Baseball: Pete Rose and Joe Jackson among reinstated MLB players

In a groundbreaking and historic move, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announced on Tuesday that deceased players on the permanently ineligible list—most notably Pete Rose and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson—would now be eligible for Hall of Fame consideration. This decision effectively lifts the lifetime bans imposed on these players, recognizing that such punishment loses relevance after death.

In a formal letter to attorney Jeffrey M. Lenkov, who petitioned on behalf of Rose’s family earlier this year, Manfred stated, “A person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game.” He added that a lifetime ban should logically end with a person’s life, as the deterrent effect is already absolute. As a result, Rose and Jackson, long regarded as outcasts due to gambling-related offenses, will be removed from the ineligible list.

Rose was banned in 1989 after an investigation revealed he had bet on games while managing the Cincinnati Reds. Jackson and seven teammates, known as the “Black Sox,” were banned in 1921 for fixing the 1919 World Series. The earliest they could be inducted into the Hall of Fame, under current eligibility rules, is 2028. Manfred’s ruling impacts a total of 16 deceased players and one deceased team owner.

The Hall of Fame board previously ruled in 1991 that any player on the ineligible list could not appear on a Hall ballot—essentially creating what became known as the “Pete Rose rule.” While Jackson had been discussed by voters in the past, Rose was never listed on a ballot. His official death last September at age 83 ended his lifetime ban in MLB’s eyes.

Rose’s attorney, Lenkov, praised the decision, noting it brings hope and closure to the family. The Hall’s board chair, Jane Forbes Clark, confirmed that Rose and Jackson can now be evaluated by the Historical Overview Committee, which will determine eligibility for the Classic Baseball Era Committee’s next vote in December 2027. Both players would require 12 of 16 votes to gain induction.

Throughout his life, Rose remained a controversial figure. He denied betting for years, only admitting to it in 2004. Even then, he insisted he only bet on his team to win. His reputation was further complicated by a 2017 statutory rape allegation and ongoing gambling habits. These issues, along with his gambling ban, clouded any hopes for reinstatement during his lifetime.

Despite the scandals, Rose’s on-field accomplishments remain unmatched. He holds MLB records in hits (4,256), games played, at-bats, and more. Fans in Cincinnati and beyond have long called for his induction, especially as legal sports betting has become normalized.

In his final interview before passing, Rose lamented that a posthumous Hall of Fame induction would mean little to him personally. Yet now, with Manfred’s decision, the door is finally open—for Rose, Jackson, and others—to be remembered not just for their controversies, but also for their undeniable impact on the game.

RS/MS