Current Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona made his case for Pete Rose to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The debate about Pete Rose’s Hall of Fame eligibility has resurfaced after MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred lifted the 35-year ban that had prohibited Rose from participating in professional baseball. Current Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona is among the prominent voices advocating for Rose’s induction into the Hall of Fame.
Francona, who is likely to be inducted into the Hall himself in the future, has made his stance clear: “If Pete Rose isn’t in the Hall of Fame, then I think it’s incomplete,” Francona stated, emphasizing the significance of Rose’s on-field achievements. “What he accomplished as a player is unparalleled, and his absence from the Hall of Fame would be a notable oversight.” While Francona acknowledges the complexity of the issue, he believes that Rose’s playing career merits serious consideration for induction.
Francona’s perspective is informed by his personal experience playing alongside and under Rose during his career. In 1984, both Francona and Rose were part of the Montreal Expos, although Rose’s time with the team was brief before he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, where he took on the role of player-manager. After Rose’s playing career ended in 1986, Francona rejoined him in Cincinnati for the 1987 season, further solidifying their connection.
Francona’s comments reflect a nuanced understanding of Rose’s legacy, balancing admiration for his playing career with awareness of the controversy surrounding his gambling activities. As the baseball world continues to discuss Rose’s Hall of Fame prospects, Francona’s advocacy adds weight to the argument that Rose’s on-field achievements warrant recognition.
Rose’s managerial career, as well as involvement in MLB, ended on August 24, 1989, when he was officially placed on baseball’s ineligible list for gambling on MLB games, including Reds games when he was both a player and manager. Less than two years later, the Baseball Hall of Fame made an official ruling that it could not induct any player on the ineligible list, effectively barring Rose from ever being inducted.
Following Pete Rose’s passing last September, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made the notable decision to lift the ban on Rose, along with 16 other deceased individuals on the ineligible list. This move allows Rose to be considered for the Hall of Fame, but his induction is far from guaranteed. The decision on Rose’s Hall of Fame fate will be made by the Classic Baseball Era Committee, which is set to meet and vote in December 2027.
For Rose to be inducted, he will need to secure votes from at least 75% of the committee’s 16 members, which translates to 12 votes. If he falls short of this threshold, specifically receiving fewer than 5 votes, he will be ineligible for consideration in the next three-year cycle. The committee’s vote will determine whether Rose’s remarkable playing career, including his record as the all-time MLB hits leader, will be formally recognized in the Hall of Fame.
