the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Baseball history shifted on Tuesday, as MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred officially lifted the lifetime bans on Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson. The decision paves the way for two of the sport’s most controversial legends to be considered for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, decades after being placed on baseball’s permanently ineligible list.
MLB Ends Permanent Ineligibility After Death
Manfred announced a significant policy change, stating that lifetime bans will now expire upon a player’s death. This reversal comes eight months after Pete Rose’s death in September 2024, and just one day before the Cincinnati Reds host Pete Rose Night to honor the game’s all-time hits leader.
Under Hall of Fame eligibility rules, the earliest Rose or Jackson could be inducted is 2028, due to the standard five-year waiting period after reinstatement.
Why Pete Rose Was Banned from Baseball
Pete Rose, known as MLB’s Hit King with 4,256 career hits, was banned in August 1989 by Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti. According to the Dowd Report, Rose bet on baseball games—including at least 52 involving his own team, the Cincinnati Reds, while serving as player and manager.
This was a violation of MLB Rule 21, which strictly prohibits gambling on games involving one’s own team. While Rose denied the allegations for years, he admitted in 2004 to betting on baseball but claimed he never bet against his team. The ban rendered him ineligible for Hall of Fame consideration, as both the BBWAA and Veterans Committee follow MLB’s ineligible list.
The Shoeless Joe Jackson Scandal
Shoeless Joe Jackson, a legendary Chicago White Sox outfielder, was banned for life in 1921 by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Jackson was implicated in the infamous 1919 Black Sox Scandal, where eight players were accused of conspiring to throw the World Series for gamblers.
Although Jackson hit .375 and committed no errors during the series, he admitted to accepting $5,000 from gamblers. Despite his performance and acquittal in a 1920 trial, he was banned for violating Rule 21, which prohibits association with gamblers. His ban kept him out of the Hall of Fame for more than a century.
Changing the Course of Baseball History
The lifting of bans for Rose and Jackson signals a historic shift in how Major League Baseball views discipline, legacy, and the Hall of Fame.
“The game must evolve, and so must its policies,” Manfred stated. “We are acknowledging their contributions while upholding integrity.”
Rose had filed multiple appeals for reinstatement, most recently in 2022, but Manfred had previously denied them due to Rose’s ongoing connections to gambling activities.
What’s Next: Hall of Fame Eligibility in 2028
With bans now ending at death, both Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration starting in 2028. The decision now rests with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and the Hall of Fame’s Era Committees to weigh their on-field achievements against past controversies.
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Long overdue.
MLB to late! Should’ve been done while Pete was still alive. This came about because President Trump pardoned Pete Rose! Trump, Pete, we win again!
He was banned because he knowingly broke the rules numerous times. You may think the rule is too harsh, but it is a rule! Others who broke the rule before Pete got the same punishment.