Finally restoring justice after decades, Major League Baseball has removed Pete Rose and other dead players from baseball’s ban list.
Commissioner Rob Manfred’s historic decision means these American legends can now be considered for the Hall of Fame, recognizing that no punishment should extend beyond the grave.
In a striking reversal of decades-old baseball policy, Major League Baseball has removed Rose, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, and 15 other deceased players from its permanent list of banned individuals.
The announcement marks a significant shift in how baseball handles its disciplinary measures and potentially opens the door for these legends to finally receive baseball’s highest honor.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred explained the reasoning behind his decision with remarkable clarity.
He said, “Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game. 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,” Manfred added.
Both Rose and Jackson stand as some of baseball’s greatest talents whose legacies were tarnished by scandal.
Rose, who passed away in September 2024, was baseball’s all-time hits leader with 4,256 hits, a 17-time All-Star, and a three-time World Series champion.
His ban came in 1989 after he was caught betting on games, including those involving his own team while managing the Cincinnati Reds.
Jackson’s story reaches even further back in baseball history. One of the finest hitters ever to play the game with a remarkable .356 lifetime batting average, “Shoeless Joe” was banned in 1920 for his alleged involvement in the infamous “Black Sox Scandal.”
The incident saw eight Chicago White Sox players accused of intentionally losing the 1919 World Series for gambling payoffs.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame has already acknowledged the significance of MLB’s decision.
Hall of Fame Chairman Jane Forbes Clark stated, “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.”
For decades, baseball purists and traditionalists have argued that Rose and Jackson deserved their place in the Hall of Fame based on their on-field achievements, regardless of their off-field transgressions.
Now, the Classic Baseball Era Committee will have the chance to right this historic wrong when they meet in December 2027.
The reinstatement campaign gained momentum thanks to attorney Jeffrey Lenkov, who filed a petition that helped influence Manfred’s decision.
For players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, they will need votes from at least 12 of the 16 committee members who evaluate players from baseball’s classic era.
While some may view this as a controversial move, it represents a common-sense approach to punishment that acknowledges its primary purpose—deterrence—while not extending vendettas beyond the grave.
For fans who grew up watching Rose’s headfirst slides and hustle or hearing stories of Jackson’s natural hitting prowess, this decision feels like justice long overdue.
