WATCH: Pete Rose Made One Final Pitch to the Baseball Hall of Fame Just Weeks Before His Death

Weeks before his death on Sept. 30, Pete Rose made one final pitch to the Baseball Hall of Fame in what would become his last interview.

TMZ on Monday broke the news that Rose passed away at the age of 83. He’s the MLB’s all-time leader in hits and one of just two players in the history of the league to amass 4,000 career hits. Though he’s widely recognized as one of the sport’s greatest players, that legacy is overshadowed by the infamous gambling scandal that resulted in a lifetime ban from the league.

Since the ban, the idea of him making the Hall of Fame has been the subject of great debate. While some believe Rose betting on games was an unforgivable act that should forever keep him from being immortalized in Cooperstown, New York, others argue that it shouldn’t take away from the incredible player he was.

In early September, Rose gave his thoughts on the ongoing debate in an interview with KTLA 5 News.

“The only thing I could think of that would make that happen is I got suspended in 1989,” he said. “You know how many years ago that was? I mean, time usually creates everything; and it’s been a long time and there’s been a lot of negatives happening in the world of baseball. Don’t get me wrong, I was absolutely, 110% wrong with what I did; but to do something like I did — and that’s bet on a baseball game — and now you’re punished for the rest of your life, I don’t think it makes a lot of sense to a lot of people… Other guys will kill somebody, or they’ll be strung out on drugs, or they’ll beat their wives and stuff like that; and [in] a couple years, they’re back in the game.”

Later in the interview, Rose actually explained why he’d want the MLB to reverse their decision before he died.

“I don’t see much sense in putting me on the ballot after I die,” he said, “because for a player to go into his or her Hall of Fame, it’s more or less for your family and it’s more or less for your fanbase — and I’m big on both of those two things right there. And I know most of the people who rooted for me my whole career would love to see me in the Hall of Fame as a living player, not as someone that’s 10 feet under; and I always thought about that. What good would it do my family if they put me in the Hall of Fame after I die? I can’t think of anything good about that because I’m the one that did the work. I’m the one that put the time in. I’m the one who was dedicated to the game of baseball. I was the one dedicated to my teammates, to the three teams I played for, and for the game of baseball in general!”