Pete Rose, ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson Reinstated by MLB: Is the Hall of Fame Next?

Pete Rose, Major League Baseball's all-time hits leader, has been posthumously reinstated by Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, ESPN reported Tuesday. The decision removes Rose from MLB's permanently ineligible list after some 36 years as Manfred ruled that lifetime bans do not apply posthumously. Manfred's decision comes after a petition filed by California attorney Jeffrey Lenkov, who represented Rose prior to his September 2024 death at the age of 83, and public pressure from President Donald Trump.

Manfred’s Statement

"Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game," Manfred wrote in a letter to Lenkov, according to ESPN. "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."

Shoeless Joe Jackson, who was banned for the Chicago Black Sox scandal, and 14 other late players have also been reinstated.

Hall of Fame Implications

While Rose's restoration is a necessary first step toward one day appearing on a Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, Manfred's decision does not guarantee such an outcome. That decision will ultimately be made by the Hall itself at multiple levels of oversight. The next step is to be nominated by the Hall of Fame's Historical Overview Committee, which is selected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and approved by the Hall's board. It is not certain when such procedures would be undertaken or what the outcome of them would be.

Background on Rose’s Ban

Rose agreed to be placed on the permanently ineligible list in 1989, and two years later the Hall of Fame passed a rule stating that those on the permanently ineligible list were not eligible for election into the Hall. As such, Rose has never appeared on a Hall of Fame ballot. 

Rose's placement on the list was the result of his alleged betting on baseball — allegations Rose finally admitted to in his 2004 autobiography, albeit after years of denials. According to MLB's investigation, Rose on multiple occasions bet on the Cincinnati Reds to win from 1985-87 during which time he both played for and managed the team. Rose had appealed for reinstatement multiple times, including one that was denied by Manfred in 2015. Rose's placement on the list was in keeping with the punishments laid out in the text of Rule 21(d), which has for decades been posted in every major-league clubhouse.

As a player, Rose spent parts of 24 seasons in the majors, 19 of which came with his hometown Reds. Over that span, Rose amassed an MLB-record 4,256 hits. He's also the all-time leader in games played (3,562) and plate appearances (15,890). In addition to being named National League MVP in 1973 and earning 17 All-Star selections, Rose also won three World Series rings.