FBI Docs Reveal MLB’s 1988 Investigation of Pete Rose’s Gambling

BREAKING: Newly released FBI documents reveal that Major League Baseball (MLB) launched an investigation into Pete Rose in 1988, a year before the infamous probe that led to his lifetime ban. This urgent update sheds light on Rose’s gambling activities that have long clouded his legacy.

The documents indicate that MLB suspected Rose was betting on baseball and was burdened with debts ranging from $300,000 to $400,000 at that time. This investigation was temporarily suspended at the request of federal law enforcement officials who were simultaneously probing Rose’s financial dealings.

In February 1989, MLB escalated its inquiry by hiring former federal prosecutor John Dowd to lead the investigation, which ultimately resulted in Rose’s lifetime ban from baseball that August. Despite his record-setting career, Rose’s future in the Baseball Hall of Fame remains uncertain, especially following the lifting of his ban by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred this past May, shortly after Rose’s death at the age of 83.

The FBI files, released in response to an ESPN request, detail the timeline of MLB’s decision-making process regarding Rose’s ban. According to the documents, an FBI memo dated April 13, 1988, advised MLB to pause its investigation to avoid interfering with the IRS’s inquiry into Rose’s finances. The memo references Ronald Peters, one of Rose’s bookmakers, highlighting the complexities of Rose’s financial entanglements.

A former MLB representative, identified as Joe Daly, reportedly discussed Rose’s gambling situation with the FBI, confirming that the league was actively investigating Rose for betting on games. Daly stated that only one person had come forward with evidence of Rose’s betting activities at that time.

The newly uncovered information also suggests that as early as the 1970s, MLB had looked into Rose’s possible associations with bookmakers, although those investigations did not result in any immediate actions against him.

As reports continue to surface, the question of Rose’s eligibility for the Hall of Fame looms larger. If he is to be considered, the earliest opportunity would be in 2027, when he can be reviewed by the Classic Era Committee, which evaluates candidates based on their resumes, integrity, sportsmanship, and character.

This latest revelation from the FBI provides critical insight into the long-standing questions surrounding Pete Rose’s gambling past and its implications for his legacy in baseball.

NEXT STEPS: As the baseball community processes this new information, all eyes will be on the Hall of Fame’s upcoming committee meetings, where Rose’s candidacy will be a central topic of discussion.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.