Will Pete Rose have a posthumous chance at Baseball Hall of Fame?

Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Robert D. Manfred issued a policy decision in response to an application filed by the family of Pete Rose, concluding that MLB’s policy is that permanent ineligibility ends upon the passing of the disciplined individual.

Rose, the all-time MLB leader in hits with 4,256, died at 83 on 30 September 2024. At the moment of his death, he was "permanently ineligible" because of a gambling scandal.

An icon for international baseball fans around the world, Rose was the Cincinnati Reds manager when National League president Bart Giamatti and MLB Commissioner Peter Ueberroth questioned him in February 1989 amid reports that he had bet on baseball. Sports Illustrated, in a cover story dated April 3, 1989, gave evidence that Rose's bets were also on baseball. New Commissioner Giamatti launched an investigation. In August 1989, Rose accepted to become permanently ineligible.

Three Commissioners (Fay Vincent, Bud Selig and Manfred previously) rejected Rose's petitions to be reinstated. His representatives petitioned for reinstatement to MLB and the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020. At the moment of Rose's death, neither the Commissioner nor the Hall of Fame had responded. Commissioner Manfred denied speculation about the possibility of reinstatement as recently as the 2023 All-Star Game.

In a letter to Jeffrey M. Lenkov, the attorney for Mr. Rose, Commissioner Manfred wrote, "In my view, a determination must be made regarding how the phrase permanently ineligible should be interpreted in light of the purposes and policies behind Rule 21, which are to: (1) protect the game from individuals who pose a risk to the integrity of the sport by prohibiting the participation of such individuals; and (2) create a deterrent effect that reduces the likelihood of future violations by others. In my view, once an individual has passed away, the purposes of Rule 21 have been served. 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 a 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."

Fans and the Cincinnati Reds had already scratched Charlie Hustle from their ineligible list. Fans voted Rose into the MLB All-Century team in 1999. The Cincinnati Reds inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 2016. The same year, they unveiled a bronze sculpture of Rose's iconic slide and retired his #14 uniform.