Red Sox legend David Ortiz has added his voice to the growing number of advocates calling for Pete Rose’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Ortiz expressed his belief that MLB’s all-time hits leader should have been enshrined in Cooperstown long ago.
“I thought he should have been there a long time ago man,” Ortiz said. “Mistakes are mistakes but sometimes there’s an exception to the rule. You know what I’m saying? And, he’s one-of-a-kind … I thought he should’ve been a Hall of Famer a long time ago.”
Ortiz, who was inducted into the Hall in 2022 after an illustrious 20-year career, made his comments just days after Rose’s passing.
Despite their different paths in baseball history, the two shared a unique connection. Rose, known for his record 4,256 hits, had once questioned Ortiz’s own Hall of Fame credentials, stating in the 2010s that the Boston slugger was “borderline” based on his hit total at the time.
However, Rose acknowledged Ortiz’s potential, adding, “But if he plays a couple more years, he’s a cinch.”
Despite being one of the most beloved players in MLB history, there are some who believe Ortiz was very fortunate not to be outed as a player who used steroids.
That’s definitely not saying Big Papi did in fact use steroids. However, there are many fans who think that he did.
As we know, all players associated with steroid use have been effectively blacklisted from the Hall of Fame – Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, just to name a few.
As for Rose, his decades-long ban from Cooperstown was due to his lifetime suspension from Major League Baseball.
The ban stemmed from his admission to betting on games, including those involving his own team, while managing the Cincinnati Reds.
However, Rose’s 24-year career and legendary accomplishments as a player have continued to fuel debate over whether his on-field legacy should outweigh his off-field controversies.
Despite Rose’s lifetime ban and later controversies, many baseball fans and players, including Ortiz, argue that his career achievements – highlighted by his unmatched hit total – should earn him a place in the Hall of Fame.
As Ortiz remarked, Rose’s legacy as a player is “one-of-a-kind,” and for many, his contributions to the game remain undeniable.
Sure, he was flawed – but you could make a strong argument that no player in history played harder or wanted to win more than the ultra-competitive Rose.
What are your thoughts on Rose? … Should he already be in the Hall???