Overview

• Major League Baseball has reversed its policy on lifetime bans for deceased individuals, declaring that permanent ineligibility ends upon death.
• The decision affects 17 individuals, including Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, who were previously banned for gambling-related violations.
• Rose and Jackson are now eligible for Hall of Fame consideration, with their cases to be reviewed by the Classic Baseball Era Committee in December 2027.
• MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred stated that deceased individuals no longer pose a threat to the game's integrity, fulfilling the purpose of Rule 21.
• The move has reignited debates over balancing ethical misconduct with athletic achievements in determining baseball legacies.