What does reinstatement of Pete Rose, Shoeless Joe Jackson mean for Barry Bonds?
SAN FRANCISCO Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred revealed on Tuesday that he has removed Pete Rose Shoeless Joe Jackson and other deceased players from the league s permanently ineligible list The decision paves the way for Rose and Jackson two of baseball s greatest players whose legacies were tainted by gambling to gain admittance to the Hall of Fame Obviously a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the battle wrote Manfred in a letter to attorney Jeffrey M Lenkov who petitioned for Rose s removal from the permanently banned list in January Moreover it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve Therefore I have concluded that permanent ineligibility ends upon the passing of the disciplined individual and Mr Rose will be removed from the permanently ineligible list The decision which comes after Rose died in September at would allow Rose Jackson and others to be considered for the Hall of Fame by the Historical Overview Committee Rose and Jackson would be part of the Classic Baseball Era before meaning the earliest they can be inducted is That stated there is no guarantee that either will be elected Barry Bonds for example remains eligible for the Hall of Fame as part of the Contemporary Baseball Era after failing to be elected by the BBWAA In December Bonds received fewer than four votes from the -person veterans committee well short of the votes needed to be inducted During his period of eligibility on the normal ballot voters declined to elect Bonds MLB s all-time leader in home runs Bonds maintained that he never knowingly used steroids in his career but admitted to using substances provided by his trainer which turned out to be steroids He was a major figure in the probe into BALCO a Bay Area company that provided steroids to major leaguers Specific figures in the local sports public lauded the decision and expressed hope that Bonds might someday be inducted Bill Duby who runs the Golden State Grind an elite developmental activity for young players in Contra Costa County explained the reinstatement comes too late While I m glad to see Pete Rose in the end reinstated by Major League Baseball it s deeply disappointing that this recognition came only after his passing Duby mentioned Sadly knowing MLB s track record one can t help but wonder if this was dependably part of the plan to punish the man not just the actions Tony Dress a coach at Diablo Valley College applauded the decision Awesome he reported in an email Opens the door for Bonds to get in and should in my opinion The numbers don t lie I am not big on the Hall being the morality police Beginning in candidates on Era Committees who don t receive at least five votes will not be eligible for the following ballot Related Articles SF Giants cold offense prolongs Verlander s longest winless streak Melvin shakes up SF Giants lineup following cold road trip SF Giants swept by Twins despite Ramos big afternoon Ramos mistake proves costly as SF Giants spoil Webb s outing SF Giants stifled by Paddack s bid at perfect championship I don t know why you wait until now but I guess it is what it is stated Giants manager Bob Melvin The guy was a great player I m glad he s decisively getting recognized in that light Rose MLB s all-time leader in hits voluntarily agreed with Commissioner A Bartlett Giamatti to a permanent ban on Aug following an review that concluded Rose bet on the Reds as both a athlete and manager Manfred previously rejected Rose s petition for reinstatement in In addition to gambling and a five-month sentence to a minimum prevention prison for federal income tax evasion Rose was accused of statutory rape in When questioned by a female reporter in Rose replied It was years ago babe
