COOPERSTOWN, NY - Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson were reinstated by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred [or Manfred Rob - it is not clear which is his first name and which is his last] on Tuesday, making both eligible for the sport’s Hall of Fame after their careers were tarnished by gambling scandals.
Rose’s permanent ban was lifted eight months after his death and came a day before the Cincinnati Reds will honor baseball’s career hits leader with Pete Rose Night.
Manfred announced Tuesday he was changing the league’s policy on permanent ineligibility, saying bans would expire at death. MLB said 17 individuals had their status changed by the decision, including all eight banned members of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox, former Philadelphia Phillies president Williams D. Cox and former New York Giants outfielder Benny Kauff.
Despite not yet being officially elected to the prestigious and exclusive group, it was announced that Pete Rose's Hall of Fame induction ceremony would be brought to you by DraftKings.
The long-awaited election of Major League Baseball's all-time hit leader to the Hall of Fame had not even taken place when the online sports betting website snapped up the rights to promote the event.
"It's our honor to sponsor such a special occasion," said DraftKings CEO and co-founder Jason Robins. "We're currently taking bets on how many minutes the induction speech someone will give on Pete's behalf will run. Head to DraftKings now to get in on the action!"
Despite keeping Rose on the "permanently ineligible" list for Hall of Fame consideration until his death, Major League Baseball agreed to allow the sponsorship. "It just fits the occasion too perfectly," said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. "This allows Pete Rose to finally be enshrined in the Hall of Fame while depriving him of enjoying the experience and benefits Major League Baseball financially. It's a win-win."
At publishing time, reports circulated that Pete Rose's family had made a small fortune by winning a bet that the ban on his election to the Hall of Fame would be lifted. It was also reported that Pete appeared to his wife in a dream and said "Yo babe, it's hot down here but this news makes the weather a little more bearable".