In a groundbreaking decision by Major League Baseball, Commissioner Rob Manfred has reinstated icons Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, making them eligible for the Hall of Fame. The move comes as part of a policy shift that ends the longstanding practice of permanent ineligibility for the deceased. This decision paves the way for both players, once entangled in sports gambling scandals, to potentially be acknowledged for their on-field achievements.
Pete Rose, whose ban ended posthumously, was the focus of this significant revision. The announcement arrived just before Cincinnati Redsโ Pete Rose Night, a tribute to baseballโs career hits leader. Commissioner Manfredโs decision introduces a new interpretation, suggesting that once an individual is deceased, the reasons for their ban no longer apply, thus restoring Roseโs eligibility.
Rose was placed on baseballโs ineligible list in August 1989 after an investigation revealed he had bet on games involving the Cincinnati Reds. Despite multiple attempts to seek reinstatement, Rose, who passed away in September at 83, remained banned until now. Manfredโs letter to Jeffrey Lenkovโwho filed a new petition for Roseโexplained that the deterrent impact of a lifetime ban becomes moot upon an individualโs death.
During his illustrious career from 1963 to 1986, Pete Rose earned numerous accolades, including being a 17-time All-Star. He holds records for hits, games, at-bats, and more. His contributions to the game were overshadowed by gambling infractions leading to his exclusion from the Hall of Fameโs consideration.
Shoeless Joe Jackson similarly benefits from the ruling. Known for a career batting average of .356, Jackson was one of eight players banned for the Black Sox Scandal involving the 1919 World Series. With todayโs developments, both players can be considered for induction into the Hall of Fame, given the Hallโs rules adapted in 1991, which stated that anyone on the ineligible list could not be inducted.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame, in a statement by Chairman Jane Forbes Clark, supported MLBโs new direction, noting that the Hall has always considered candidates removed from the ineligible list. Under these rules, Rose and Jackson could enter the selection process, with the Classic Baseball Era committee set to convene next in December 2027. A historical overview committee will prepare ballots for discussion at the winter meetings.
The Hall of Fame ballots in 2028 will also include celebrated players like Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina, ensuring an intriguing field of candidates. President Donald Trump has previously expressed support for Rose, indicating a desire to explore a posthumous pardon. Details of any pardon remain uncertain, along with its exact legal ramifications. Roseโs conviction in 1990 for filing false tax returns also highlights complexities beyond the gambling controversy.
The major reevaluation by MLB and the Hall of Fame could mark a turning point in how the sport acknowledges its past, particularly in disputes regarding the integrity of the game. Both Rose and Jacksonโs potential inclusion in the Hall not only reopens the conversation on their legacies but sets a precedent for other historical figures who faced similar exclusions.