MLB reinstates Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, clearing path to Hall of Fame

Pete Rose reinstated to MLB, Hall of Fame eligible

BREAKING NEWS out of Major League Baseball as Pete Rose, the all time hits leader in baseball history, has been reinstated into the MLB after being banned for gambling. He is now eligible for the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

LOS ANGELES - Baseball legends Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson were reinstated Tuesday by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, a historic reversal that clears the way for Hall of Fame consideration after decades of exclusion tied to gambling scandals.

The decision comes eight months after Rose’s death and just one day before the Cincinnati Reds will honor him with Pete Rose Night. Manfred also announced that MLB will now consider permanent bans to expire upon death, affecting not just Rose and Jackson but others historically banned from the game.

Why now, and what changed?

The backstory:

Manfred said he reconsidered the meaning of "permanently ineligible" under Rule 21, which governs gambling and integrity violations. In a letter to Rose’s attorney, Manfred wrote that the rule’s purposes—to protect the game’s integrity and deter future misconduct—are no longer served once a person has died.

"Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game," Manfred wrote. "It is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve."

How did Rose and Jackson end up banned?

What we know:

Rose was banned in 1989 after an investigation found he repeatedly bet on games, including his own team, while managing the Cincinnati Reds. He applied for reinstatement multiple times before his death in 2024 at age 83.

(Original Caption) Pete Rose, Cincinnati Reds outfielder, in posed batting action.

Jackson, meanwhile, was banned in 1921 for his role in the 1919 "Black Sox" scandal, when eight Chicago White Sox players were accused of fixing the World Series. Despite maintaining his innocence and posting a .375 batting average in the series, Jackson was barred from the game.

What’s next for their Hall of Fame chances?

What's next:

Under current Hall of Fame procedures, Rose and Jackson would be eligible for the Classic Baseball Era Committee, which next meets in December 2027 to vote on the 2028 class. They would need 75% of votes from a 16-member committee made up of Hall of Famers, executives, historians, and media.

Hall of Fame Board Chair Jane Forbes Clark confirmed the league’s decision clears the way for their candidacy: "Anyone removed from Baseball’s permanently ineligible list will become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration," she said Tuesday.

Did Trump play a role in Rose’s reinstatement?

What we don't know:

President Donald Trump, a longtime supporter of Pete Rose, had previously said he intended to posthumously pardon him. Manfred met with Trump in April to discuss Rose’s case, but the commissioner has not disclosed any details of their conversation. It’s unclear what role, if any, the meeting played in Tuesday’s decision.

For decades, the bans on Rose and Jackson symbolized baseball’s hard line on gambling. Their reinstatement marks a major shift in how the league handles legacy and punishment—especially as modern sports increasingly embrace betting partnerships. With Hall of Fame eligibility restored, both men may finally receive long-awaited recognition for their contributions to the game.