Pete Rose says he believes he'll reach Hall of Fame in future
Former Cincinnati Reds great Pete Rose says in an interview with "CBS Sunday Morning" that he believes he'll be inducted into the Hall of Fame some day but it may come after his death.
In an excerpt from the interview, which airs Sunday, Rose also said "I wish I had an answer" when asked why he gambled on baseball while managing the Reds and then lied about it.
From the interview:
"Someone, at some period of time, will feel it in their heart to give me a second chance. I may be six feet under, but that's what you've got to live with."
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Rose, MLB's all-time hits leader with 4,256 hits, has been banned from MLB since 1989 after he accepted the punishment levied by investigators. The ban includes his eligibility for the Hall of Fame, which has been a topic of debate in recent years.
Rose's ban was inherited by Bud Selig when he took over as commissioner in 1992.
Though Rose has applied for reinstatement multiple times since his ban, Selig never seriously considered ending the ban or making Rose eligible for the Hall of Fame during his tenure, which ends in January. But Selig did somewhat soften the ban, allowing Rose to make multiple appearances with the Reds at special events.
In 2010, Rose was honored by the Reds on the 25th anniversary of his 4,192nd hit, and last season he took part in a ceremony involving the core players of the Big Red Machine teams of the 1970s. Selig has said he'll be allowed to participate in festivities surrounding the All-Star Game when Cincinnati hosts the event next summer.
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The arrival of new commissioner Rob Manfred in January has brought the topic of Rose's Hall of Fame eligibility into public discussion once again, with Rose having said he hopes Manfred reconsiders the ban. Manfred has not indicated his position.
Rose, who also had stints with the Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos, last played in MLB in 1986 and last managed in 1989 before his ban. He's occasionally been seen at Reds games in Cincinnati in recent seasons.
- Ben Estes
