"I wish I could take it all back... In my mind, I wasn't corrupt" - When Pete Rose regretted decision to bet on baseball games he managed

It's impossible to deny that Pete Rose is one of the greatest players to ever don an MLB uniform. The Cincinnati Reds legend set numerous records throughout his major league career, including the all-time record of hits with a whopping 4,256 over his 24 years in the MLB. However, a controversial decision on his part has not only tainted his legacy but also kept him out of the Hall of Fame.

"Today in 1989, Pete Rose receives a lifetime ban from baseball for betting on games while manager of the Reds" - @Super70sSports

The man known as "Charlie Hustle" received a lifetime ban from the MLB after a lengthy investigation revealed that the all-time hits leader had bet on baseball games. Pete Rose accepted the ban handed to him, essentially turning him into Napolean Bonaparte at the end of his life: exiled with his legacy and reputation hurt.

In Rose's book, “My Prison Without Bars,” the former Cincinnati Reds icon admitted to illegally betting on baseball games. This is something that he confirmed yet again while promoting the book in a 2004 interview with ABC News, saying “It’s time to take responsibility."

“I wish I could take it all back," Rose wrote in his book, explaining how he never should have claimed his innocence for so many years.

Despite the investigation into Rose's betting while he was the manager of the Cincinnati Reds, and his acceptance of the lifetime ban, Rose continued to deny his involvement in illegal gambling. It was not until over a decade after his banishment that Rose finally admitted his wrongdoing.

“I never allowed my wagers to influence my baseball decisions, so, in my mind, I wasn’t corrupt," Pete Rose wrote in his book.

---

Pete Rose's requests to be reinstated have been rejected by the MLB

Although Rose eventually admitted that he had bet on games, it did not change the league's decision to reinstate him or make him eligible for the Hall of Fame. After applying for reinstatement in 1997 and meeting with former MLB Commissioner Bud Selig in 2002, it was current Comissioner Rob Manfred who responded to the request, denying Rose's attempt.

Rob Manfred continued his stance on Rose's lifetime ban in 2023, stating that the punishment would continue despite the league being involved in the growing online sports betting scene.