Donald Trump calls for Pete Rose to be allowed in Hall of Fame

Pete Rose’s bid for reinstatement has a high-profile supporter: President Donald Trump.

Trump tweeted Saturday afternoon urging Major League Baseball to allow Rose to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame, stating that the longtime Cincinnati Red has “paid a decades long price” for betting on baseball.

Pete Rose played Major League Baseball for 24 seasons, from 1963-1986, and had more hits, 4,256, than any other player (by a wide margin). He gambled, but only on his own team winning, and paid a decades long price. GET PETE ROSE INTO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME. It’s Time!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2020

Whether this moves Rob Manfred and the league is anyone’s guess. Rose is pushing for reinstatement in light of the lack of punishment for Houston Astros players, arguing that his actions had far less impact on games than theirs did. That bid and the reasoning is likely to attract some sympathetic supporters, and the President, who has never been shy about airing his sports-related opinions, is one of them.

Rose has hurt himself with some of his behavior in retirement. It remains to be seen if Manfred will be at all moved by this latest appeal, or by Trump speaking out on his behalf.