Major League Baseball lifts Hall of Fame eligibility ban on Pete Rose, Shoeless Joe Jackson, other deceased players

[True Dough]

In a historic, sweeping decision, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday removed Pete Rose, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and other deceased players from Major League Baseball's permanently ineligible list.

The all-time hit king and Jackson -- both longtime baseball pariahs stained by gambling, seen by MLB as the game's mortal sin -- are now eligible for election into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Manfred ruled that MLB's punishment of banned individuals ends upon their deaths.

"Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game," Manfred wrote in a letter to attorney Jeffrey M. Lenkov, who petitioned for Rose's removal from the list Jan. 8. "Moreover, it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45115659/pete-rose-shoeless-joe-jackson-players-reinstated-mlb

[Brother Buzz]

1. I'm cool with. Shoeless Joe Jackson, but on the fence with Pete Rose

YMMV

[Hornedfrog2000]

2. Wasnt pete into underage women???

Our society keeps taking one step forward, 2 backwards

[quaint]

4. Wow! Never heard that accusation.

I thought he was banned for betting. IMHO he earned a spot in the Hall of Fame.

[regnaD kciN]

7. He was banned for betting...

The stories about him having an underage girlfriend only came to prominence in the past few years, although I guess it was an open secret at the time.

Rose was scarcely an admirable individual except in terms of sheer determination; however, if moral probity was a requirement for being in the HoF, you’d probably have to empty out at least two-thirds of the building.

[Raven123]

3. Makes no sense.

Eligible after death? Popularity of MLB must be really bad.

[boonecreek]

5. The one I'm glad to see on that list is Buck Weaver.

Never took a dime but was banned for knowing about the Sox throwing the Series
but not telling anyone. And I say that as a lifelong Cubs fan.

[MichMan]

6. Rose banned for gambling, yet MLB names Fan Duel as the Official Sports Betting partner of MLB

Go figure

https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-mlb-names-fanduel-a-new-official-sports-betting-partner-in-north-a?msockid=0ddd7766eb2e60c239ae62d0ea4c611a

[True Dough]

8. Message: It's perfectly fine for everyone else to do it,

but we don't allow players and managers to place wagers on their own sport.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. How Would They Prevent Fans From Betting?

I don't see the contradiction you seem to see.
One thing they can control. The other, they can't.

[retread]

13. I'm ambivalent about this. Isn't major league baseball profiting from gambling? Sometimes it feels like they are

not only condoning gambling, but actually encouraging it.

[ProfessorGAC]

14. Perhaps

But, I think it's naive to think it wasn't happening without the open endorsement.
In politics, we often say sunlight is the best disinfectant. I think the same is true here.
BTW: I'm not a gambler, and never have been.

[retread]

16. "But, I think it's naive to think it wasn't happening without the open endorsement."

Strawman argument--- a straw man argument means that one is creating and then arguing against a position on the issue that no one is actually making.

[ProfessorGAC]

17. No, It's Not

I didn't need the definition. I know what a strawman is & in this case you're wrong
The notion that MLB having a gambling partner is disconnected from past fan behavior is relevant, and clearly implied.
Your reply to me is both a strawman & a nonsequitur.

[retread]

18. MLB has a history of profiting from and encouraging unhealthy fan behavior.

[Earl_from_PA]

9. I saw live, and in person, Pete Rose play as a player.

I do not care what he did, or did not do, after his playing days. As a baseball player, he deserves a place in Cooperstown. He truly was Charlie Hustle. The game was never over until the final out, and he played that way.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. I Saw Him Too

And we disagree on Rose.
His lifetime BA is nit in the Top 100 all time. His OBP is #229.
He's not in the top 500 for stolen bases.
He played on teams where pitchers had other hitters to fear. So, he always got pitches to hit.
And, he was a mediocre fielder.
Plus, he was an abusive jerk and a amphetamine (PED) user.
I'm good with him not being in the hall.
He was good, but not great.

[Earl_from_PA]

12. .

NL Rookie of the year 1963.
World series MVP 1973
2 time gold glove winner, '69 & '70.
3 time NL batting champion, '68, '69, '73.
4276 hits, most EVER .
Roberto Clemente award, 1976.
MLB record, most games played, 3562.
44 game hitting streak, 3rd longest in the history of the game
17 times an all star, at 5 different positions.

I was in the room in the early 70s when "the big red machine" trailed the Pirates by 8 ( 11-3), top of the nighth, with 2 out, Rose hit a slow bouncing grounder towards 3rd. He screamed down the first base line, and dove head first into the bag. Beat the throw, safe , I was like 7yo at the time, I asked my brother, why did he do that, the game is over. His reply, it's what he does, it's who he is that guy never quits..

He should be in Cooperstown for the way he played the game. What came after is immaterial

,

[ProfessorGAC]

15. We'll Continue To Disagree

Oh, and I don't put a lot of stock in gold gloves unless a guy is winning perennially.
2 wins in 24 years doesn't tell me much. It's equally likely that it was a weak year at those positions than that he was a stellar defender.
My dad liked him. I didn't, even as a kid.