When Will Pete Rose Be Eligible for Hall of Fame Induction?

When MLB reinstated Pete Rose and 16 other permanently ineligible players Tuesday, commissioner Rob Manfred invited the possibility of Hall of Fame induction for all of them.

How long might that take?

In a statement Tuesday, Hall of Fame Chairman Jane Forbes Clark confirmed the decision will allow individuals removed from the permanently ineligible list to now be considered.

The Historical Overview Committee will develop the 8-person ballot for the Classic Baseball Era Committee in Dec. 2027.

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Rose, who died last year, concluded his remarkable playing career in 1986 as MLB's all-time leader in hits, games played, at-bats, plate appearances, singles, and times on base. His 4,256 career hits still stand as the all-time record.

In 1989, Rose accepted a lifetime ban when it was revealed he had wagered on games as the Cincinnati Reds' manager. But the issue that left him ineligible for Cooperstown induction in his lifetime is hardly the only obstacle facing voters who could consider him for Hall of Fame induction in two years.

Rose's on-field credentials put him on a short list of the game's greats. Besides his hits record, Rose was the 1973 National League MVP and played on three World Series winners with the "Big Red Machine" teams of the 1970s. He was an All-Star selection 12 times with Cincinnati from 1963-78, four times with the Phillies from 1979-83, and again with the Reds in 1985.

Those who fondly remember Rose's playing career are likely to celebrate the news that he is welcome in Cooperstown.

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"We are especially happy for the Rose family to receive this news and what this decision could mean for them and all of Pete's fans," Reds owner and managing partner Bob Castellini said in a statement.

Off the field, Rose carries a checkered past. A woman identified only as Jane Doe alleged in 2017 that she had a sexual relationship with Rose when she was 15 years old in 1973. At the time, Rose was married with two children. His lawyers have said the allegations are unverified.

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Because the statute of limitations for statutory rape has passed, Rose could not be criminally charged in connection with these allegations. At a 2022 event in Philadelphia, Rose refused to address the charge.

Hall of Fame voters are asked to consider a "character clause" that instructs voters to consider a player's "integrity" and "character" when voting. This clause has effectively prevented Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, and others from gaining the support their on-field accomplishments merit.

Rose is not exempt from the clause, though at least one Hall voter has gone on record in support of Rose in the past.

"I'd say Pete should at least be allowed to appear on the Hall of Fame ballot. Also, I'd vote for him," MLB Network analyst Jon Heyman wrote on Twitter/X in 2020. "Yes, he bet on. Yes, he lied about it. Fir [sic] a long time. But he's a Hall of Fame player."

Others are not so forgiving.

"This guy was jeopardizing players' careers to win bets as a manager," a former general manager who is a candidate to serve on the 2027 Veterans' Committee told USA Today. "He could care less about their health. And now you're going to validate someone like this, someone who's also accused of statutory rape."

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