CINCINNATI — Johnny Bench says that former Cincinnati Reds teammate Pete Rose has made a conciliatory gesture to try to patch up their relationship.

Bench told WCPO-TV that Rose recently apologized to him for the way his gambling scandal in 1989 overshadowed the catcher’s induction into baseball’s Hall of Fame that summer. Rose accepted the lifetime ban for gambling, and acknowledged years later that he bet on baseball.

The two stars have had a cool relationship over the years. Bench told the television station that Rose took the initiative in setting up their meeting, and that they hugged when it was over.