Pete Rose's greatness on the field was undeniable, but his place in baseball history is still a topic of controversy that could be revisited after the all-time hits leader died on Monday.
Rose's record of 4,256 hits will almost certainly never be broken, and he also stands as MLB's all-time leader in games played after a 24-year career that included three championships. Just like the all-time home run leader, though, Rose isn't enshrined in Cooperstown.
The league has vowed that Rose won't get into the Hall of Fame, but many have speculated his status could change after his death.
Here's what you need to know about Rose's Hall of Fame chances and why he's banned.
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Will Pete Rose make the MLB Hall of Fame?
Rose has been banned from baseball since 1989 when he signed a settlement that ensured MLB would not officially determine whether he bet on baseball. The commissioner who worked on that deal, Bart Giamatti, died a week later, but three commissioners since have decided not to revisit Rose's status.
Rose, of course, wasn't playing at the time of the ban, but he was managing the Reds when the scandal broke. The agreement banned him from managing — along with every other role with an MLB team — but the most important consequence was that it banned Rose from being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The language of the ban has led some to speculate that Rose might be able to get in after his death. If a ban is a "lifetime" ban, does it still stand after death? That theory is about to be tested.
As of 2023, however, commissioner Rob Manfred rejected the idea that he might lift Rose's ban. "Pete Rose violated what is sort of rule one in baseball, and the consequences of that are clear in the rule, and we’ve continued to abide by our own rules," Manfred told reporters ahead of the All-Star Game.
Manfred is expected to step down as commissioner when his contract ends in January 2029. If the outgoing commissioner doesn't change his mind before then, that would put Rose's status in the hands of Manfred's successor.
Rose's situation is different than that of Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens because they are fully eligible for the Hall of Fame despite alleged steroid use during their careers. Bonds and Clemens lasted a full 10 years on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot and fell short, but they are also still eligible for election from veterans committees.
No voter has had the chance to vote for Rose, but just one commissioner who decides his ban has lasted long enough can change that. For now, it isn't expected in the near future.
Pete Rose gambling controversy, explained
Rose was banned from baseball in 1989 amid an MLB investigation into allegations he bet on baseball.
The all-time hits leader admitted to the league that he bet on other sports while managing the Reds but said he never bet on baseball. MLB believed it had enough evidence that Rose did bet on baseball, and the two sides settled on a lifetime ban to avoid all other punishment.
Rose admitted in 2004 that he did bet on baseball in addition to other sports while managing the Reds, even confirming that he bet on games involving the Reds. He claimed he never bet against the Reds, however.
Despite the admission, Rose campaigned for reinstatement during Manfred's tenure and said in 2022 that he thinks "every day" about what it would be like to have a chance at Hall of Fame enshrinement. Some of Rose's memorabilia is in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Pete Rose career stats
| Games | 3,562* |
| AVG | .303 |
| HR | 160 |
| RBI | 1,314 |
| Hits | 4,256* |
| OPS | .784 |
| WAR | 79.5 |
| All-star selections | 17 |
| MVPs | 1 |
| Championships | 3 |
* denotes all-time MLB records
Rose's 4,256 hits are the most in MLB history, and he finished with a stellar career batting average of .303.
Beyond the numbers, Rose won three championships and an MVP award while earning 17 All-Star selections.
