Pete Rose Removed From MLB’s Ban List Along with Shoeless Joe Jackson, Others [WATCH]

Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that it has removed Pete Rose and 16 other deceased individuals from its permanently ineligible list, marking the first time the league has issued a formal policy decision regarding posthumous bans.

Breaking: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred removed Pete Rose, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and other deceased players from Major League Baseball’s permanently ineligible list.

Manfred ruled that MLB’s punishment of banned individuals ends upon their deaths. They are now presumably… pic.twitter.com/YkIZ34jMUu

— ESPN (@espn) May 13, 2025

Trump’s Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

The announcement, made by Commissioner Rob Manfred, comes in response to a petition submitted by the family of Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader who was banned from the sport in 1989 for betting on games while managing the Cincinnati Reds.

“In response to a petition from the family of Pete Rose, Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. today issued a policy decision regarding the status of 17 individuals who passed away while on the permanently ineligible list,” the league stated in a press release.

Rose passed away earlier this year. Although the decision does not address his eligibility for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, it removes the official designation that had barred him from consideration under the Hall’s current rules.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

In a letter addressed to the Rose family’s legal counsel, Commissioner Manfred acknowledged that the issue had not previously been addressed by the league.

“The question of whether an individual should remain on the permanently ineligible list after his death has never been formally addressed by Major League Baseball,” he wrote.

“Indeed, Mr. Rose is the first person banned by a Commissioner other than Kenesaw Mountain Landis to die while still on the ineligible list. As such, it is incumbent upon the Office of the Commissioner to reach a policy decision regarding this unprecedented issue in the modern era.”

Manfred explained the reasoning behind the decision, citing both the finality of death and the original intent of Rule 21, which governs conduct detrimental to the game.

“In my view, once an individual has passed away, the purposes of Rule 21 have been served,” Manfred continued.

“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.”

He concluded, “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.”

Major League Baseball issues policy decision on permanent ineligibility status after death: https://t.co/T4EA7Qyi8e pic.twitter.com/7Byd9syrV5

— MLB (@MLB) May 13, 2025

The policy change also applies to other historically notable figures, including “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, a key player in the 1919 Black Sox scandal. Jackson, who died in 1951, had remained on the ineligible list for over 100 years despite efforts to clear his name.

While the decision does not automatically induct Rose or Jackson into the Hall of Fame, it removes the procedural barrier that had previously made such consideration impossible under current Hall of Fame rules, which prohibit election of individuals on MLB’s ineligible list.

The Baseball Hall of Fame has not commented on whether it plans to consider any of the individuals newly removed from the list in future elections.

Commissioner Manfred’s policy decision is effective immediately.

Connect with Vetted Off-Duty Cops to Instantly Fulfill Your Security Needs

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.