David Ortiz on Pete Rose: “He belongs in the Hall of Fame”

The member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Dominican David Ortiz, spoke this Saturday regarding the death of baseball legend Pete Rose, considering that the career of the top hitter of all time in the Major Leagues is worthy of entry to the kingdom of the immortals, regardless of the controversies that shook their surroundings at the time.

In exclusive statements to TMZ, Ortiz pointed out that Rose should have been part of the Hall of Fame for a long time. However, the MLB sanction on the player remains after he was removed from the entire baseball environment for having placed bets against his own team during his time as manager in the mid-to-late 1980s.

“I think he should have been a member of the Hall of Fame a long time ago,” Big Papi noted during his interview.

Ortiz also said that in life there are mistakes, but that some of them must be exceptions, in reference to Rose and his 4,257 hits, a record that after more than 120 years of history seems increasingly difficult to break.

Rose also led the historical records for Plate Appearances (15,890), At Bats (14,053) and games played in the Major Leagues (3,562).

“Mistakes are mistakes… But sometimes there are exceptions to the rules, you know what I’m saying? And he is unique,” added Ortiz.

And Ortiz’s words have impact, because the player has been a member of Cooperstown since 2022, becoming the eighth designated hitter to enter Olympus.

Despite Ortiz’s good intentions with the statement, Rose’s family has pointed out that what he tried so hard to achieve in life, with his exaltation, was of no use if it happened after he died.

Since his punishment became known in 1989, Rose has tried at all times to obtain a pardon from the Major Leagues, including a last attempt in 2020.

“I write today for three reasons. First, because at my age I want to be 100% sure that you understand how much I mean when I say I’m sorry. Second, to ask for forgiveness. And third, because I still think every day about what it would mean to be considered for the Hall of Fame,” was part of the text he published at the time for Baseball Commissioner Rob Mafred.

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