In a landmark decision that sent shockwaves through the sports world, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday removed former Philadelphia Phillie—the late Pete Rose—from the league’s permanently ineligible list. In addition to Rose, who passed away on September 30 of last year at the age of 83, Manfred also removed 16 other deceased individuals from the permanently ineligible list—most notably ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson.
Rose, whose storied career on the field was tainted by a gambling scandal, voluntarily accepted a permanent place on baseball’s ineligible list on August 24, 1989, after MLB reviewed a report documenting his betting on games—a violation of Rule 21—while managing the Cincinnati Reds in 1987. MLB Rule 21(d) states: “(2) Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible.”
Though Rose long denied betting on baseball, he reversed course in 2004 with the release of his autobiography, My Prison Without Bars, in which he admitted to the allegations. More than a decade later, in 2015, Manfred met with Rose following his formal request for reinstatement—but ultimately denied the appeal, keeping him on the league’s permanently ineligible list.
Whatever reservations Manfred may have held at the time, his stance had clearly shifted by the time of Tuesday’s announcement. In a letter to the Rose family’s attorney, Manfred wrote, “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.”
While Manfred’s statement focused on finality and integrity, it also reopened the conversation about Rose’s place in the game’s history. Though his legacy remains clouded by controversy, his on-field achievements stand as some of the most extraordinary the sport has ever seen. The all-time leader in hits with 4,256, Rose also holds the record for most games played, appearing in 3,562 contests over a 24-year career. A 17-time All-Star, he was named the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year, the 1973 NL Most Valuable Player, and the 1975 World Series MVP. He also claimed three batting titles and was honored as a member of MLB’s All-Century Team in 1999.
Although Rose spent the majority of his career with the Reds from 1963 to 1978 and again from 1984 to 1986, he played five impactful seasons with the Phillies—helping lead the franchise to its first-ever World Series title in 1980. During his time in Philadelphia, Rose was selected to the All-Star Game four times, earning the honor in 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1982.
The organization acknowledged Rose’s impact in a statement following Manfred’s announcement, writing: “The Phillies support today’s decision by Commissioner Manfred and Major League Baseball to remove Pete Rose from the permanently ineligible list. As one of the greatest players in the history of the game, Pete made significant on-field contributions to the Phillies over his five seasons (1979-83) with the club, highlighted by our first World Series title in 1980”
That sentiment was echoed by one of the franchise’s most iconic figures. Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt weighed in following the announcement, stating, “It’s a great day for baseball as Commissioner Manfred has reinstated Pete Rose, making him eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The ongoing question of whether Pete Rose should or shouldn’t be in the Hall will be answered by a select panel in the next Classic Baseball Era Committee. Congratulations to Pete’s family, his teammates, as well as his supporters who have waited many years for this opportunity to consideration.”
Even before Manfred’s decision was announced, Rose’s reinstatement had become a topic of national conversation. In February, President Donald Trump became one of the most prominent figures to publicly address the issue. Writing on Truth Social on February 28, he declared his intention to sign a “complete PARDON of Pete Rose, who shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING. He never betted against himself, or the other team. He had the most hits, by far, in baseball history, and won more games than anyone in sports history.” Trump’s public comments were soon followed by a private Oval Office meeting with Manfred in April, during which Rose was reportedly a topic of discussion. Manfred subsequently refrained from disclosing any details about their discussion.
Whatever influence the President may have had, Manfred’s ruling ultimately removed the final barrier to Rose’s Hall of Fame eligibility. Under current rules, the earliest Rose could be considered for induction is 2028.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame responded shortly after Manfred’s announcement, confirming that the ruling clears the way for posthumous Hall of Fame consideration. In a formal statement, Hall of Fame board chairman Jane Forbes Clark noted, “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.”
Rose’s reinstatement marks the end of a decades-long exile, but the debate over his legacy is far from over. Whether his exceptional on-field achievements will secure him a place in Cooperstown now rests in the hands of the voters.
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