CINCINNATI -- Reds great Joe Morgan said he thought Pete Rose's induction into the Reds Hall of Fame was bound to happen.
But while discussing the news on 700 WLW with Bill Cunningham on Wednesday, he didn't divulge details from inside the National Baseball Hall of Fame and how the decision will affect Rose's chances of going to Cooperstown.
"I think this is the best situation we could hope for at this point," Morgan told Cunningham. "I don't know what the future will bring, but, at the time, this is the best we could hope for."
Morgan serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Hall of Fame. But he said he knew nothing about plans to induct Rose into the Reds Hall of Fame until the news broke Tuesday.
"I always thought that Pete would be honored with all of us (from the 1970s Reds)," Morgan said on Cunningham's afternoon show. "I think we all anticipated that Pete would be honored."
Morgan said he became friends with Rose before coming to Cincinnati. A fellow second baseman, Rose and Morgan were friendly with one another while Morgan played for the Astros, he said.
Morgan and Rose's Big Red Machine teammates Tony Perez and Johnny Bench have already been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Cunningham noted that Rose's induction weekend could be the last time the Reds' "great eight" could all be together at a public event.
"Like you, I won't look at it that way," Morgan replied. "I just want to enjoy the moments we will have together. That's the most important thing for me."
