Hall Of Fame Ahead? MLB Removes Pete Rose, ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson, From Ineligible List
By Hank Berrien
“Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game.”
In a historic decision, Rob Manfred, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, announced on Tuesday that any punishment of people banned from the game ends with their deaths, leaving open the possibility that the legendary slugger “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and the all-time hits leader, Pete Rose, could be elected to the baseball Hall of fame.
“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,” Manfred wrote to attorney Jeffrey M. Lenkov, who had been trying for a decade to get Rose reinstated. Lenkov asked Manfred to remove Rose from the list in January, just four months after Rose died.
“Jane Forbes Clark, chairman of the board of the Hall of Fame, said Manfred’s decision will allow Rose, Jackson and others to be considered by the Historical Overview Committee, which will ‘develop the ballot of eight names for the Classic Baseball Era Committee … to vote on when it meets next in December 2027,’” ESPN reported.
“This has been a long journey,” Lenkov said. “On behalf of the family, they are very proud and pleased and know that their father would have been overjoyed at this decision today.”