Major League Baseball has reinstated Pete Rose and other deceased former players, lifting their lifetime bans and making them eligible for the Hall of Fame.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced a policy change on Tuesday that affects Hall of Fame eligibility for former players. Permanent bans will now expire upon the individual’s death.
Manfred wrote in a letter that the lifetime ban serves its purpose and “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,” he wrote, per MLB.com.
“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.”
This decision comes following the death of Rose in September and a petition filed by his family, resulting in a total of 17 players being reinstated by the MLB.
The full list of players reinstated by the league and now eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame is as follows: Eddie Cicotte, Happy Felsch, Chick Gandil, Joe Jackson, Fred McMullin, Swede Risberg, Buck Weaver, Lefty Williams, Joe Gedeon, Gene Paulette, Benny Kauff, Lee Magee, Phil Douglas, Cozy Dolan, Jimmy O’Connell, and William Cox.
Rose, MLB’s all-time hits leader, was banned in 1989 for betting on games while working as a player and manager for the Cincinnati Reds.
Now, the earliest that Rose will be eligible to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame will be in 2028.
Reds principal owner Bob Castellini said in a statement about the policy change that the organization is “thankful for the decision” and the league will now have the honor of inducting Rose into the Hall of Fame.
“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,” he added.
Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark also released a statement and said that each of these players is now eligible to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“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,” wrote Clark, per MLB.com.
“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.”