CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Even with Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred’s decision to “posthumously remove” Pete Rose from Major League Baseball’s permanently ineligible list on Tuesday, there is still a major hurdle to be cleared for him to get inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Rose, who died on Sept. 30, 2024, was a Cincinnati native who starred for the Reds from 1963-78, and returned to serve as player manager from late in the 1984 season until 1986 and then continued to manage the team until his banishment on Aug. 23, 1989 for gambling on baseball.
Rose became baseball’s all-time hits leader and finished his career with 4,256 hits.
His family had filed a petition on Jan. 8 to have Rose removed from the ineligible list.
Manfred also removed “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and 15 other deceased players from the list, and wrote a letter to Rose family attorney Jeffrey M. 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. 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. 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.”
The Baseball Hall of Fame passed a rule in 1991, which came to be known as the “Pete Rose Rule,” that any player ruled ineligible by Major League Baseball could not appear on a Hall of Fame ballot.
Rose has never appeared on a ballot.
Now that Rose has been taken off the ineligible list, his name will be forwarded to a committee at the Hall of Fame, which would then decide which era to classify where Rose’s career belongs.
The Era Committees, formerly known as the Veterans Committee, considers retired major league players no longer eligible for election by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, along with managers, umpires and executives whose greatest contributions to the game were realized either prior to 1980 or after 1980.
He played in both the Classic and Contemporary Eras. The Classic Baseball Era consists of the period prior to 1980, which consumed the bulk of Rose’s career, while the Contemporary Era is from 1980 to present where he wound up setting the all-time hits record.
The Classic Era committee next meets in December 2027 to decide on inductees for the Class of 2028.
Statement from Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark following Commissioner Manfred’s ruling:
“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. 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.”
There are 17 deceased individuals disciplined since the founding of the Commissioner’s Office impacted by the announcement, including Eddie Cicotte, Happy Felsch, Chick Gandil, Jackson, Fred McMullin, Swede Risberg, Buck Weaver and Lefty Williams; Joe Gedeon; Gene Paulette; Benny Kauff; Lee Magee; Phil Douglas; Cozy Dolan; Jimmy O’Connell; William Cox; and Rose.
Statement from Bob Castellini, Principal Owner and Managing Partner of the Cincinnati Reds:
“On behalf of the Reds and our generations of loyal fans, we are thankful for the decision of Commissioner Manfred and Major League Baseball regarding the removal of Pete Rose from the permanently ineligible list.
“Pete is one of the greatest players in baseball history, and Reds Country will continue to celebrate him as we always have.
“We are especially happy for the Rose family to receive this news and what this decision could mean for them and all of Pete’s fans.”
