Rob Manfred Refused To Say Pete Rose Belongs In The Hall Of Fame After Mlb Reinstatement

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred set a long overdue precedent on Tuesday by formally announcing permanent ineligibility expires upon death.

While the impetus for the change came from representatives of Pete Rose who hope to see MLB's hit king finally enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame, the ruling also means previously banned players who have died — like "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and seven other members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox — are now eligible to appear on a Hall of Fame ballot.

Of course that does not mean they will appear on the ballot.

MLB does not control nor influence the Hall of Fame, whose members are voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Not even President Donald Trump's tantrums on social media can change that. As for Rose, an accused rapist who went to prison for tax fraud in addition to gambling on baseball, Manfred flat out refused to even say whether or not one of MLB's most controversial figures belongs in the hall.

"I want to emphasize that it is not part of my authority or responsibility to express any view concerning Mr. Rose's consideration by or possible election to the Hall of Fame," Manfred wrote. "I agree with [former MLB] Commissioner Giamatti that responsibility for that decision lies with the Hall of Fame."

The earliest Rose can now be enshrined is 2028 if the Hall of Fame’s Historical Overview Committee places him on the 2027 Classic Baseball Era committee ballot. Rose would need 12 of 16 votes to get in.

We'll have to wait an see until then.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Rob Manfred refused to say Pete Rose belongs in Hall of Fame after MLB reinstatement