Aaron Holmes 
Baseball’s all-time hits leader Pete Rose, with his amazing 4,256 hits, is no longer on MLB’s permanently ineligible list—eight months after his death. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made history by clearing both “Charlie Hustle” and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, which changes baseball’s approach to lifetime bans.
The Pete Rose gambling scandal started in 1989, and this posthumous reinstatement represents a turning point for 17 banned individuals. Rose’s remarkable baseball career saw him excel at second base and in the outfield. He racked up countless awards while playing a record 3,562 games. Joe Jackson’s story is equally compelling. He managed to keep an incredible .356 career batting average, the fourth-highest in MLB’s history, until his ban in 1921 over his alleged involvement in the Black Sox Scandal. The earliest these two legends could enter the Hall of Fame would be 2028, the next time the Classic Baseball Era Committee meets to evaluate their candidacies.
MLB removes Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson from ineligible list
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made a groundbreaking policy decision on May 13, 2025. He removed 17 deceased individuals from baseball’s permanently ineligible list, including legends Pete Rose and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson [1]. This historic ruling addressed what happens to banned players after death for the first time.
Commissioner Manfred Redefines ‘Permanent Ineligibility’
Manfred’s announcement changed how baseball looks at the phrase “permanently ineligible.” The ban now ends with death rather than extending beyond it. This decision came after Rose’s attorney Jeffrey Lenkov filed a petition following Rose’s death in September 2024 [2].
Manfred shared his thoughts in a letter to Lenkov:
“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” [3].
Why the Decision was Made Posthumously
Baseball’s leadership never tackled this issue before. Rose was “the first person banned after the tenure of Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis to die while still on the ineligible list” [4]. Dead players can’t harm baseball’s integrity, Manfred reasoned.
“Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game,” Manfred wrote. “More, it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve” [1].
Manfred pointed out that he usually doesn’t “disturb decisions made by prior Commissioners.” Rose’s case stood out because he “was not placed on the permanently ineligible list by Commissioner action but rather as the result of a 1989 settlement of potential litigation with the Commissioner’s Office” [3].
Full List of 17 Individuals Reinstated
The decision reinstated Rose, Jackson, and 15 others [5]. Here’s the complete list:
- Eight players from the 1919 “Black Sox” scandal: Eddie Cicotte, Happy Felsch, Chick Gandil, Joe Jackson, Fred McMullin, Swede Risberg, Buck Weaver, and Lefty Williams
- Former Philadelphia Phillies president William Cox
- Former New York Giants outfielder Benny Kauff
- Six other players: Joe Gedeon, Gene Paulette, Lee Magee, Phil Douglas, Cozy Dolan, and Jimmy O’Connell [4]
This ruling sets a standard that will apply to “individuals in the past or future who are posthumously on the permanently ineligible list” [3].
Why Were Rose and Jackson Banned from Baseball?
Baseball’s zero-tolerance gambling policy has been shaped by two landmark cases that defined the sport’s integrity standards for more than 100 years.
Pete Rose Gambling Scandal and Rule 21
The sport’s all-time hits leader faced a permanent ban after breaking MLB’s cardinal rule. The Dowd Report in 1989 showed Pete Rose had placed bets on 52 Cincinnati Reds games in 1987 [6] while he served as both player and manager. His daily betting reached up to $10,000 USD [7], though some reports point to lower amounts around $2,000 USD [7].
Rose strongly denied these claims at first. He accepted a permanent ban on August 23, 1989, through an agreement with Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti [8]. MLB’s Rule 21(d)(2) that Rose broke states: “Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible” [9].
Years later, in his 2004 autobiography “My Prison Without Bars,” Rose finally came clean about betting on baseball—but claimed he only bet on his team to win [8].
Shoeless Joe Jackson and the 1919 Black Sox Scandal
The “Black Sox Scandal” led to Jackson’s ban when eight Chicago White Sox players allegedly took bribes to lose the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds [10]. A Chicago jury acquitted them in 1921 [6], but Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned all eight players for life.
Questions about Jackson’s role continue because his World Series performance—a .375 batting average with 12 hits (a record until 1964) [10], one home run, six RBIs and perfect fielding [11]—doesn’t match someone trying to lose games. Yet Jackson reportedly took $5,000 USD [6] from gamblers, a claim he later denied.
How their Bans Shaped MLB’s Integrity Policies
These cases created baseball’s steadfast dedication against gambling. Landis made it clear that any player who dealt with gamblers would never play professional baseball again, whatever the court decided [12].
This tough stance has kept game-fixing out of major league baseball almost entirely [13]. The punishment remains effective—Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano became the first active player in a hundred years to receive a lifetime ban for gambling in 2024 [14].
What Does Reinstatement Mean for Hall of Fame Eligibility?
Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson’s removal from baseball’s permanently ineligible list marks just the first step toward their possible immortality in Cooperstown. Their reinstatement doesn’t guarantee Hall of Fame enshrinement but simply opens the door to consideration.
Classic Baseball Era Committee Process
The Hall of Fame path now goes through the 16-member Classic Baseball Era Committee. This group looks at candidates who made their greatest contributions to baseball before 1980 [15]. Hall of Fame members, executives, and veteran media members/historians make up this committee [16]. Candidates need votes from at least 12 of the 16 committee members to meet the 75% threshold required for enshrinement [17].
The Historical Overview Committee must first select eight finalists for the ballot [16]. This 10-member group consists of veteran historians and media members. Rose and Jackson need to make this initial cut since their reinstatement only makes them eligible for consideration rather than guaranteeing a spot on the ballot [5].
Timeline for 2028 Hall of Fame Vote
The timeline for potential induction follows a well-laid-out schedule:
- December 2027: The Classic Baseball Era Committee meets to vote on candidates [15]
- January 2028: Election results announced
- July 2028: Earliest possible induction ceremony [17]
This schedule stems from the Hall of Fame’s three-year rotation among different eras [18]. The Contemporary Baseball Era player ballot comes up in December 2025. The Contemporary Baseball Era managers/executives/umpires ballot follows in December 2026. The Classic Baseball Era ballot – which would include Rose and Jackson – ends up in December 2027 [3].
Statement from Hall of Fame Board
Jane Forbes Clark, chairwoman of the Baseball Hall of Fame, quickly addressed the reinstatement decision with an official statement:
“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,” Clark said. “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” [4].
Rose with his record 4,256 hits and Jackson with his .356 career batting average will now face the same standards as other candidates from their era. Baseball writer Jayson Stark noted, “For the first time since commissioner Bart Giamatti stood at that podium in New York City in the summer of 1989 and announced this suspension, I now believe Pete Rose will have a plaque in the Hall someday” [19].
How the Baseball World is Reacting to the Decision
Baseball’s community has erupted with reactions after Pete Rose and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson received their reinstatement. Team owners, fans, and political figures have all weighed in on this historic decision.
Statements from Teams and Former Players
Cincinnati Reds’ principal owner Bob Castellini welcomed the decision. “Pete is one of the greatest players in baseball history, and Reds Country will continue to celebrate him as we always have” [20]. The Philadelphia Phillies also backed the reinstatement and emphasized Rose’s role in their first World Series title in 1980 [4].
Support came strongly from current managers about Rose’s Hall of Fame candidacy. Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell made his stance clear: “Good for Pete. I’m happy for him. He belongs in the Hall of Fame” [21]. Angels manager Ron Washington shared similar thoughts: “I think the game of baseball has to understand that Pete Rose is a Hall of Famer. There’s no doubt about it” [21].
Marcus Giamatti took a different view. The son of the former commissioner who banned Rose called it “a very dark day for baseball” and mentioned his family wasn’t consulted beforehand [22].
Public and Fan Reactions
Hal McCoy, the longtime Reds Hall of Fame writer, couldn’t hide his amazement. “I was absolutely shocked. I didn’t think it would ever happen” [1]. McCoy remembered a poignant conversation with Rose before his death. Rose had predicted, “They’re probably going to reinstate me and put me in the hall of fame when I’m six feet under” [1].
Cincinnati’s fans showed overwhelming support. One fan voiced what many felt: “Pete Rose in my opinion should’ve been in the hall of fame from the start” [1]. Social media buzzed with divided opinions – celebrations mixed with criticism about the decision’s posthumous timing.
Trump’s Involvement and Political Commentary
U.S. President Donald Trump played a significant role in the decision. He met with Manfred in April 2025 [2] and had declared he would “be signing a complete PARDON of Pete Rose” [4]. Some sports commentators linked MLB’s decision directly to Trump’s influence, citing baseball’s antitrust exemption and streaming service approval concerns [23].
Ken Rosenthal put it directly in The Athletic: “Manfred is nothing if not shrewd. He surely did not want to risk the president embarrassing him publicly on social media” [23].
Conclusion
MLB Commissioner Manfred’s landmark ruling has changed baseball’s approach to lifetime bans. Pete Rose and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson have finally cleared a major hurdle toward Hall of Fame induction after decades of controversy. The timing raises eyebrows since it came after Rose’s death. This casts a shadow over what many baseball purists should celebrate.
This posthumous reinstatement shows baseball’s complex ties with gambling. Neither man will see their possible enshrinement. Their stats speak volumes – Rose’s record 4,256 hits and Jackson’s .356 career batting average stand among baseball’s greatest achievements.
The 2028 Classic Baseball Era Committee will decide if these controversial figures receive baseball’s highest honor. Fans, historians, and former players will keep debating each case’s merits. This reinstatement adds another chapter to baseball’s struggle between punishment and forgiveness.
The decision sets new ground rules for MLB’s treatment of banned players after death. Future commissioners must now ask if lifetime bans mean “permanent” or just “for life.” Baseball’s history shows that fan opinions split deeply when it comes to redemption of flawed heroes.
This fundamental change in policy highlights one clear truth: These stories will always showcase baseball’s steadfast dedication to protecting America’s pastime’s integrity. The sport sometimes takes a fresh look at its painful chapters, whatever stance people take on Rose and Jackson.
References
[1] – https://www.yahoo.com/news/fans-sports-writers-react-reinstatement-022044145.html
[2] – https://apnews.com/article/pete-rose-reinstatement-00a2532eeb4f1aa3dd81530260de44b8
[3] – https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45131171/mlb-2025-lift-ban-manfred-pete-rose-joe-jackson-hall-fame
[4] – https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pete-rose-shoeless-joe-jackson-reinstated-mlb-hall-of-fame-eligible/
[5] – https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-ineligibility-status-after-death-decision
[6] – https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/why-were-pete-rose-and-shoeless-joe-jackson-originally-banned-from-baseball-and-not-in-the-hall-of-fame/
[7] – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Rose
[8] – https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45115659/pete-rose-shoeless-joe-jackson-players-reinstated-mlb
[9] – https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6309907/2025/05/13/pete-rose-baseball-ineligible-list/
[10] – https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/05/14/shoeless-joe-jackson-pete-rose-reinstated-mlb-decision/
[11] – https://abcnews.go.com/US/pete-rose-players-removed-mlb-banned-list-eligible/story?id=121769871
[12] – https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/shoeless-joe-jackson-reinstated-black-sox-scandal/
[13] – https://sabr.org/journal/article/the-black-sox-scandal/
[14] – https://www.courant.com/2025/05/14/baseball-rose-jackson-gambling/
[15] – https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-fame/election-rules/era-committees
[16] – https://baseballhall.org/class-of-2025-classic-baseball-era-ballot
[17] – https://www.mlb.com/news/hall-of-fame-statement-on-mlb-decision-about-permanent-ineligibility-status-after-death
[18] – https://www.mlb.com/news/hall-of-fame-changes-era-committee-eligibility
[19] – https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6334912/2025/05/13/pete-rose-reinstatement-hall-of-fame-meaning/
[20] – https://www.mlb.com/reds/news/pete-rose-eligibility-decision-reds-reaction
[21] – https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6354447/2025/05/13/pete-rose-reinstatement-hall-of-fame-mlb-managers-react/
[22] – https://apnews.com/article/pete-rose-shoeless-joe-jackson-reinstated-f95afff53006426f3ea44e34d5f56a24
[23] – https://www.essentiallysports.com/mlb-baseball-news-fear-of-donald-trump-led-to-manfred-lifting-pete-rose-lifetime-ban-says-top-mlb-insider/