Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

7 hours ago

Clovis Unified Mourns Passing of Former Superintendent Terry Bradley

13 hours ago

Clovis At-Risk Missing Person Found Dead in Fresno Canal

14 hours ago

DOJ Asks California Sheriffs for Names of Inmates Who Aren’t Citizens

15 hours ago

Israel Agrees to Allow Syrian Troops Limited Access to Sweida

15 hours ago

Border Patrol Agents Raid a Home Depot in Northern California

15 hours ago

Man Admits to Killing Missing Bass Lake Resident, Madera County Authorities Say

1 day ago

Trump Diagnosed With Vein Condition Causing Leg Swelling, White House Says

1 day ago

US Seeks One-Day Sentence for Police Officer Convicted in Breonna Taylor Case

2 days ago

Manhattan Prosecutor Who Handled Epstein Cases Is Fired

2 days ago
MLB Reinstates Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, Making Them Hall of Fame Eligible
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 2 months ago on
May 13, 2025

In this June 24, 2016, photo, former Cincinnati Red Pete Rose waves to the crowd as he is introduced on the field during a ceremony to honor the 1976 World Series champions team, before the Reds' baseball game against the San Diego Padres in Cincinnati. (AP File)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NEW YORK — Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson were reinstated by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday, making both eligible for the sport’s Hall of Fame after their careers were tarnished by sports gambling scandals.

Rose’s permanent ban was lifted eight months after his death and came a day before the Cincinnati Reds will honor baseball’s career hits leader with Pete Rose Night.

Manfred announced Tuesday that he was changing the league’s policy on permanent ineligibility, saying bans would expire at death. MLB said 17 individuals had their status changed by the decision, including all eight banned members of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox, former Philadelphia Phillies president Williams D. Cox and former New York Giants outfielder Benny Kauff.

Under the Hall of Fame’s current rules, the earliest Rose or Jackson could be inducted would be in 2028.

Rose agreed to a permanent ban on Aug. 23, 1989, following an investigation commissioned by Major League Baseball concluded Rose repeatedly bet on the Reds as a player and manager of the team from 1985-87, a violation of a long-standing MLB rule.

Rose first applied for reinstatement in September 1997, but Commissioner Bud Selig never ruled on the request. Manfred in 2015 rejected a petition for reinstatement, saying “Rose has not presented credible evidence of a reconfigured life.”

Rose died Sept. 30 at age 83, and a new petition was filed Jan. 8 by Jeffrey Lenkov, a lawyer who represented Rose. Lenkov and Rose’s daughter Fawn had met with Manfred on Dec. 17.

Rose’s supporters have included U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he intends to pardon Rose posthumously. Manfred discussed Rose with Trump when the pair met in April, but he hasn’t disclosed specifics of their conversation.

In a letter to Lenkov, Manfred wrote, “In my view, a determination must be made regarding how the phrase ‘permanently ineligible’ should be interpreted in light of the purposes and policies behind Rule 21, which are to: (1) protect the game from individuals who pose a risk to the integrity of the sport by prohibiting the participation of such individuals; and (2) create a deterrent effect that reduces the likelihood of future violations by others.

“In my view, 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. 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.”

A 17-time All-Star during a playing career from 1963-86, Rose holds record for hits (4,256), games (3,562), at-bats (14,053), plate appearances (15,890) and singles (3,215). He was the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year, 1973 MVP and 1975 World Series MVP. A three-time NL batting champion, he broke the prior hits record of 4,191 set by Ty Cobb from 1905-28.

“Pete is one of the greatest players in baseball history, and Reds Country will continue to celebrate him as we always have,” Reds owner Bob Castellini said. “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.”

Jackson was a .356 career hitter who was among the eight Black Sox banned for throwing the 1919 World Series. He died in 1951, but he remains one of baseball’s most recognizable names in part for his depiction by Ray Liotta in the 1989 movie Field of Dreams.

Shoeless Joe Jackson
This undated photo shows baseball player player Shoeless Joe Jackson. (AP File)

What Else Needs to Happen for Rose or Jackson to Enter the Hall of Fame?

Under a rule adopted by the Hall’s board of directors in 1991, anyone on the permanently ineligible list can’t be considered for election to the Hall. Jackson was twice considered on ballots by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, but received just 0.9% in 1936 and 1% of a nominating vote in 1940.

Rose’s reinstatement occurred too late for him to be considered for the BBWAA ballot. If not on the permanently banned list, Rose would have been eligible on the ballots each from 1992 through 2006. He was written in on 41 votes in 1992 and on 243 of 7,232 ballots (3.4%) over the 15 years, votes that were not counted.

Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark said in a statement that players affected by Manfred’s ruling Tuesday would be considered.

“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,” she said. “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.”

Without the ban, both players are eligible for the Hall’s Classic Baseball Era, which next meets to consider players in December 2027 and considers those whose greatest contributions to the sport were before 1980.

A 10-person historical overview committee selects the eight ballot candidates with the approval of the Hall’s board and the ballot is considered by 16 members at the winter meetings, with a 75% or higher vote needed. The committee members include Hall of Fame members, team executives and media/historians.

Among the players in the 2028 class eligible for the BBWAA ballot are Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.

Did Trump Help Get Rose Reinstated?

Trump has said he would pardon Rose, but it’s not clear what a presidential pardon for Rose would entail.

Rose entered guilty pleas on April 20, 1990, to two counts of filing false tax returns, admitting he failed to report $354,968 during a four-year period. Rose was sentenced on July 19, 1990, by U.S. District Judge S. Arthur Spiegel in Cincinnati to five months in prison. He also was fined $50,000 and ordered to perform 1,000 hours of community service as a gym teacher’s assistant with inner-city youths in Cincinnati as part of a one-year probation period. The first three months of the probation were to be spent at the halfway house. Rose repaid the Internal Revenue Service $366,042.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Astronomer CEO, HR Chief on Leave After Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Sparks Scandal

DON'T MISS

Sanger Man Arrested in Child Exploitation Investigation

DON'T MISS

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

DON'T MISS

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

DON'T MISS

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

DON'T MISS

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

DON'T MISS

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

DON'T MISS

More than Severance: Fresno Unified Wants to Give $162K to Nikki Henry to End ‘Dispute’

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Man Accused of Chasing, Shooting Victim

UP NEXT

Sanger Man Arrested in Child Exploitation Investigation

UP NEXT

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

UP NEXT

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

UP NEXT

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

UP NEXT

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

UP NEXT

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

UP NEXT

More than Severance: Fresno Unified Wants to Give $162K to Nikki Henry to End ‘Dispute’

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest Man Accused of Chasing, Shooting Victim

UP NEXT

What You Need to Know About Trump, Epstein and the MAGA Controversy

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

7 hours ago

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

8 hours ago

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

8 hours ago

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

10 hours ago

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

11 hours ago

More than Severance: Fresno Unified Wants to Give $162K to Nikki Henry to End ‘Dispute’

11 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Man Accused of Chasing, Shooting Victim

11 hours ago

What You Need to Know About Trump, Epstein and the MAGA Controversy

11 hours ago

How Many Millions of Dollars Will Fresno Get From Airport Car Rentals?

11 hours ago

DOJ Wants California Jail Data on Noncitizen Inmates. Fresno Sheriff Reviews Request.

12 hours ago

Astronomer CEO, HR Chief on Leave After Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Sparks Scandal

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot were placed on leave following a viral “kiss cam” moment at a Coldplay conc...

6 hours ago

6 hours ago

Astronomer CEO, HR Chief on Leave After Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Sparks Scandal

6 hours ago

Sanger Man Arrested in Child Exploitation Investigation

President Donald Trump speaks during the White House Faith Office Luncheon at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 14, 2025. (Reuters/Nathan Howard)
7 hours ago

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

A Fresno man has been arrested on felony charges after allegedly breaking into a home, groping a sleeping woman, and fleeing with stolen items. (Fresno County SO)
7 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

8 hours ago

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

A juvenile girl was rescued early Thursday, July 17, 2025, after becoming trapped inside a chimney at a Fresno home and was hospitalized with minor injuries. (Fresno FD)
8 hours ago

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a nuclear cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani (not pictured), at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. (Reuters/Umit Bektas)
10 hours ago

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

Men work at a makeshift oil refinery site in Marchmarin town, southern countryside of Idlib, Syria December 16, 2015. (Reuters File)
11 hours ago

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend