Commissioner Rob Manfred implemented sweeping changes to MLB’s ineligible list as it pertains to individuals who have passed away, including Pete Rose.
Manfred concluded MLB’s policy should now apply such that permanent ineligibility ends once the disciplined individual has passed away. Manfred arrived at the decision months after Jeffrey M. Lenkov, the attorney for Rose, wrote a letter on behalf of the family to petition the commissioner on posthumously removing him from MLB’s banned list.
Part of Manfred’s response to Lenkov included, “In my view, a determination must be made regarding how the phrase ‘permanently ineligible’ should be interpreted in light of the purposes and policies behind Rule 21, which are to: (1) protect the game from individuals who pose a risk to the integrity of the sport by prohibiting the participation of such individuals; and (2) create a deterrent effect that reduces the likelihood of future violations by others.
“In my view, once an individual has passed away, the purposes of Rule 21 have been served. Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game,” Manfred continued in his letter.
“Moreover, it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve. Therefore, I have concluded that permanent ineligibility ends upon the passing of the disciplined individual, and Mr. Rose will be removed from the permanently ineligible list.”
MLB placed Rose on the ineligible list in August 1989 by then-commissioner Bartlet Giamatti. His decision stemmed from the discovery of Rose betting on baseball.
Rose, who passed away last September at the age of 83, made multiple attempts to get reinstated by MLB. Rose formally exercised his right to an appeal in April 2015, and there was some thought Manfred would grant the wish that former commissioner Bud Selig had previously denied Rose, but to no avail.
Rose spent played parts of 19 of 24 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. During that time he won three World Series titles and was a 17-time All-Star, among other accolades.
Rose is MLB’s all-time hit king (4,256), and the leader in career games (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and plate appearances (15,890).
While Rose remained banned from baseball, he was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2016 and had a statue erected outside the main gates of Great American Ball Park in 2017. The Reds also retired Rose’s No. 14 jersey.
Is Pete Rose eligible for Baseball Hall of Fame now?
In 1991, the Baseball Hall of Fame passed a rule that deems any player on MLB’s ineligible list also cannot appear on the Hall of Fame ballot. The stipulation is known as the Pete Rose Rule.
But with Manfred’s reversal to remove Rose and others, including ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson, from MLB’s permanently banned list, they are now going to be eligible for enshrinement in Cooperstown.
“The National Baseball Hall of Fame has always maintained that anyone removed from Baseball’s permanently ineligible list will become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration,” the Hall of Fame said in a statement.
“Major League Baseball’s decision to remove deceased individuals from the permanently ineligible list will allow for the Hall of Fame candidacy of such individuals to now be considered. The Historical Overview Committee will develop the ballot of eight names for the Classic Baseball Era Committee – which evaluates candidates who made their greatest impact on the game prior to 1980 – to vote on when it meets next in December 2027.”
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