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Players with direct ties to the 1919 Black Sox Scandal are finally receiving justice.
Major Leauge Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. issued a policy decision on Tuesday regarding the status of individuals who have passed away while on the permanently ineligible list. This issue has never been formally addressed by Major League Baseball, but an application filed by the family of Pete Rose influenced the Commissioner to come to a decision. Manfred concluded that MLB’s policy on permanent ineligibility ends upon the passing of the individual.
In a letter to Jeffrey M. Lenkov, the attorney for Mr. Rose, Commissioner Manfred wrote, “In my view, a determination must be made regarding how the phrase ‘permanently ineligible’ should be interpreted in light of the purposes and policies behind Rule 21, which are to: (1) protect the game from individuals who pose a risk to the integrity of the sport by prohibiting the participation of such individuals; and (2) create a deterrent effect that reduces the likelihood of future violations by others. In my view, once an individual has passed away, the purposes of Rule 21 have been served. Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game. 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.”
Commissioner Manfred further wrote, “While it is my preference not to disturb decisions made by prior Commissioners, Mr. Rose was not placed on the permanently ineligible list by Commissioner action but rather as the result of a 1989 settlement of potential litigation with the Commissioner’s Office. My decision today is consistent with Commissioner Giamatti’s expectations of that agreement.
“Commissioner Giamatti’s comments were completely reasonable given that, at the time, the Hall of Fame did not have a rule barring people on the permanently ineligible list from Hall of Fame consideration. In fact, Shoeless Joe Jackson was afforded the opportunity to be voted upon in 1936 and again in 1946.”
via Major League Baseball
To help establish clarity for the administration of the Major League Rules, the decision applies to individuals in the past or future who are posthumously on the permanently ineligible list. There are 17 deceased individuals disciplined since the founding of the Commissioner’s Office impacted by today’s announcement. They include
- Eddie Cicotte*
- Happy Felsch*
- Chick Gandil*
- Joe Jackson*
- Fred McMullin*
- Swede Risberg*
- Buck Weaver*
- Lefty Williams*
- Joe Gedeon
- Gene Paulette
- Benny Kauff
- Lee Magee
- Phil Douglas
- Cozy Dolan
- Jimmy O’Connell
- William Cox
- Pete Rose
* Members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox
Jackson and the seven other White Sox players listed above were banned from playing professional baseball in 1921 by MLB’s first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, for fixing the 1919 World Series. According to current rules for players who last played more than 15 years ago, reports indicate the earliest Rose and Jackson could be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame is Summer 2028 should they be elected.
This is a developing story. More to come.
The full text of the letter from Commissioner Manfred to Jeffrey M. Lenkov can be viewed in the attached file.
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The post “Shoeless” Joe Jackson among 8 White Sox players reinstated by MLB appeared first on Sox On 35th.