In a historic decision, Major League Baseball (MLB) has lifted the lifetime bans imposed on several deceased players and an owner, including Pete Rose and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. This measure, announced by Commissioner Rob Manfred, allows them to be considered for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame starting in 2028.
MLB’s previous policy maintained sanctions even after the death of those involved. However, Manfred explained that lifetime bans will no longer be applied posthumously, arguing that deceased individuals do not pose a threat to the integrity of the game.
This decision affects 16 players and one owner who were previously banned for life.
Who was Pete Rose?
Pete Rose, who passed away in September 2024 at the age of 83, was banned from baseball in 1989 for betting on games while he was a player and manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
Despite being the all-time leader in MLB hits with 4,256, his ban kept him out of the Hall of Fame for decades.
In January of this year, before taking office in the White House, Donald Trump had promised to pardon Rose and criticized Major League Baseball for not lifting his sanction.
Who was Joe Jackson?
“Shoeless” Joe Jackson, on his part, was one of the eight players from the Chicago White Sox who were banned for life for their involvement in the 1919 “Black Sox” scandal, where they conspired to throw the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, even though they were heavy favorites.
Although Jackson’s involvement was never established and he was acquitted in a trial in 1921 along with his accused teammates, the then commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis imposed lifetime bans on those involved.
Jackson, who holds a batting average of .356, the fourth highest in MLB history and hit the only home run of that World Series against the Reds, passed away in 1951.
Since then, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson has become a sports and cultural legend in the United States. His story is central in films like “Field of Dreams” (starring Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones) and “Eight Men Out” (featuring John Cusack and Charlie Sheen, among others).
Do Rose and “Shoeless” Joe have options?
With this revocation, both Rose and Jackson will be eligible for consideration by the Baseball Era Committee in December 2027, with the possibility of being inducted into the Hall of Fame in the summer of 2028. This decision has reignited debates about the integrity of the game and the redemption of historical figures in baseball.
The Era Committee has 16 members and 12 votes (75%) are needed to enter the Hall of Fame. Unlike the traditional voting process for players who have been retired for at least five years, the historic players’ process does not involve the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA).
The scope of the Major Leagues also benefits other players involved in the “Black Sox” scandal, such as Eddie Cicotte and Buck Weaver, as well as Chick Gandil and Swede Risberg, the latter two being the main instigators of the fix.