MLB removes Pete Rose, other banned players from permanently ineligible list
Major League Baseball has removed Pete Rose and other banned players from the permanently ineligible list following a decision by Commissioner Rob Manfred, who declared that permanent ineligibility ends upon the death of the individual. This decision was prompted by an application from Rose's family, with the commissioner acknowledging that deceased individuals no longer pose a threat to the game's integrity. Rose, who was banned for gambling on baseball games, had admitted his actions in 2004 and predicted he would not enter the Hall of Fame until after his death. Former President Donald Trump has expressed support for Rose, promising a posthumous pardon and criticizing MLB for not inducting him into the Hall of Fame during his lifetime. The ruling also paves the way for other players, such as 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson, to be reconsidered for the Hall of Fame, potentially leading to their induction by the Classic Baseball Era Committee in future meetings.
Context:
Major League Baseball has removed Pete Rose and other banned players from the permanently ineligible list following a decision by Commissioner Rob Manfred, who declared that permanent ineligibility ends upon the death of the individual. This decision was prompted by an application from Rose's family, with the commissioner acknowledging that deceased individuals no longer pose a threat to the game's integrity. Rose, who was banned for gambling on baseball games, had admitted his actions in 2004 and predicted he would not enter the Hall of Fame until after his death. Former President Donald Trump has expressed support for Rose, promising a posthumous pardon and criticizing MLB for not inducting him into the Hall of Fame during his lifetime. The ruling also paves the way for other players, such as 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson, to be reconsidered for the Hall of Fame, potentially leading to their induction by the Classic Baseball Era Committee in future meetings.
Dive Deeper:
Pete Rose, MLB's all-time hit leader, was removed from the permanently ineligible list after a decision by Commissioner Rob Manfred, who stated that the ineligibility of players ends upon their death as they no longer pose a threat to the integrity of the game.
Rose, banned for gambling on games while managing and playing for the Cincinnati Reds, admitted to his actions in 2004, after years of denying them, and predicted he would not be elected to the Hall of Fame until after his death.
The decision by MLB was influenced by an application from Rose's family, with Manfred noting that the issue had not been formally addressed before; Rose is the first person banned after Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis's tenure to die while still on the ineligible list.
Former President Donald Trump has announced plans to sign a full pardon for Rose, arguing that despite his gambling, Rose only bet on his team to win and that he was a superior player compared to many Hall of Famers.
The ruling increases the chances for players like 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson, who was involved in the 1919 Black Sox scandal, to be reconsidered for the Hall of Fame, with 17 players now eligible and potential votes occurring by the Classic Baseball Era Committee in 2027.
Rose's removal from the list comes as the Reds host 'Pete Rose Night,' and follows several denied reinstatement applications by Rose, with Manfred once citing a 'risk of future violation' as a reason for denial.
The decision is significant for MLB's approach to past scandals and may impact future considerations for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame for players previously banned from baseball.