MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has made what could be considered one of the most significant decisions of his time leading the league.
On Tuesday, Manfred effectively reinstated Pete Rose by announcing that players placed on the permanently ineligible list would be removed from it posthumously. This decision also applies to other notable players such as Shoeless Joe Jackson.
As a result, Pete Rose — baseball’s all-time hits leader — is now eligible for Hall of Fame consideration, a process that had been off-limits while he remained on the ineligible list.
Rose, who passed away last year at age 83, had repeatedly petitioned for reinstatement during his lifetime but was consistently denied. It remains uncertain whether his name will appear on a future Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) ballot or be evaluated by one of the Hall’s veteran committees.
What’s not in doubt is the strong range of opinions surrounding Rose’s potential induction.
Pat Gillick’s Perspective on Pete Rose
The Athletic spoke with several Hall of Famers — many of whom were Rose’s contemporaries — to gather views on his candidacy. Among them was Pat Gillick, a former Blue Jays general manager and Hall of Fame executive, inducted in 2011.
Gillick led the Blue Jays from 1978 to 1994, building the 1992 and 1993 World Series-winning teams. He also held executive roles with the Orioles, Mariners, and Phillies — helping Philadelphia to a 2008 championship — and later served as their president in 2014 and 2015.
Though now retired at 87, Gillick’s early career in the 1960s and ’70s with the Houston Colt .45s (now Astros) overlapped with Rose’s playing days. However, Gillick’s limited time in the National League meant he only had brief exposure to Rose.
Based on performance alone, Gillick believes Rose’s Hall of Fame case is obvious.
“On the field, it’s a no-brainer,” Gillick said. “But there’s more to it than that. Character matters a lot, and I’d have to question that. It’s going to be a tough call.”
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