Rod Carew calls MLB gambling rules hypocritical - "How can you keep Pete Rose out and have a sportsbook at the Reds stadium?"

Legendary first baseman and designated hitter Pete Rose finally has some backing for his Hall of Fame status. The support came from Hall of Famer Rod Carew, who on Thursday called MLB's gambling rules "hypocritical."

"It has gone too far and it’s hypocritical," he said on Twitter. "How can you keep Pete Rose out and have a sportsbook at the Reds stadium??"

Carew was replying to a Twitter user who wanted to know his thoughts on sports gambling. Carew's reply suggests that he feels it is unfair of the MLB to keep Pete Rose out while allowing betting from inside the Cincinnati Reds' stadium after new rules suggested placing a sportsbook inside its premises.

Pete Rose spent most of his career at the Cincinnati Reds' Great American Ball Park as a player and a coach, becoming a 17-time All-Star and winning two World Series. However, disaster struck Rose in 1989 when MLB officials charged him for alleged involvement in gambling on his own games.

Rose was given a lifetime ban as he broke the MLB's rules on gambling. The debate has since raged over whether he should be reinstated into the world of baseball. Rose has campaigned publicly and taken legal measures, but they haven't yielded much. However, he would certainly be receptive to Hall of Famer Rod Carew's support.

Carew is an 18-time MLB All-Star who played predominantly from the 1960s to the 1980s. He won seven batting championship crowns and was awarded the American League MVP in 1977. His jersey number, 29, was retired by both his teams, the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels.

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Rod Carew wants Pete Rose to be recognized "for the great he is"

In his series of tweets on Feb. 2, Rod Carew opined that if the MLB allows betting to take place inside the stadiums, it can also forgive Pete Rose and recognize his greatness.

“If they can embrace gambling to the level of putting it in the stadium they can forgive Pete and recognize him for the Great he is,” Carew said on Twitter.

When asked about the lack of remorse shown by Rose for gambling on games, Carew suggested talking about steroid use in the MLB instead.

"Let’s talk when they put steroid clinics in the stadium," Carew tweeted.

Regardless of the point of contention for Carew, many users refused to ignore the fact that Rose broke the rules. At the same time, a number of fans also agreed with Carew's opinion.