MLB Ends Posthumous Bans: Pete Rose Removed from Ineligible List, Becomes Hall of Fame Eligible

Baseball remains one of America’s most beloved pastimes, and few players embodied that passion more than Pete Rose. As the sport reached new financial heights — generating a record $12.1 billion in revenue during the 2024 season, according to Statista — Major League Baseball announced a significant policy change: deceased individuals on the league’s permanently ineligible list, including Rose, will no longer retain that status after death.

Rose, who passed away on September 30, 2024, was a fan favorite known for his relentless style of play and unmatched career accomplishments. The decision to lift his ineligibility, prompted by a request from his family, closes a contentious chapter in baseball history and signals a shift in how MLB honors the legacies of its most controversial figures.

In a letter to Rose’s attorney, Jeffrey M. Lenkov, MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. wrote:

“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 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 emphasized that Rose’s placement on the list in 1989 was not the result of direct commissioner action, but rather a settlement agreement with the Office of the Commissioner following allegations that he had gambled on baseball games, including those involving his own team while managing the Cincinnati Reds. The new policy aligns with the expectations of then-Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti, who oversaw that agreement.

Pete Rose: Baseball’s Fierce Competitor

Peter Edward Rose Sr. (April 14, 1941 – September 30, 2024), nicknamed "Charlie Hustle," played in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1986. He became a symbol of competitive spirit and was a key part of the Cincinnati Reds’ dominant “Big Red Machine” lineup of the 1970s. Rose also played for the Philadelphia Phillies — winning a World Series title with them in 1980 — and had a brief stint with the Montreal Expos. He managed the Reds from 1984 until 1989.

Rose was a switch hitter and holds MLB’s all-time records for hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053), singles (3,215), and outs (10,328). His accolades include three World Series championships, three batting titles, an MVP Award, two Gold Glove Awards, and the Rookie of the Year honor. Rose was selected to 17 All-Star Games at five different positions — a feat unmatched in league history — and his 44-game hitting streak remains the third-longest in MLB history.

Though widely celebrated for his achievements on the field, Rose’s legacy was clouded by his lifetime ban. He denied the gambling allegations for years before admitting in 2004 that he had indeed bet on baseball, including games involving the Reds. In 1991, the Hall of Fame formally barred anyone on the permanently ineligible list from induction.

Hall of Fame Path Reopens

The new policy removes that final barrier for Rose and 16 other deceased individuals previously banned. Hall of Fame Chairman Jane Forbes Clark confirmed:

“The National Baseball Hall of Fame has always maintained that anyone removed from Baseball’s permanently ineligible list will become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration. Major League Baseball’s decision to remove deceased individuals from the permanently ineligible list will allow for the Hall of Fame candidacy of such individuals to now be considered.”

Candidates like Rose may now be evaluated by the Classic Baseball Era Committee, which reviews players who made their greatest impact before 1980. The committee next meets in December 2027.

While reinstatement does not guarantee induction, it marks a major turn in the league’s treatment of its complicated past. As the sport enjoys record popularity and financial success, MLB’s decision signals a willingness to reevaluate how baseball history is remembered — and who deserves a second look.