“...but what crime did he commit that he needs a presidential pardon?”
The only crime against the game that he violated was with his contract with MLB that says he is not allowed to bet on baseball games and he did and lied about it for years. If he had come out and said he had a gambling addiction and needed medical help it might have been different. But he was caught gambling while playing for a few teams, in some cases using the locker room phones for placing bets.
He was jailed for tax evasion failing to report income from autograph appearances, memorabilia sales, and gambling, which led to his lifetime ban from baseball. He knew what he was doing. And there is nothing to be gained for pardoning him as the pardon is not to alleviate the crimes. They still exist after a pardon so he can’t be alleviated of the punishment that he’s already completed. So the HOF is still out of reach and he’s deceased.
wy69
Giamatti made the most favorable decision in Rose’s favor that he could have under the rules without ignoring the evidence.
He left the door open for the owners to change the rules.
They did not.