. Taken together, these issues make it hard to argue the Hall’s standards for integrity and character.

From 4,256 hits to Cooperstown’s crossroads: Reds Legend’s unfinished chapter

Even if he never enters the Hall, Rose’s career remains a monumental achievement in baseball history. He retired with 4,256 hits, a number that is almost unimaginable to surpass. He also holds the major league records for games played at 3,562 and plate appearances at 15,890. And the list is not ended here. His on-field performance earned him the 1973 National League MVP award. And he was a key member of three World Series championship teams. Can you imagine a player who was named to the All-Star game 17 times, at five different positions?

Forget the stats and the numbers; his “Charlie Hustle” way of play created moments that captivated fans. And his memorable 44-game hitting streak in 1978, which remains the third-longest in MLB history? He was a hitting machine, collecting 200 or more hits in a season, an incredible ten times over his career. These numbers aren’t just fairy tales. So it’s expected that Baseball has acknowledged his greatness in other ways. He was named to the prestigious MLB All-Century Team in 1999. The Reds even retired his number 14 in 2016. An honor that required approval from MLB despite his status on the ineligible list, indicating the same respect that his former team and fans had for him.

Ultimately, the question of whether Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame transcends mere statistics. It goes to the heart of what the Hall truly represents—not just on-field greatness, but also integrity and character. And so, the question remains: Will the door to Cooperstown ever open for Pete Rose?