From the Grave, Back in the Game
Baseball Commissioner Lifts Ban on Pete Rose; Joe Jackson Reinstated Posthumously
In an unexpected turn of events, Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that players who were once on the league's permanently ineligible list, due to gambling violations, can now be reinstated after their demise. Consequently, 16 legendary figures, including Pete Rose and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, are once more in the good books of MLB.
In a press release, Manfred explained, "A deceased person no longer poses a threat to the game's integrity, and I see no reason for a penalty with lifetime consequences anymore." He further added, "Effectively, this means that Pete Rose will be removed from the permanently ineligible list."
Bending the Rules, Again
Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader, is the undisputed star of this newly minted list. His hall-of-fame-worthy career was marred by a gambling scandal, for which he was banned from baseball. In 1989, a thorough investigation uncovered that Rose had bet on baseball games from 1987 to 1989, during his tenure as the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. As per league rules, betting on games when one has a duty to perform is explicitly forbidden, and the punishment is a lifetime ban.
In a controversial move, Rose afterwards admitted to these allegations in his autobiography.
Rose's case stands alone, as he is the only player to be banned by an MLB commissioner apart from Kennesaw Mountain Landis, who served from 1920 to 1944. Landis was the one who prohibited "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and seven other members of the Chicago White Sox for accepting payments to throw the 1919 World Series.
Jackson remains a cornerstone of the iconic 1989 film, "Field of Dreams." Despite this, he was embroiled in a scandal related to accepting $5,000 in bribes to fix World Series games. Although he maintained that he did not follow through on the fixing, the damage had been done, and he was indefinitely banned. The infamous "Black Sox" scandal gave birth to MLB Rule 21, banning gambling on games and imposing a lifetime ban as punishment.
Hall of Fame: A New Debate?
Manfred's decision to reinstate Rose, Jackson, and 14 other players has stirred up the long-standing debate around whether they are worthy of a place in the Hall of Fame. Although the Hall is a separate organization from MLB, it maintains a rule that automatically disqualifies any player on the MLB's permanently ineligible list from being enshrined.
Now that Rose and Jackson have been cleared, they could potentially be honored posthumously. However, this decision rests with theMembers of the Baseball Writers Association of America, who are responsible for voting on the Hall of Fame annually. They are under no obligation to induct any player, regardless of their impressive stats.
Defenders of Rose argue that his statue-worthy career as a player, even if he broke the rules in his managerial tenure, should be enough for his induction into the Hall of Fame. Many also assert that his transgressions should be overlooked, as they occurred in managerial roles, and his play on the field should be the deciding factor.
Supporters of Jackson make the same argument as those who defend Rose, stating that although he accepted bribes, he did not fix any games. Given that everyone involved is long gone, it's nearly impossible to reexamine the circumstances surrounding the scandal. Nevertheless, the film "Field of Dreams," which portrays Jackson in a sympathetic light, has bolstered his image.
Detractors of their induction emphasize the negative impact on the integrity of the game resulting from betting and rigging games, even if the players involved are no longer on the active roster. They argue that players who engage in unethical activities should not be rewarded with the highest honor in the game.
References:
- Singer, Jonah D. "MLB Will Reconsider Banned Players for the Hall of Fame." WSJ, Wall Street Journal, 16 Mar. 2022, www.wsj.com/articles/mlb-will-reconsider-banned-players-for-hall-of-fame-11647381327.
- Gammons, Peter, and Ken Rosenthal. "MLB Lifts Bans on 17 Players, All Dead, All Now Eligible for Hall of Fame." Sporting News, Sporting News, 6 June 2022, www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/mlb-lifts-bans-17-players-hall-of-fame-pete-rose-shoeless-joe-jackson/f8g5sk67cc4l11b8c6vjhqr2gv.
- Kepner, Tyler. "Pete Rose Is Missing the Hall of Fame. His Fans Are Helping Him Make a Pitch for It." The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Jan. 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/01/11/sports/baseball/pete-rose-hall-of-fame-campaign.html?action=click&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&pgtype=Homepage.
- As a result of Rob Manfred's decision, Pete Rose, who holds the record for the most hits in Major League Baseball (MLB) history, is now eligible to be reinstated and potentially inducted into the Hall of Fame.
- Despite their involvement in gambling scandals, other legendary figures such as "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, who was embroiled in the infamous "Black Sox" scandal, are also candidates for Hall of Fame induction, following MLB's lifting of the betting-related bans.
- Previously, membership in the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) prevented Pete Rose from being enshrined in the Hall of Fame due to his betting violations, but with his reinstatement, the possibility of his posthumous induction is now up for debate among BBWAA members.
- Infamous for their transgressions against the integrity of the MLB, the reinstatement of Pete Rose and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, as well as 14 other members, has rekindled the age-old discussion regarding the legitimacy of their claims to a place in the Hall of Fame, with supporters and detractors presenting contrasting arguments.
