MLB Removes Pete Rose, Others from Ineligible List

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has removed Pete Rose and several other deceased players, including "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, from the league's permanently ineligible list, effectively ending their lifetime bans. This decision, based on the principle that deceased individuals no longer pose a threat to the game's integrity, opens the door for Rose and others to be considered for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, potentially as early as 2027 or 2028 through the Classic Baseball Era Committee. Rose was banned in 1989 for betting on games while managing the Cincinnati Reds, a penalty that has long overshadowed his record as MLB's all-time hit leader. The decision has sparked considerable debate, as it raises questions about the Hall of Fame's treatment of players linked to controversies, including the Steroid Era stars like Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez, who remain excluded despite their on-field achievements. Reds ownership and fans have expressed gratitude for the reinstatement, viewing Rose as one of baseball's greatest players. Meanwhile, the broader baseball community faces a reckoning on how to reconcile the sport's complex history of rule-breaking with recognition of its greatest talents.