MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred Discusses ‘Difficult’ Decision to Reinstate Pete Rose
New York, USA – May 30, 2025 – Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred recently addressed the controversial decision to reinstate Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader, from the league’s permanently ineligible list, making him eligible for Hall of Fame consideration. The decision, announced on May 14, 2025, also included 16 other deceased players, such as “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, and has sparked intense debate across the baseball community.
In an interview on CBS Mornings on May 29, 2025, Manfred described the decision as “difficult” due to the passionate opinions surrounding Rose’s legacy. “People are passionate about issues like this,” Manfred stated, acknowledging the polarizing nature of Rose’s reinstatement. He emphasized that the decision aligned with a 1989 settlement agreement made by then-Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti, who had indicated that Rose’s ban from working in baseball should not preclude Hall of Fame consideration. “I see the decision as baseball living up to the deal that they originally made with Pete Rose,” Manfred explained.
Rose, who died in September 2024, was banned from MLB in 1989 for betting on baseball games, including those of the Cincinnati Reds, while serving as their manager. His 4,256 career hits and 17 All-Star appearances have long fueled arguments for his Hall of Fame induction, despite his gambling violations. Manfred noted that Rose’s death was a key factor in the decision, stating, “In my view, the only salient fact that has changed since that decision is that Mr. Rose is no longer with us,” suggesting that a deceased player no longer poses a threat to the game’s integrity. �ਸ
The decision has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters, including Rose’s daughter Fawn, who praised Manfred’s compassion during a December 2024 meeting, celebrated the move as overdue recognition of Rose’s contributions. The Cincinnati Reds held a “Pete Rose Night” on May 15, 2025, to honor his legacy. Critics, however, including former All-Star catcher A.J. Pierzynski, argue that reinstating Rose undermines the severity of gambling violations. Pierzynski, on the Foul Territory podcast, called the decision misguided, stating, “I am against [Rose] being reinstated, when he was originally permanently banned.”
Some reports suggest external pressures influenced Manfred’s decision, including discussions with President Donald Trump, who has publicly advocated for Rose’s reinstatement. Manfred met with Trump in April 2025, though he has not disclosed specifics of their conversation. Critics, such as The Atlantic, have speculated that political considerations, including MLB’s antitrust exemption, may have played a role, though Manfred maintains the decision was based on Rose’s death and prior agreements.
The reinstatement does not guarantee Rose’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. His case will now be reviewed by the Classic Baseball Era Committee in 2027, which considers players whose primary contributions occurred before 1980. Public sentiment on X reflects the divide, with some fans celebrating Rose’s eligibility and others questioning the precedent it sets for players like Trevor Bauer, who has cited Rose’s reinstatement to challenge his own exclusion from MLB.
Manfred’s decision marks a significant shift in MLB’s approach to its ineligible list, igniting renewed discussions about Rose’s legacy and the integrity of baseball’s highest honors.
