National MLB Broadcaster Says Pete Rose Predicted HOF Reinstatement After Death
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Baseball's all-time hits leader, Pete Rose, was banned from baseball on a permanent basis by then-MLB commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti in 1989. Rose died last year, never inducted into the Hall of Fame despite racking up a record 4,256 base hits in his remarkable 24-year career.
Rose was banned over a gambling scandal in which an investigation found, and he acknowledged, that he placed bets on MLB games.
In a 2024 interview with TV station KTLA in Los Angeles about three weeks before his death from heart disease at age 83, Rose said he was "absolutely 110 percent wrong for what I did ... and that's bet on baseball games, and now you're punished for the rest of your life."
Pete Rose at a news conference announces he has signed a multi-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies for a reported $3.2 million over four years, December 5th, 1978.
Pete Rose at a news conference announces he has signed a multi-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies for a reported $3.2 million over four years, December 5th, 1978.
Bettman/Getty Images
But a national baseball television analyst for the TBS network said Rose predicted he would be reinstated into MLB and become eligible for the Hall of Fame — after his death.
Jeff Francoeur, who made the statement in a new interview published by Fox News Digital on Tuesday, played 12 years in the majors after being drafted in the first round by the Atlanta Braves in 2002. In his fifth season with the Braves, 2009, he was dealt at the trade deadline to the New York Mets.
Francoeur went on to play for six other teams, and even made a 99-game stop back in Atlanta in the 2016 season before retiring later that year at age 32.
In 2019, Francoeur — known by the nickname "Frenchy" — began serving as an analyst on national baseball game telecasts for the TBS cable network, a role he still fills today.
More MLB: Former Braves Star Rips Into Ex-MVP Over Recent Social Media Comment
Rose died on Sept. 30 in Las Vegas, Nevada. On May 13 of this year, commissioner Rob Manfred lifted the ban on Rose — and on all other deceased players who had previously been barred from MLB "for life."
Manfred's ruling affected 17 players, including Rose, as well as the eight members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox team who participated in throwing the World Series that year, as part of a plot with a criminal gambling syndicate. That White Sox team has been known as the "Black Sox" ever since the scandal more than a century ago.
Asked about Rose's reinstatement in the Fox interview, Francoeur said he had not made up his mind about it.
"I got so many mixed feelings about that. There's no right answer to that. It's kind of like, man, really? You're going to wait until he died to do that?" the former big leaguer said. But he went on to recall Rose's own prediction.
"It's so funny, because you remember Pete Rose said before he died, 'When I die, they'll make me eligible,' " the now 41-year-old continued. "Sure enough, he called it. I mean, they did."
More MLB: What Donald Trump Has Said About Pete Rose as Late Player Reinstated by MLB
Francoeur's recollection was correct, though Rose's statement was not reported at the time he made it.
On Sept. 20, just 10 days before his death, Rose was interviewed by Ohio sportscaster John Condit. The interview according to an ESPN report, was to be included in an "undisclosed documentary."
"I've come to the conclusion — I hope I'm wrong — that I'll make the Hall of Fame after I die," Rose told Condit, as quoted by ESPN.
But Rose appeared still bitter over the ban.
"What good is it going to do me or my fans if they put me in the Hall of Fame a couple years after I pass away?" Rose complained to Condit, per the ESPN report. "What's the point? What's the point? Because they'll make money over it?"
Rose had repeatedly appealed to the commissioner's office to lift the ban against him. In 2015, Manfred rejected a petition for reinstatement by Rose. But in May, Manfred ruled that all such bans must end at the termination of the banned player's lifetime.
More MLB: Two-Time All-Star Goes on Rant Against MLB Decision on Pete Rose in Hall of Fame
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
41 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Trump's support of Pete Rose influenced Rob Manfred's decision to lift ban
Spelling out more clearly than he has in the past the degree to which he took into consideration President Donald Trump's advice on the Pete Rose case, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Wednesday that he 'paid attention' to what Trump had to say on the matter. Manfred shook the baseball world last month by announcing that players on MLB's permanently ineligible list would be reinstated after their deaths, a move that placed Rose into newfound consideration for the Hall of Fame. Rose, who died last year at 83, agreed to a ban from the sport in 1989 after being accused of betting on baseball, a transgression which he long denied before eventually admitting to. In February, Trump asserted on his Truth Social platform that he planned to grant a 'complete pardon' to the former Cincinnati Reds great, whom the president described as 'a FAR BETTER PLAYER than most of those who made it' into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Manfred, who is in his 11th year as MLB commissioner, then met with Trump in April at the White House. Specifics of their conversation did not initially emerge, but later that month Manfred said that 'one of the topics was Pete Rose,' adding that he was 'not going beyond that.' Speaking on Wednesday at a news conference during an MLB owners meeting (via the Associated Press), Manfred said that Trump was 'one of a number of voices that was supportive of the idea that this was the right decision.' 'Obviously, I have respect for the office,' the 66-year-old commissioner added, 'and the advice that he gave I paid attention to, but I had a lot of other people that were weighing in on the topic, as well.' It is unclear whether Rose, MLB's all-time hits leader, will ultimately be granted enshrinement at Cooperstown or even a spot on a ballot. Members of the Hall of Fame's Historical Overview Committee will first have to decide whether to place his name on a list that then would be considered by the organization's Classic Baseball Era Committee (via According to the Hall's process, a vote for induction would not take place until that committee is next scheduled to meet in December 2027, and Rose would need at least 12 of 16 votes. In a letter to an attorney for Rose who had petitioned for his late client's reinstatement, Manfred wrote, 'I want to emphasize that it is not my authority or responsibility to express any view concerning Mr. Rose's consideration by or possible election to the Hall of Fame.' 'Those who really think about the reasons that I did it think that it is the right decision,' Manfred said Wednesday of Rose, 'and other people I think largely get confused with whether he's going to be in the Hall of Fame or not and maybe don't think that was so good.' Manfred's ruling last month also gave posthumous eligibility to 16 other figures from baseball's past, including 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson and seven teammates from the 1919 Chicago Black Sox who were accused of throwing that year's World Series. Officials with Hall of Fame, an independent body, instituted a rule in 1991 that any players on MLB's permanently ineligible list would also not be eligible for induction. Jackson, a career .356 hitter who died in 1951, was on the Hall of Fame ballot in 1936 and 1946 but got just two votes each time. As Manfred noted in his letter last month, he denied a petition from Rose for reinstatement in 2015. The three-time World Series winner had 'not presented credible evidence of a reconfigured life either by an honest acceptance by him of his wrongdoing … or by a rigorous, self-aware and sustained program of avoidance by him of all the circumstances that led to his permanent ineligibility in 1989. 'Obviously,' Manfred wrote last month, 'a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Mets finally call up top infield prospect after impressive run in Triple-A
There's a special kind of roar that echoes through a stadium when a fallen star rises again. For Ronny Mauricio, that moment is now. After tearing his ACL during Winter Ball in late 2023, the 24-year-old infielder was left watching the world move on without him. Advertisement Days blurred into months, and as the 2024 season passed him by, doubt surely crept in. But behind the scenes, he was grinding. Healing. Preparing. Waiting for the call that has finally come. MLB insider Joel Sherman has confirmed what New York Mets fans have been hoping to hear: Mauricio is heading back to the big leagues. And if the numbers are any indication, he's not just back—he's on fire. The numbers don't lie: Mauricio's red-hot streak in Triple-A Imagine a match dropped into dry kindling—that's how quickly Mauricio has ignited the stat sheets in Triple-A. Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images After brief tune-ups in Single-A and Double-A, where he posted a .321 and .402 OPS respectively, he exploded with the Syracuse Mets. Advertisement Through just nine games, Mauricio's slash line sits at a ridiculous .515/.564/.818. That adds up to a 1.382 OPS and a mind-blowing 252 wRC+. To top it off, he's hit three home runs, stolen four bases, scored 10 times, and driven in eight RBI—all while striking out just 12.8 percent of the time. Sure, it's a small sample size, but you don't need a telescope to see a star catching fire. Mauricio is making loud contact, running the bases like his knee never missed a beat, and looking every bit like the top prospect Mets fans once dreamed on. Fitting into the Mets' 2025 puzzle Mauricio's timing couldn't be better. Third baseman Mark Vientos recently went down with a hamstring injury, potentially opening up immediate playing time. Advertisement And with Francisco Lindor entrenched at shortstop, Mauricio's versatility becomes a major asset. He's already shown he can handle second base, and the designated hitter role could offer a less physically demanding way to ease him back into major league speed. For a Mets offense that has sputtered in spurts, Mauricio could be that necessary spark—the unexpected plug in a flickering circuit. The team doesn't need him to be perfect. They just need him to be what he's always been projected to become: an electric bat with pop, speed, and enough swagger to energize a roster that has lacked a consistent offensive identity. Credit: Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports Can he outperform his 2023 debut? His first go-around in the majors, back in 2023, was more learning curve than breakout. He managed a modest 79 wRC+ over 108 plate appearances—a reminder that even the most talented young players often struggle out of the gate. Advertisement But that version of Mauricio was still raw, still adjusting, still finding his footing. Now, he's battle-tested. He's seen adversity not just on the field, but in the hardest way imaginable: by being forced to sit and watch, fully sidelined by injury. That kind of setback rewires an athlete's drive. It can break you—or it can shape you. The signs suggest Mauricio chose the latter. The emotional weight of the moment Think of a boxer, bruised and bloodied, stepping back into the ring after a long layoff. The crowd holds its breath—not because they expect him to win, but because they want to believe he still can. Advertisement Mauricio is stepping into that ring again. And the stakes, while quieter than a championship bout, feel just as personal. This isn't just about one player's comeback. It's about possibility. For the Mets, who have hovered in the realm of 'almost,' and for fans who've waited patiently for a reason to lean forward on the couch instead of sinking back into it. Mauricio might not save the Mets season. But right now, he doesn't need to. He just needs to keep doing what he's done these past few weeks—play with heart, hustle, and the fire of someone who knows how quickly it can all be taken away. Popular reading: Mets lefty reliever makes huge strides in rehab; could be an option in July Advertisement Related Headlines
Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
The Sports Report: Pitching woes haunt the Dodgers again
From Kevin Baxter: The Dodgers made history when they opened the season with eight straight wins, something no reigning World Series champion had ever done. But they've been just a shade above mediocre since then. 'I wouldn't say [I'm] worried. It's kind of where we're at right now,' manager Dave Roberts said. 'It's been hard to gain traction.' If anything, the Dodgers have been spinning their wheels. Because with Wednesday's 6-1 loss to the New York Mets, the team's third loss in four games, the Dodgers fell to .500 over the last month and their lead in the National League West remained at just a game over the San Diego Padres heading into Thursday's get-away day matinee with the Mets. Since their historic start, the Dodgers have had just three winning streaks of more than two games, but three losing streaks of more than two games. For every three steps forward, the team has taken 2 ½ steps back. And while the Dodgers entered Thursday with the fourth-best record in the league, over the last two months they have a lower winning percentage than the Milwaukee Brewers, the third-best team in the Central Division. The reason why, Roberts said, is pitching. Continue reading here Hernández: Can Clayton Kershaw contribute to Dodgers' title chase? 'I'm gonna bet on him' Dodgers box score MLB scores MLB standings All Times Pacific NBA FINALS Oklahoma City vs. Indiana Thursday at Oklahoma City, 5:30 p.m., ABCSunday at Oklahoma City, 5 p.m., ABCWednesday at Indiana, 5:30 p.m., ABCFriday, June 13 at Indiana, 5:30 p.m., ABCMonday, June 16 at Oklahoma City, 5:30 p.m., ABC*Thursday, June 19 at Indiana, 5:30 p.m., ABC*Sunday, June 22 at Oklahoma City, 5 p.m., ABC* *if necessary Ceddanne Rafaela curled a home run around the Pesky Pole in the bottom of the ninth inning on Wednesday and the Boston Red Sox rallied after trailing four different times to beat the Angels 11-9. The Angels blew 4-0, 7-5, 8-7 and 9-8 leads, with Rafael Devers bouncing a chopper between the gloves of second baseman Chris Taylor and shortstop Zach Neto behind second base to tie it 9-9 in the eighth. Each of the first three times the Red Sox scored, the Angels answered with runs of its own. But after walking Mike Trout to lead off the ninth, Cooper Criswell (1-0) got the next three batters out to give Boston a chance to walk it off. Continue reading here Angels box score MLB scores MLB standings From Gary Klein: Jared Verse and Braden Fiske joined the Rams last season as something of a one-two punch. The former Florida State teammates were drafted in the first and second rounds, respectively, and lived up to their billing as individuals and as a collective force. Verse, an edge rusher, became the NFL defensive rookie of the year. Fiske, a defensive lineman, was a finalist for the award. 'I think we did good, but I think we became more focused on helping the team than trying to do our own little thing and having a good little duo going on,' Verse said, adding, 'So now we finally took another step — having another year together to figure out, 'Hey, this is how I work, this is how he works.' 'So, I feel like this year is going to be a good one for us to play together.' As they prepare for their second seasons, the two young stars are part of a front that could rank as one of the NFL's most dynamic. Continue reading here Rams lifting contest? Aaron Donald ready to put Jared Verse 'through it' Ex-Rams long snapper Jake McQuaide disrupts church by demanding answers in porn scandal From Benjamin Royer: Alexander Straus was fewer than two weeks from his first training session as Angel City FC coach. Yet, Angel City CEO and co-founder Julie Uhrman wanted to see her new manager at work. She flew to Portugal, where Straus was completing his three-season stint as FC Bayern Munich coach — a club the 49-year-old Norwegian led to three consecutive Frauen-Bundesliga titles and a 57-7-2 league record. As Uhrman watched Straus coach Bayern Munich at the inaugural World Sevens Football tournament, she already was familiar with his technical acumen that was on display en route to a championship victory over Manchester United. That was not a surprise. But what caught Uhrman's attention was Straus' relationships with his players. Continue reading here All times Pacific STANLEY CUP FINALS Edmonton vs. Floridaat Edmonton 4, Florida 3 (OT) (summary, story)Friday at Edmonton, 5 p.m., TNTMonday at Florida, 5 p.m., TNTThursday, June 12 at Florida, 5 p.m., TNTSaturday, June 14 at Edmonton, 5 p.m., TNT*Tuesday, June 17 at Florida, 5 p.m., TNT*Friday, June 20 at Edmonton, 5 p.m., TNT* * If necessary 1884 — James McLaughlin becomes the first jockey to win three straight Belmont Stakes when he rides Panique to victory. He won with George Kinney (1883) and Forester (1882). McLaughlin repeats his feat in 1886-88. McLaughlin's triple is matched by jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. in 1984. 1925 — Willie McFarlane beats Bobby Jones by one stroke in the second round of a playoff to capture the U.S. Open. Macfarlane shoots a 291 at Worcester (Mass.) Country Club. 1927 — Johnny Weissmuller sets 100-yard & 200-yard freestyle swim record. 1937 — War Admiral, ridden by Charles Kurtsinger, wins the Triple Crown with a three-length victory over Sceneshifter in the Belmont Stakes. 1943 — Count Fleet, ridden by Johnny Longden, wins the Triple Crown by 25 lengths in the Belmont Stakes. Count Fleet goes at off at 1-20 odds in a race with no place or show betting. 1952 — Jersey Joe Walcott scores a 15-round unanimous decision over Ezzard Charles in Philadelphia to retain the world heavyweight title. 1961 — The newly formed American Basketball League adopts the 3-point field goal. 1977 — The Portland Trail Blazers hold off the Philadelphia 76ers 109-107 to win the NBA championship in six games. Portland becomes the first team in the 31-year history of the league to win four straight after losing the first two games. 1985 — Steve Cauthen wins the Epsom Derby aboard Slip Anchor and became the only American jockey to win the English Derby and Kentucky Derby. Cauthen had ridden Affirmed to victory in the 1978 Kentucky Derby. 1993 — Julie Krone guides Colonial Affair to victory in the Belmont Stakes, becoming the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race. 1994 — Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Sergi Bruguera produce the best day of tennis in Spanish history. Sanchez Vicario beats Mary Pierce 6-4, 6-4 in the French Open final and Bruguera retains his title by defeating another Spaniard, Alberto Berasategui, 6-3, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1. 1999 — Steffi Graf wins her sixth French Open title and her first Grand Slam championship in almost three years, beating top-ranked Martina Hingis 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. 1999 — Charismatic loses his bid to become the 12th Triple Crown winner when he fractures his left front cannon bone and sesamoid while finishing third to Lemon Drop Kid in the Belmont Stakes. 2004 — Smarty Jones loses his Triple Crown bid and his perfect record when Birdstone runs him down near the finish of a thrilling Belmont Stakes. Birdstone, a 36-1 long shot ridden by Edgar Prado, returns $74, $14 and $8.60. 2005 — Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal beats unseeded Mariano Puerta of Argentina in four sets to win the French Open men's singles title. The No. 4-seeded Nadal becomes the youngest men's Grand Slam champion since Pete Sampras won the U.S. Open at 19 in 1990. 2011 — Rafael Nadal wins his record-equaling sixth French Open title, beating Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-1 in the final. 2016 — Novak Djokovic becomes the first man in nearly a half-century to win four consecutive major championships and finally earned elusive French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, beating Andy Murray 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. 2021 — Luis Saez rides Essential Quality to wins the 153rd Belmont Stakes. 1915 — Philadelphia's Grover Cleveland Alexander lost his no-hitter when Artie Butler punched a single with two outs in the ninth. Alexander struck out Bob Bescher for the final out to beat St. Louis 3-0. Alexander went on to pitch three more one-hitters during the season. 1929 — The Cincinnati Reds scored nine runs in the sixth inning en route to a 21-4 romp over the Chicago Cubs. 1935 — Chicago White Sox rookie John Whitehead loses to St. Louis 2-0. It was his first loss after winning his first eight starts, an AL record for the start of a career. 1949 — Commissioner Happy Chandler lifted the ban on all players who had jumped to a league in Mexico. 1955 — Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees hit a home run off Chicago's Billy Pierce that traveled about 550 feet. The ball cleared the left-field upper deck at Comiskey Park. 1959 — Pittsburgh's Dick Stuart hit the longest home run at Forbes Field. Stuart smashed a shot over the center-field wall off Chicago pitcher Glenn Hobbie. 1966 — Leo Cardenas of the Reds hit four home runs in a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs. Cardenas hit two home runs in each game as Cincinnati won the opener 8-3 but dropped the second game 9-5. 1986 — San Diego's Steve Garvey was ejected for the first time in his career when he argued a play at home plate. Garvey, the on-deck hitter, protested the last out of a triple play by the Atlanta Braves. Television replays showed that Bip Roberts was indeed safe. The Padres lost 4-2. 1989 — The Blue Jays lost their debut in the SkyDome as Glenn Braggs hit a two-run homer to lead the Milwaukee Brewers past Toronto 5-3. The $375-million complex featured a $100-million, four-section, retractable roof. 1997 — Alex Rodriguez of the Mariners became the first Seattle player to hit for the cycle in a nine-inning game. He completed the cycle with a double in the ninth of a 14-6 win at Detroit. 2001 — Colorado pitcher Mike Hampton had two homers, three RBIs and recorded his eighth win as Colorado defeated Houston 9-4. 2008 — Atlanta's Chipper Jones became the third switch-hitter in major league history to hit 400 home runs. Jones' homer off Ricky Nolasco was one of his four hits in the 7-5 comeback win over Florida. Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray were the first two reach the milestone. 2013 — The Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners played the first game in major league history when each team scored five or more runs in the game when it was scoreless through the ninth. Alejandro De Aza and Alex Rios each had an RBI single in the 16th inning, and Chicago won 7-5. 2015 — Oakland's Pat Venditte became the first pitcher in 20 years to throw with both arms in the same game, but the Boston Red Sox beat the Athletics 4-2 on a night a fan sustained life-threatening injuries when she was struck by a broken bat. 2021 — Team USA secured a spot in the Tokyo Olympics by winning the Americas Olympic Qualifier. Compiled by the Associated Press That concludes today's newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you'd like to see, email me at To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
