Major League Baseball has enacted a significant shift in policy by ending the practice of keeping deceased individuals on its permanently ineligible list. This move paves the way for long-excluded figures like Pete Rose and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson to be considered for enshrinement in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The decision, announced Tuesday by Commissioner Rob Manfred, concluded that permanent bans no longer apply posthumously. “Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game,” Manfred wrote in a letter responding to an appeal on behalf of Rose. “Moreover, it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve.”

By this reasoning, the commissioner formally removed Rose and 16 other deceased individuals from the ineligible list, effectively ending their lifetime bans. The list includes players such as Jackson and several other members of the infamous 1919 Chicago White Sox, banned for allegedly fixing the World Series, as well as other figures tied to historical scandals dating back to the early 20th century.

Hall of Fame Path Opens—But Is Not Guaranteed

While MLB’s decision grants posthumous eligibility, it does not automatically place these individuals on a Hall of Fame ballot. The Hall of Fame’s governing board reaffirmed this distinction in a statement from Chairman Jane Forbes Clark: “The National Baseball Hall of Fame has always maintained that anyone removed from Baseball’s permanently ineligible list will become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration.”

Under the Hall’s process, a Historical Overview Committee will assemble a ballot of eight candidates to be evaluated by the Classic Baseball Era Committee. This committee, which reviews players whose primary contributions to the game occurred before 1980, will next convene in December 2027. To be elected, a candidate must appear on at least 12 of the 16 ballots cast.

Among those impacted by this policy change are the eight banned players from the 1919 “Black Sox” scandal, including Eddie Cicotte and Buck Weaver, as well as players like Gene Paulette and Phil Douglas. Notably, Rose—MLB’s all-time hit leader—has never appeared on a Hall of Fame ballot due to the timing of the Hall’s 1991 rule barring anyone on MLB’s ineligible list from consideration.

That rule, introduced shortly before Rose would have become eligible for Hall of Fame voting, effectively shut him out of the process entirely—until now.

Rose’s Return Sparks Debate About Baseball’s Standards

Though Rose passed away in September 2024 at age 83, his eligibility has reignited debate over how baseball evaluates its historical icons. The commissioner was measured in tone, offering no endorsement of Rose’s enshrinement, but his action signals a broader philosophical shift. The implication, many argue, is that Rose has “served his time.”

The Hall of Fame, however, is not under MLB’s jurisdiction. Its selections are made by independent committees, not the commissioner’s office. Still, by removing the barrier that had uniquely disqualified Rose, Manfred has repositioned the conversation.

This policy pivot could also ripple beyond Rose and Jackson. Figures from the steroid era—like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Mark McGwire—have previously failed to gain Hall induction despite their statistical dominance, largely due to character-related concerns. If baseball voters reconsider Rose on the grounds of “time served,” it could lead to fresh scrutiny of how morality and legacy intersect in Hall of Fame debates.

2028 Ceremony Could Mark a Turning Point

Should Rose or Jackson be selected by the Classic Baseball Era Committee in 2027, their induction would occur in the summer of 2028. While their names are now eligible for inclusion on the ballot, that decision ultimately lies with the Historical Overview Committee, which may or may not act swiftly.

Regardless of the final outcome, Tuesday’s announcement represents a landmark re-evaluation of baseball’s disciplinary traditions and how they relate to preserving the game’s legacy. As attention shifts toward future Hall of Fame cycles, the long-closed doors to Cooperstown have cracked open—just enough for history’s most controversial figures to finally be considered.