It was a decision that many never thought would come. On May 13th, 2025, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred removed Pete Rose and other deceased players from the league’s permanently ineligible list. This means that moving forward, Rose and other deceased players are eligible to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The announcement changes the landscape of the baseball world and puts to rest the debate of whether or not these players belong in the Baseball Hall of Fame. So, what changed? Manfred’s ruling undid decades of bans instituted by previous commissioners. Now, Rose, Jackson, and 14 other players are eligible to be voted into Cooperstown as early as 2028.
Why Was Pete Rose Banned From the Baseball HOF?
Pete Rose is perhaps the most famous example of a player being banned from being eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rose, who passed away at the age of 83 in September 2024, is MLB’s all-time leader in both games played and hits. In 3,562 MLB games, Rose tallied a total of 4,256 hits, 160 home runs, and 1,314 RBI. He also holds the all-time MLB record for plate appearances with 15,890 and at-bats with 14,053. Rose won three World Series Championships, three batting titles, and was a 17-time MLB All-Star.
Despite holding these illustrious MLB records, Rose is more known for his gambling problem that led to his lifetime ban. In 1989, Rose was relieved of his duties as Manager of the Cincinnati Reds after being investigated for betting on baseball games. Rose had previously admitted to betting on other sports like football and horse racing, but was adamant that he had not bet on baseball.
In the infamous Dowd Inquiry on Rose’s gambling behaviour, it was found that Rose had bet on hundreds of MLB games while Manager of the Reds. He even bet on the Reds, although Rose claims he only bet on his team to win. After multiple appeals and applications for reinstatement, Rose’s lifetime ban was upheld as recently as 2022.
Rose and his family pleaded their case to the MLB, using the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal and the MLB’s partnerships with official sportsbooks as ammo. Even President Trump stated he would posthumously pardon Rose from the Oval Office, although alone, this likely wouldn’t have been enough to lift his MLB ban.
Why Was ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson Banned from the Baseball Hall of Fame?
Like Rose, Shoeless Joe Jackson was banned from the MLB due to unethical and unscrupulous acts on the field. Jackson was a part of the infamous Black Sox Scandal in the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. He was an incredible hitter and has been voted one of the best outfielders of all time. Had he not been banned by the MLB, Jackson would be a sure-fire first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.
The Black Sox Scandal rocked the sports world and even led to Jackson and his teammates facing a Grand Jury. It was alleged that the team took bribes of $5,000 (valued currently at about $90,000-$100,000) to throw the series against the Reds. The Grand Jury would eventually acquit the players, but MLB upheld its lifetime ban.
Although Jackson led the series with twelve base hits and a .375 average, it was his defensive play that became suspicious. The Reds hit a number of triples in the series, some of which were to Jackson in the outfield. Cincinnati’s pitchers complained of Jackson being slow to the ball and being out of position to field the hits.
What Was Manfred’s Decision on MLB’s Hall of Fame Eligibility?
Manfred’s landmark decision stated that any MLB ban for a player will end with the player’s death. He wrote that “Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game.”
In all, Manfred’s decision allows sixteen deceased MLB players and one deceased owner to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rose and Jackson are the headliners for this new rule, and Hall-of-Fame voters will have some decisions to make in the coming years. Until now, Pete Rose’s name had never before appeared on an MLB Hall-of-Fame ballot.
“a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game.” – Rob Manfred
When Can Pete Rose Be Voted Into the Baseball Hall of Fame?
As for when the players will be eligible to join the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, the same rules apply. According to MLB rules, the earliest that these players will be added to a Hall-of-Fame ballot is in 2028. It should also be noted that just because Rose, Jackson, and others will officially be on the ballot, it does not mean they are guaranteed to be voted into the Hall of Fame.
Baseball writers will have the decision to finally vote in Rose after decades of debates about the integrity of baseball’s ‘Hit King’. There is a chance that some will continue to see Rose’s impact on the game as negative, and that it would set a precedent for unethical behaviour for players.
With the relaxing of permanent bans upon a player’s death, some have suggested it could ease the pressure on players who haven’t been inducted into the Hall of Fame due to steroid use. Players like Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez are eligible for the Hall of Fame, but have been roadblocked by baseball writers who refuse to vote for them.
A New Era in Baseball: MLB Lifts Permanent Ban on Pete Rose
To say that this is a historic decision by Manfred is an understatement. Although there is no guarantee that Rose will be inducted, it is a first step for MLB to forgive mistakes made by players and managers in the past.
Many thought that Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson would never make it to the Baseball Hall of Fame, but a lot has changed. Before, gambling in baseball was for pariahs, and the league treated it as the worst thing a player could do. Today, MLB has official partnerships with sportsbooks like FanDuel, DraftKings, and Bet365.
It is truly the start of a new era in baseball. Rose fought for years to clear his name, but the league could not overlook his off-field behaviour. His on-field performance spoke for itself. Now, less than a year after his death, Rose has a chance to finally be honoured for his incredible career.
FAQs
Yes, as of May 2025, Commissioner Manfred has ended the lifetime bans for players upon their deaths. This means that players like Pete Rose can now be posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Yes, Shoeless Joe Jackson is now eligible to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. After MLB Commissioner Manfred’s decision in May 2025, players who had a lifetime ban will have those lifted upon their death.
Pete Rose had a Hall of Fame career as a player but was found to be gambling on multiple sports, including baseball, during his time as manager of the Cincinnati Reds. It is believed that Rose bet on his own team as well as other games and sports, including football and horse racing.
