MLB lifts ban on Pete Rose, opening path to be added to Baseball Hall of Fame

Major League Baseball on Tuesday lifted a permanent ban on the legendary player Pete Rose, making him eligible to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Rose, who was banned from the league in 1989 for betting on baseball, including on his own team, while he was a player and manager, has been dubbed the “all-time hit king” due to his impressive record of 4,256 career hits. Rose played 24 seasons in the MLB, primarily with the Cincinnati Reds, and is a 17-time All-Star.

Fans have long pushed for Rose to be reinstated in order to recognize his incredible career, including two Ohio lawmakers. He was also pardoned by President Donald Trump. Rose died in September.

“Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred wrote in a letter on Tuesday, per 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," he added.

Manfred also removed the ban on “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, who was banned from the sport in 1921 with some of his teammates on the Chicago White Sox over their fixing of the 1919 World Series. He died in 1951.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.