Manfred says reinstating Rose, 'Shoeless' Joe was 'overdue' - ESPN

Commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday defended his recent decision to reinstate Pete Rose, «Shoeless» Joe Jackson and other deceased banned players as «baseball living up to the deal they originally made with Pete Rose.»

While acknowledging his decision was «overdue,» Manfred offered his most fulsome explanation for his May 13 decision to remove Rose, Jackson and other deceased players from MLB's permanently ineligible list. That decision has paved the way for Rose and Jackson to be considered for induction into Baseball's Hall of Fame.

«I would say three things,» Manfred said during an interview on «CBS Mornings.» «No. 1: Our permanently ineligible list is effectively a ban on working in the game. This is a matter of logic. There's no reason to have a person who has passed away still on that list. No. 2: Pete Rose is a part of the history of our game. Every other player, including Shoeless Joe Jackson, has been considered by the Hall of Fame and they've made a decision. I saw no reason to leave Pete Rose out there as one of one, no consideration.»

Manfred discussed the particulars of Rose's punishment that the all-time hit king accepted in a settlement with then-commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti in August 1989.

«And then, last, I think what people don't realize is Pete Rose wasn't disciplined by commissioner Giamatti,» Manfred said. «He entered a settlement agreement with the league. At the time they entered into that settlement, he went on the permanently ineligible list knowing that the rules allowed the Hall of Fame to consider him. Commissioner Giamatti went out, had a press conference the day of the settlement and he was asked about the Hall of Fame and he said this settlement should have nothing to do with the Hall