Pete Rose has officially been taken off MLB’s permanently ineligible list, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday.
Rose, a legendary former infielder and outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds and member of “The Big Red Machine” era of the team, passed away on Sept. 30 last year at the age of 83. He’s been ineligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame since 1989 after an investigation revealed Rose had placed gambling bets on his own team while playing for and managing the Reds.
While a controversial figure in baseball history, Rose was also a legend in the sport with countless accolades: 4,256 hits, a 17-time All-Star, 3,562 games played (a Major League record), 15,890 plate appearances (another Major League record), holder of the NL record for longest hitting streak (44) and a three-time World Series winner. He was also famous for his love of the game, having once said, “I’d walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball.”
The decision comes as MLB commissioner Robert D. Manfred issued a new policy decision regarding the status of players who have died while on the permanently ineligible list.
“This issue has never been formally addressed by Major League Baseball, but an application filed by the family of Pete Rose has made it incumbent upon the Office of the Commissioner to reach a policy decision on this unprecedented issue in the modern era as Mr. Rose is the first person banned after the tenure of Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis to die while still on the ineligible list,” reads a press release from the league. “Commissioner Manfred has concluded that MLB’s policy shall be that permanent ineligibility ends upon the passing of the disciplined individual.”
In April, the issue of Rose’s eligibility was raised in a discussion between Manfred and President Donald Trump, according to NBC.
“I met with President Trump two weeks ago … and one of the topics was Pete Rose, but I’m not going beyond that,” Manfred said at the time. “He’s said what he said publicly. I’m not going beyond that in terms of what the back and forth was.”
Trump had previously promised to sign a “complete pardon of Pete Rose” in a Truth Social post, saying Rose only bet on his team winning.
Before Tuesday’s announcement, city leaders and the Cincinnati Reds had planned a special dedication ceremony for Rose’s childhood baseball field. A baseball field at Boldface Park in Sedamsville will be named Pete Rose Field on Wednesday, May 14. The dedication will feature remarks from city leaders, community representatives and the Rose family. A permanent commemorative plaque will also be unveiled.
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This article appears in Apr 30 – May 13, 2025.
