- Over 7 in 10 (72%) MLB fans say Rose should be inducted
- Only 16% of MLB fans say he does not belong
- More than half (54%) of Americans favor Rose’s induction
The latest Seton Hall Sports Poll finds that most Americans (54%) believe Pete Rose should be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, following his reinstatement to Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2025. The findings indicate that Rose’s on-field achievements continue to resonate strongly with the American public.
American Public Backs Induction
Rose is MLB’s all-time hits leader (4,256) and holds the record for most games played (3,562) during his 25-year career, which included 17 All-Star selections and three World Series championships. Rose was declared permanently ineligible in accordance with Major League Rule 21 and placed on the Ineligible List by MLB Commissioner Bart Giamatti in 1989 for gambling on MLB games while managing the Cincinnati Reds. He was reinstated by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in 2025. After more than three decades of exclusion, his reinstatement has reignited national debate over whether his athletic accomplishments outweigh his past misconduct.
“It is clear that Americans’ willingness to give second chances applies to Pete Rose,” says Charles Grantham, Director of the Center for Sport Management and the Seton Hall Sports Poll at the Seton Hall Stillman School of Business. “Particularly since sports betting is legal in 38 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico, the overwhelming tide of those who are either fans or not displaces the old automatic ejection of anyone who bet on the sport they played or managed.”
This Poll was conducted November 9th through November 10th and includes responses from 1,564 U.S. adults with a margin of error of +/- 3%. The sample mirrors the U.S. Census percentages on age, gender, income, education, ethnicity, and region. The Poll is sponsored by the Sharkey Institute within the Center for Sport Management in the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University.
Few Believe Rose Should Be Kept Out
In fact, approximately four times as many Americans (54% Yes – 14% No) and MLB fans (68% Yes – 16% No) favor Rose’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Despite his complicated legacy, only 16 percent of MLB fans say Rose should not be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Another 32 percent of Americans say they are unsure or have no opinion, suggesting that while some remain uncertain, few actively oppose his candidacy. These findings reflect a growing public readiness to reconcile Rose’s accomplishments with his mistakes. While opinions vary by age and familiarity, the overall data indicated that most Americans believe Rose’s contributions to the game warrant National Baseball Hall of Fame recognition, even as his story continues to spark debate about integrity and redemption in professional sports.
Support Strongest Among Older Fans
While a majority supports Rose’s reinstatement across all age groups, the strongest support for his induction comes from older Americans who witnessed his career firsthand. The Poll found that 63 percent of respondents aged 55 and older say Rose belongs in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, compared to 58 percent of those aged 35–54 and 56 percent of those aged 18–34. This reveals that, even among those less familiar with Rose’s career, widespread awareness of his records and his decades-long ban continues to shape the discussion of forgiveness and accountability in sports.
Among MLB fans, nearly seven in ten (68%) say Rose should be inducted, while only 16 percent disagree. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of sports fans and 64 percent of avid fans are especially likely to favor induction, suggesting that those most deeply engaged with the game are most inclined to see his record-breaking career as Hall of Fame worthy. Even among the wider general population, where familiarity with baseball varies, a majority support Rose’s induction (54%).
Does Pete Rose belong in the Baseball Hall of Fame?
October 2025 Seton Hall Sports Poll
Daniel Ladik, Ph.D., Chief Methodologist – Daniel.ladik@shu.edu
This SHSP was conducted November 9th through 10th and includes responses from 1,564 U.S. adults with a margin of error of 3%. The sample mirrors the U.S. Census percentages on age, gender, income, education, ethnicity, and region.
Q1. Which of the following statements best describes you?
*Note: Presented in each table, Avid + Casual = total sports fandom in the data. Some tables break out the Avid and Casual segments.
Q11a. Does Pete Rose belong in the Baseball Hall of Fame?
