Reds icon Pete Rose's potential Hall of Fame induction timeline revealed

Over the past few days, there've been a lot of rumblings involving Cincinnati Reds' legend Pete Rose and the National Baseball Hall of Fame. President Donald Trump kicked off the conversation after revealing that he plans to sign a full pardon of Rose and fully endorsed the idea of inducting "The Hit King" into the Hall of Fame.

After that, reports emerged that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is considering a petition filed by Rose's family that would remove his name from the ineligible list. Rose was effectively banned from baseball in 1989, and in 1991, a provision was added that didn't allow anyone on the ineligible list to be included on the Hall of Fame ballot.

But even if President Trump signs a full pardon and Manfred finally removes Rose from the ineligible list, it's not as if he'll then automatically be enshrined into National Baseball Hall of Fame. Those are merely steps in what would be a long process.

Reds icon Pete Rose's potential Hall of Fame induction timeline revealed

If Rose is removed from MLB's ineligible list, he won't appear on the Baseball Writers Association of America's Hall of the Fame ballot next winter. Rose's playing career ended in 1986. Traditionally, Rose would have become eligible five years after his playing career came to a close (1991). The BBWAA would then have a 10-year window in which to vote for him, and if Rose reached the 75% threshold, he'd then be inducted into the Hall of Fame. That time has passed.

That means the only way for Rose to be inducted into Cooperstown will come by way of the Eras Committee. Formerly the Veterans Committee, the Eras Committee considers retired players who are no longer eligible for the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA. This year, the Eras Committee elected former Reds outfielder Dave Parker and seven-time All-Star Dick Allen. Both will be inducted into Cooperstown later this year.

But the Eras Committee has an odd way of holding its elections. In December of 2024, the committee made their selections from the "Classic Baseball Era" (prior to 1980), of which Rose is a part. Over the next two cycles, the Eras Committee will vote for the "Contemporary Baseball Era" (1980 to present) with this year's focus on players and next year's cycle concentrated on managers, executives, and umpires.

The earliest Reds legend Pete Rose can be inducted into the Hall of Fame is 2028

So, if Rose is pardoned and removed from the ineligible list, his closest window for election into the Hall of Fame (through the Eras Committee) will come in December of 2027 with induction in 2028.

Rose passed away last year at the age of 83 having never been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame despite an on-field résumé that included 17 All-Star appearances, three batting titles, two Gold Gloves, NL Rookie of the Year honors, the 1973 NL MVP Award, and two World Series championships.

His off-the-field misconduct notwithstanding, Rose is generally beloved by the fans in his hometown of Cincinnati. Based purely on his on-field accolades, Rose is a bonafide Hall of Famer. But Reds fans will have to wait until at least 2028 to see that come to fruition.

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