Pete Rose is getting back into baseball. This time, though, he’ll be behind a television camera.
Major League Baseball’s all-time hits leader has signed on with FOX to serve as a guest analyst on FOX and FOX Sports 1’s pregame shows. He’ll also make guest appearances on other FOX Sports shows such as “America’s Pregame” and “FOX Sports Live.”
Rose currently is serving a lifetime ban from baseball that he earned 26 years ago for betting on the game. The 74-year-old has submitted a request for reinstatement several times, most recently to new MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, but insists this new gig has nothing to do with trying to get reinstated.
“I’m not concentrating or worrying about reinstatement,” Rose said, via FOXSports.com. “I’m worried about working, having fun. This will be fun for me. It won’t be like work. That’s the way I look at it.”
The network didn’t require the game’s permission to hire Rose, and MLB chief communications officer Pat Courtney said the decision to bring him in “rests solely with FOX.” Yet Courtney added that FOX made the league fully aware of its intentions to hire Rose before doing so.
Rose still is banned from all ballparks and only will go on-air from FOX’s studio. Still, the former Cincinnati Reds great says he’s just happy for the opportunity.
“I enjoy talking baseball, and that’s what this is all about,” Rose added. “… Hopefully people will watch, and I’ll make some good points that will help them understand the game more.”
Thumbnail photo via Kelvin Kuo/USA TODAY Sports Images
