MLB Removes Pete Rose, Others from Permanent Ban List

Major League Baseball has removed Pete Rose, 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson, and other deceased players from its permanently ineligible list, making them eligible for Hall of Fame consideration. Commissioner Rob Manfred stated that lifetime bans no longer apply posthumously, as deceased individuals can no longer threaten the integrity of the game, and that a penalty lasting a lifetime is deterrent enough. Rose, the all-time MLB hits leader, was banned in 1989 for gambling on games he played and managed, while Jackson was banned for involvement in the 1919 Black Sox scandal. Rose passed away in September 2024 at age 83, and a petition from his family prompted MLB's policy change. The earliest Rose or Jackson could be considered for induction is 2028, when the Historical Overview Committee meets to select candidates for the Classic Baseball Era Committee ballot. This marks a significant reversal after decades of exclusion and could reshape Hall of Fame debates for years to come.