Major Controversies Surrounding Pete Rose: A Detailed Timeline

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Pete Rose.

Pete Rose, nicknamed "Charlie Hustle," was a prominent MLB player and manager. Best known for his time with the Cincinnati Reds' "Big Red Machine" in the 1970s, he also played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos. Rose is MLB's all-time leader in hits (4,256) and several other categories. He won three World Series championships and an MVP award. As a manager for the Reds (1984-1989) his career was overshadowed after receiving a lifetime ban from baseball in 1989 for betting on baseball games.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

July 14, 1970: All-Star Game Collision

On July 14, 1970, Pete Rose was involved in an infamous play at Riverfront Stadium in the All-Star Game, colliding with Ray Fosse at home plate to score the winning run, resulting in a shoulder injury for Fosse.

1978: Paternity Suit Filed

In 1978, a paternity suit was filed naming Pete Rose as the father of Morgan Erin Rubio.

1984: Rose Introduced to Gold's Gym

In 1984, Tommy Gioiosa brought Pete Rose to his Gold's Gym in Cincinnati, where Gioiosa managed the gym and sold anabolic steroids.

1985: Report of Corked Bats

In 2010, Deadspin reported that during his 1985 pursuit of Cobb's record, Rose allegedly used corked bats during games.

1985: Dowd Report Alleges Gambling Activities

The Dowd Report documented Pete Rose's alleged gambling activities in 1985.

1986: Dowd Report Alleges Gambling Activities

The Dowd Report documented Pete Rose's alleged gambling activities in 1986.

April 26, 1987: Rose Bets on Other Sports

On April 26, 1987, Pete Rose allegedly placed bets on hockey and basketball games but no baseball games, as detailed in a notebook on Rose's daily betting activity.

1987: Dowd Report Alleges Betting on Baseball

The Dowd Report documented Pete Rose's alleged betting on baseball games in 1987, citing that Rose wagered a minimum of $10,000 a day.

April 30, 1988: Rose Ejected After Altercation with Umpire

On April 30, 1988, during a game against the New York Mets, Pete Rose was ejected after forcefully pushing umpire Dave Pallone twice during an argument over a call. The incident led to a fifteen-minute suspension of the game.

February 1989: Rose Questioned About Betting

In February 1989, Pete Rose was informally questioned by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth and A. Bartlett Giamatti about allegations of betting on baseball. Rose admitted to betting on other sports but denied betting on baseball.

March 21, 1989: Sports Illustrated Details Betting Allegations

On March 21, 1989, Sports Illustrated published a cover story detailing allegations that Pete Rose had placed bets on baseball games.

April 3, 1989: Sports Illustrated Cover Story Released

On April 3, 1989, Sports Illustrated released its cover story detailing the allegations that Pete Rose had been betting on baseball games.

August 1989: Permanent Ineligibility from Baseball

In August 1989, Pete Rose was penalized with permanent ineligibility from baseball due to accusations of gambling on baseball games.

1989: Birth of Daughter Cara

In 1989, Pete Rose's daughter Cara was born two days before his banishment from MLB.

April 20, 1990: Rose Pleads Guilty to Filing False Income Tax Returns

On April 20, 1990, Pete Rose pleaded guilty to two charges of filing false income tax returns for not reporting income from selling autographs and memorabilia and from horseracing winnings.

January 7, 1991: Rose Released from Prison

On January 7, 1991, Pete Rose was released from the minimum security prison camp at the United States Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, after paying $366,041 in back taxes and interest and being required to perform 1,000 hours of community service, after being sentenced the prior year in July.

February 4, 1991: Hall of Fame Excludes Ineligible Players

On February 4, 1991, the Hall of Fame voted to exclude individuals on the permanently ineligible list from being inducted by way of the Baseball Writers' Association of America vote.

1991: Hall of Fame Ban for Ineligible Players

In 1991, the Baseball Hall of Fame formally voted to ban those on the "permanently ineligible" list from induction.

1992: Rose Could Have Been on Writers' Ballot

Had he not been banned from baseball, Rose's name could have been on the writers' ballot beginning in 1992 and ending in 2006.

1996: Settlement of Paternity Lawsuit

In 1996, Pete Rose acknowledged that Morgan Erin Rubio was his daughter in a settlement of the paternity lawsuit.

December 2002: Dowd Believed Rose Bet Against the Reds

In December 2002, John Dowd stated in an interview that he believed Pete Rose probably bet against the Cincinnati Reds while managing them.

January 8, 2004: Rose Admits to Betting in Autobiography

On January 8, 2004, in his autobiography My Prison Without Bars, Pete Rose admitted publicly to betting on baseball games and other sports while playing for and managing the Reds. Rose stated that he hoped his admissions would help end his ban from baseball so he could reapply for reinstatement.

My Prison Without Bars

Check it on Amazon

2004: Admission of Betting on Baseball

After years of denial, in 2004, Pete Rose admitted that he bet on baseball and on the Reds.

2004: Rose's Gambling Violation Described

Even after his 2004 admission of gambling, Pete Rose had described his violation of MLB rules with a defiant attitude.

2004: Criticism After Admission of Gambling

In 2004, following Pete Rose's admission of gambling, some supporters were outraged that he would reverse fifteen years of denial, particularly due to the timing of the admission relative to the Hall of Fame announcement.

2006: Rose Could Have Been on Writers' Ballot

Had he not been banned from baseball, Rose's name could have been on the writers' ballot beginning in 1992 and ending in 2006.

March 2007: Rose Discusses Betting on His Team

In March 2007, during an interview on The Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio, Pete Rose admitted that he bet on his team every night to win, stating he did everything in his power to win that game.

2007: Rose eligible for Veterans Committee

Pete Rose would have been eligible for consideration by the Veterans Committee in 2007, but did not appear on the ballot.

2008: Veterans Committee Bars Ineligible Players

In 2008, the Veterans Committee barred players and managers on the ineligible list from consideration.

September 11, 2010: Rose Apologizes for Disrespecting Baseball

On September 11, 2010, at a roast held at Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg in Indiana on the 25th anniversary of his 4,192nd hit, Pete Rose wept while acknowledging he had "disrespected baseball" and apologized to Pérez and other members of the Big Red Machine.

June 2015: ESPN Investigation Reveals Rose Bet on Baseball

In June 2015, ESPN concluded its own investigation of Pete Rose, revealing that he had bet on baseball while still a player-manager, with records of his bets seized from one of his associates.

July 2016: Defamation suit filed

In July 2016, Pete Rose filed a defamation suit against John M. Dowd, after Dowd alleged in a radio interview the previous summer that Rose committed statutory rape.

August 2017: Let Go by Fox Sports

In August 2017, Pete Rose was let go by Fox Sports when the details of his sexual relationship with a teenager in the 1970s was revealed after he attempted to sue John Dowd.

December 15, 2017: Defamation suit dismissed

On December 15, 2017, a judge dismissed the defamation suit filed by Rose against John M. Dowd after both parties reached an agreement.

2021: Roberto Alomar Banned

In 2021, Roberto Alomar was banned for sexual misconduct towards a female Toronto Blue Jays staffer. At the beginning of the 2024 season, Rose, Tucupita Marcano and Roberto Alomar were the only living former players on the ineligible list.

2024: Rose Ineligible for Hall of Fame

At the beginning of the 2024 season, Rose, Tucupita Marcano and Roberto Alomar were the only living former players on the ineligible list.

March 1, 2025: Trump Announces Posthumous Pardon

On March 1, 2025, Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he would be giving Pete Rose a posthumous pardon, criticized MLB and the BBWAA, and called for Rose's reinstatement and Hall of Fame induction. Manfred responded by saying he would review the ineligibility.

May 13, 2025: Rose Reinstated by MLB

On May 13, 2025, Pete Rose and other deceased MLB players were reinstated from the ineligible list by Manfred, who also declared that bans would expire upon death in the future.