Pete Rose, Major League Baseball’s alltime hits leader, has been posthumously reinstated by Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, the league announced. The decision removed Rose from MLB’s permanently ineligible list after some 36 years as Manfred ruled that lifetime bans do not apply posthumously. Manfred’s decision comes after a petition filed by California attorney Jeffrey Lenkov, who represented Rose prior to his September 2024 death at the age of 83.

Shoeless Joe Jackson, who was banned for the Chicago Black Sox scandal, and 15 other late players have also been reinstated.

Jackson was one of eight players banned from playing baseball for life by then commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis in 1921 for their alleged roles in fixing the 1919 World Series. The decision ended Jackson’s playing career at age 33 and coming off an exceptionally strong 1920 season. He was exiled from the game with a lifetime batting average of .356 and a career WAR of 62.2. Jackson appeared on Hall of Fame ballots in 1936 and 1946 without ever receiving more than 1% of the vote.

Pete Rose agreed to be placed on the permanently ineligible list in 1989, and two years later the Hall of Fame passed a rule stating that those on the permanently ineligible list were not eligible for election into the Hall.

As a player, Rose spent parts of 24 seasons in the majors, 19 of which came with his hometown Reds. Over that span, Rose amassed an MLB-record 4,256 hits. He’s also the alltime leader in games played (3,562) and plate appearances (15,890). In addition to being named National League MVP in 1973 and earning 17 All-Star selections, Rose also won three World Series rings.