When Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred took the helm, he was willing to at least listen to the case of Pete Rose once more. After having a lifetime ban imposed over 25 years ago for gambling on baseball games, Rose has occasionally lobbied for another chance to be admitted into baseball with eyes toward the Hall of Fame. That day will not come.
Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times reports that Rose will be permanently kept out:
Rob Manfred, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, has decided not to lift the permanent ban imposed on Pete Rose more than a quarter-century ago, meaning the player with more hits than anyone else in the sport's history will continue to be kept out of the Hall of Fame.
The decision by Mr. Manfred, who succeeded Bud Selig as commissioner last January, has not been publicly announced. But three people familiar with the decision, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to be identified discussing a matter that was supposed to remain confidential, said that Mr. Manfred had made up his mind to keep the ban intact.
Rose, however, has been allowed to participate in events periodically, such as before the MLB All-Star Game in Cincinnati in 2015.
Some reports during the period of the investigation suggested that Rose may have continued to be less than truthful on some matters, though Rose confessed to betting on baseball as manager of the Cincinnati Reds. But the debate will not end, since users of performance-enhancing drugs continue to get consideration for the Hall of Fame. Gambling is considered one of the cardinal sins of Major League Baseball.
There are indeed plenty of traces of Rose in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, but he will not be officially inducted.
UPDATE: MLB has officially announced that the ban will not be lifted.
A release from Manfred reinforced that the Hall of Fame is separate from Major League Baseball, but has their own decision regarding his Hall of Fame eligibility.
