Even after MLB ruling, Pete Rose may have hope for Hall of Fame
Pete Rose will not be allowed to return to baseball, but there’s a chance he could still be eligible for the Hall of Fame. In a three-page letter explaining his decision, commissioner Rob Manfred declined to reinstate Rose.
[Related: Pete Rose’s case for reinstatement was denied by commissioner Rob Manfred]
He did, however, include a curious passage about Rose’s eligibility for the Hall of Fame. Here’s an excerpt of that paragraph:
With this background in mind, let me clarify the precise nature of the issue before me. Under the Major League Constitution, my only concern has to be the protection of the integrity of play on the field through appropriate enforcement of the Major League Rules. It is not a part of my authority or responsibility here to make any determination concerning Mr. Rose’s eligibility as a candidate for election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame (“Hall of Fame”). In fact, in my view, the considerations that should drive a decision on whether an individual should be allowed to work in Baseball are not the same as those that should drive a decision on Hall of Fame eligibility.
Later in that paragraph, Manfred concludes:
The issue of whether Mr. Rose should be eligible for Hall of Fame election under the bylaws of that organization presents an entirely different policy determination that is focused on a range of considerations distinct from the more narrow question before me — i.e., whether I believe that Mr. Rose’s reinstatement would be consonant with the policy rationale underlying Rule 21. Thus, any debate over Mr. Rose’s eligibility for the Hall of Fame is one that must take place in a different forum.
Manfred’s last sentence makes it clear. While Rose is not being reinstated, this decision has no bearing on his Hall of Fame eligibility. In fact, Manfred says it’s up to the Hall of Fame to make the determination.
The Reds released a statement shortly after Manfred’s ruling came out. In that statement, the team mentions Rose’s Hall eligibility.
It is interesting that Manfred decided to dedicate such a large portion of his ruling to this subject. He didn’t have to make a distinction between his ruling and Rose’s Hall of Fame eligibility, but he did. That seems to signal that while Manfred won’t reinstate Rose, he’s not entirely opposed to the Hall of Fame reconsidering their position on the all-time hit leader.
In the past, this seemed impossible. In fact, it’s unclear whether fans realized this was the Hall’s decision, and not something the commissioner determined. Rose was banned from the game, and under Bud Selig’s watch, there was no way he was getting back in. While Manfred ultimately came to the same conclusion, the fact that he brought up Rose’s Hall of Fame eligibility at least leaves a sliver of hope that the Hall will revisit their decision. If that were to happen, the BBWAA or a veteran’s committe would determine whether Rose should be elected to the Hall of Fame.
Ultimately, that’s what the fans want the most. Reinstatement would have allowed Rose to get a job within baseball, and while a certain set of fans would like to see him as their team’s hitting coach, a large majority of his supporters want him in the Hall of Fame based on his on-field accomplishments.
Based solely on stats, Rose is a no-doubt Hall of Famer. He’s the all-time hit leader, but he also leads baseball in games played, plate appearances and at-bats. He holds a career .303/.375/.409 slash line over 24 seasons.
That said, members of the BBWAA have strongly considered the character of the players being allowed into the Hall of Fame. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens clearly belong in the Hall of Fame based on their numbers, but they have not been elected due to steroid concerns.
While Rose has never been implicated of using steroids, he falls into that same category. He broke Rule 1 … technically it was Rule 21 … but everyone knows gambling on the game is baseball’s most sacred rule. That’s more than enough to give voters some pause, even though his numbers are excellent.
It’s tough to know where this goes from here. Manfred seems to imply that he’s fine with the Hall of Fame reconsidering Rose’s case for being put on the ballot. The Hall would still ultimately have to agree to that, and then it would eventually be turned over to voters.
[Elsewhere: Bryce Harper serenaded a young fan]
While Rose wasn’t reinstated, Manfred’s note leaves a sliver of hope for his supporters. Rose’s chances of even being put on the ballot, let alone elected to the Hall, remain microscopic, but at least it’s a possibility.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
