MLB reinstates Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, making them Hall of Fame eligible

MLB reinstates Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, making them Hall of Fame eligible
A bronze statue and a banner of former Cincinnati Reds player Pete Rose are seen outside the Great American Ball Park, Tuesday in Cincinnati. (AP)
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Updated 14 May 2025
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MLB reinstates Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, making them Hall of Fame eligible

MLB reinstates Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, making them Hall of Fame eligible
  • Manfred announced Tuesday that he was changing the league’s policy on permanent ineligibility, saying bans would expire at death
  • Jackson was a .356 career hitter who was among the eight Black Sox banned for throwing the 1919 World Series
  • Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark confirmed in a statement that players affected by Manfred’s ruling Tuesday would be considered

NEW YORK: Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson were reinstated by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday, making both eligible for the sport’s Hall of Fame after their careers were tarnished by sports 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 that 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.

Under the Hall of Fame’s current rules, the earliest Rose or Jackson could be inducted would be in 2028.

Rose agreed with then-Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti to a permanent ban on Aug. 23, 1989, following an investigation commissioned by Major League Baseball concluded Rose repeatedly bet on the Reds as a player and manager of the team from 1985-87, a violation of a long-standing MLB rule.

Rose first applied for reinstatement in September 1997, but Commissioner Bud Selig never ruled on the request. Manfred in 2015 rejected a petition for reinstatement, saying “Rose has not presented credible evidence of a reconfigured life.”

Rose died Sept. 30 at age 83, and a new petition was filed Jan. 8 by Jeffrey Lenkov, a lawyer who represented Rose. Lenkov and Rose’s daughter Fawn had met with Manfred on Dec. 17.

Rose’s supporters have included US President Donald Trump, who has said he intends to pardon Rose posthumously. Manfred discussed Rose with Trump when the pair met in April, but he hasn’t disclosed specifics of their conversation.

In a letter to Lenkov, 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.”

Marcus Giamatti, son of the former commissioner who signed the agreement banning Rose, said in a statement he was “incredibly disappointed” in Manfred’s decision.

“I am also disappointed that my family was not consulted prior to this decision,” he said. “The Commissioner’s decision makes this a very dark day for baseball, the country and the fans.

“My father’s mission by banning Rose was to uphold the integrity of the game. Therefore, reinstating Rose in this manner puts that integrity, Rule 21 and everything that my father fought to uphold in peril.”

A 17-time All-Star during a playing career from 1963-86, Rose holds record for hits (4,256), games (3,562), at-bats (14,053), plate appearances (15,890) and singles (3,215). He was the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year, 1973 MVP and 1975 World Series MVP. A three-time NL batting champion, he broke the prior hits record of 4,191 set by Ty Cobb from 1905-28.

Jackson was a .356 career hitter who was among the eight Black Sox banned for throwing the 1919 World Series. He died in 1951, but he remains one of baseball’s most recognizable names in part for his depiction by Ray Liotta in the 1989 movie Field of Dreams.

What else needs to happen for Rose or Jackson to reach the Hall of Fame?

Under a rule adopted by the Hall’s board of directors in 1991, anyone on the permanently ineligible list can’t be considered for election to the Hall. Jackson was twice considered on ballots by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, but received just 0.9 percent in 1936 and 1 percent of a nominating vote in 1940.

Rose’s reinstatement occurred too late for him to be considered for the BBWAA ballot. If not on the permanently banned list, Rose would have been eligible on the ballots each from 1992 through 2006. He was written in on 41 votes in 1992 and on 243 of 7,232 ballots (3.4 percent) over the 15 years, votes that were not counted.

Without the ban, both players are eligible for the Hall’s Classic Baseball Era, which next meets to consider players in December 2027 and considers those whose greatest contributions to the sport were before 1980.

A 10-person historical overview committee selects the eight ballot candidates with the approval of the Hall’s board and the ballot is considered by 16 members at the winter meetings, with a 75 percent or higher vote needed. The committee members include Hall of Fame members, team executives and media/historians.

Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark confirmed in a statement that players affected by Manfred’s ruling Tuesday would be considered.

“The National Baseball Hall of Fame has always maintained that anyone removed from Baseball’s permanently ineligible list will become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration,” she said. “Major League Baseball’s decision to remove deceased individuals from the permanently ineligible list will allow for the Hall of Fame candidacy of such individuals to now be considered.”

Among the players in the 2028 class eligible for the BBWAA ballot are Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.

Did Trump help get Rose reinstated?

Trump has said he would pardon Rose, but it’s not clear what a presidential pardon for Rose would entail.

Rose entered guilty pleas on April 20, 1990, to two counts of filing false tax returns, admitting he failed to report $354,968 during a four-year period. Rose was sentenced on July 19, 1990, by US District Judge S. Arthur Spiegel in Cincinnati to five months in prison. He also was fined $50,000 and ordered to perform 1,000 hours of community service as a gym teacher’s assistant with inner-city youths in Cincinnati as part of a one-year probation period. The first three months of the probation were to be spent at the halfway house. Rose repaid the Internal Revenue Service $366,042.


Frustration hangs over WNBA All-Star weekend as players slam latest labor talks

Frustration hangs over WNBA All-Star weekend as players slam latest labor talks
Updated 56 min 52 sec ago
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Frustration hangs over WNBA All-Star weekend as players slam latest labor talks

Frustration hangs over WNBA All-Star weekend as players slam latest labor talks
  • Players in October voted to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, once seen as a landmark deal for women’s sports

INDIANAPOLIS: Labor negotiations between the WNBA and the players’ union hung over the All-Star weekend on Friday, as a dazzling showcase of the league’s progress kicked off amid frustration from the women on the court in Indianapolis.

The WNBPA admonished the league after their latest meeting on Thursday, saying the WNBA had failed to “address the priorities we’ve voiced from the day we opted out.”

Players in October voted to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, once seen as a landmark deal for women’s sports but now viewed by many players as woefully inadequate amid a surge of popularity in the WNBA.

Swarmed by reporters on Friday as part of a pre-All-Star Game media availability, WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike said she felt the meeting was a missed opportunity.

“Yes, we’re celebrating amazing growth, but I think it’s not lost on us that we’re living the growth as we’re negotiating our worth,” she said. “The fans know what we’re worth. Now we need the league to know what we are worth.”

Reached for comment on Friday, the WNBA pointed to a statement Commissioner Cathy Engelbert provided to the Associated Press on Thursday, calling the meeting “very constructive dialogue.”

Engelbert is expected to meet with members of the media on Saturday for a press conference.

Ogwumike said there had been no direct conversation about a work stoppage but that union leadership cautioned players over the possible outcomes of a failed negotiation.

“What we want to do is negotiate a good deal,” she told reporters.

“But we also wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t let players know, ‘Hey the league is in a different place. We’re in a different place. Just be prepared for anything that can happen’.”

More than 40 players attended the negotiations on Thursday, including star rookie Paige Bueckers from the Dallas Wings, who said it was her first time at the negotiating table.

“It’s been powerful and I think we’re going to continue to fight for that because the proposal that they gave back to us was kind of disrespectful,” she said.


Pacquiao, Barrios make weights for Vegas showdown

Pacquiao, Barrios make weights for Vegas showdown
Updated 19 July 2025
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Pacquiao, Barrios make weights for Vegas showdown

Pacquiao, Barrios make weights for Vegas showdown
  • Filipino star and eight-division world champion is returning to the ring after a four-year absence
  • Mario Barrios says he is unfazed by the prospect of taking on living legend Pacquiao

LOS ANGELES, United States: Filipino star Manny Pacquiao comfortably made the weight for his comeback world title fight against Mario Barrios on Friday, tipping the scales at just under the 147-pound welterweight limit.

The 46-year-old eight-division world champion – who is returning to the ring after a four-year absence – weighed in at 146.8 lbs during a packed ceremony at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Pacquiao’s opponent in Saturday’s fight, reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Barrios, was also inside the weight limit at 146.2 lbs.

“I’m so happy I’m back because boxing is my passion and I missed boxing,” Pacquiao said after making the weight.

The Filipino star – whose last victory came against Keith Thurman in 2019 – is aiming to pull off an upset victory in Saturday’s bout.

Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 knockouts) announced his return to boxing in May, taking advantage of a WBC rule that allows former champions to request a direct title shot when coming out of retirement.

He will be facing the much younger Barrios, who will take a 29-2-1 record in Saturday’s contest.

Barrios, 30, said he was unfazed by the prospect of taking on living legend Pacquiao, who could become the first fighter to win a major world title after being inducted to boxing’s Hall of Fame.

“I’m approaching this the same way I have all my other fights – I treat it as just another title defense,” Barrios said. “Manny has accomplished so much, but it’s my time now.”


Pogacar extends Tour de France lead with dominant time-trial win

Pogacar extends Tour de France lead with dominant time-trial win
Updated 19 July 2025
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Pogacar extends Tour de France lead with dominant time-trial win

Pogacar extends Tour de France lead with dominant time-trial win
  • Pogacar was last down the start ramp of the 171 riders setting off and stunned rivals by using a road bike instead of one typically used for time trials
  • Saturday’s stage 14 is another punishing affair with around 50km of climbing but it will likely be raced in rain

PEYRAGUDES, France: Tadej Pogacar powered to victory in an uphill time trial on stage 13 of the Tour de France on Friday to stretch his lead in the race to more than four minutes.

Jonas Vingegard and Remco Evenepoel clung on to their places in the overall top three, but this 10.9km time-trial triumph was defending champion Pogacar’s second crushing win in two days.

Pogacar was last down the start ramp of the 171 riders setting off and stunned rivals by using a road bike instead of one typically used for time trials.

“It’s more comfortable and I ride that 95 percent of the year,” he explained. “I went without a radio too, there are time clocks along the way so I just looked at them.”

Decked out in his overall leader’s yellow kit, the 26-year-old Team UAE rider was faster from the off, despite his exertions from the previous day, when he finished over two minutes ahead of main rival Vingegaard.

“I was feeling good all day, from when I got up. I was planning to go all in from start to finish and that’s what I did,” said Pogacar, who won the Tour de France in 2020, 2021 and 2024.

Pogacar had a sticker of the Hulk comic book superhero on his bike but said after the stage his hero was Spider-Man.

“Hulk though, he’s the one you don’t want to make angry,” said Pogacar.

By the time he finished stage 13 at the Peyragudes Altiport where the opening scene of the James Bond movie “Tomorrow Never Dies” was shot, Pogacar was 36 seconds faster than Vingegaard, while Primoz Roglic was third at 1min 20sec.

Evenepoel was overtaken close to the line by Vingegaard, but said he was too tired to care.

“I was drained,” he said, slumped in a chair. “I didn’t give a damn when Jonas went past.”

“I just wanted to finish. To be honest I’m relieved it’s over,” said the double Olympic champion.

Most riders warmed up for the time trial wearing ice jackets to combat the sizzling 30C temperature at the foot of the climb.

Australian champion Luke Plapp set the early pace and sat in the hot seat all day before suddenly packing his case and vacating it on seeing Vingegaard storm up the mountain.

Pogacar was even faster.

At 1580m altitude the ride remained beneath the clouds and below the treeline, but even atop the hill it was punishingly hot.

American Quinn Simmons gave hundreds of high-fives on the home straight as one of the rare riders appearing to enjoy the climb.

Saturday’s stage 14 is another punishing affair with around 50km of climbing but it will likely be raced in rain.

It starts with the famous Col de Tourmalet and ends at the Luchon-Superbagneres ski resort.

Stage 15 is a hilly run to the walled city of Carcassonne but for Pogacar there remains the specter of three more massive mountain stages in the final week.

There is also the prospect of potential chaos in Paris with three ascents of Montmartre’s old cobbled lanes on the final day.


Scottie Scheffler with a 64 sets a daunting target at the British Open

Scottie Scheffler with a 64 sets a daunting target at the British Open
Updated 19 July 2025
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Scottie Scheffler with a 64 sets a daunting target at the British Open

Scottie Scheffler with a 64 sets a daunting target at the British Open
  • Scheffler happily settled for a 7-under 64, his lowest round in a major, to take a one-shot lead over former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick of England
  • Harman played bogey-free for a 65 that left him only two shots behind, along with Li Haotong of China, who had a 67

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland: Scottie Scheffler had no idea what was coming his way Friday in the British Open. He warmed up in a short-sleeved shirt. The umbrella was out when he walked off the first green.

For the thousands at Royal Portrush watching him, they knew exactly what to expect from the world’s No. 1 player, and Scheffler delivered another relentless performance. Three straight birdies to close the gap. Two more at the end to take the lead.

Scheffler had a 15-foot putt that was one turn away from dropping for a final birdie. He happily settled for a 7-under 64, his lowest round in a major, to take a one-shot lead over former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick of England.

It was his lowest round in a major, yes, but there was a normalcy about it, too. Scheffler has been doing this for three years now and there is little left to say. Even when Sky Sports showed a list of his key statistics — driving accuracy down, greens in regulation great — that elicited little more than a shrug.

The statistics led to a shrug.

“Overall, I’m hitting the ball solid,” Scheffler said. “The tournament is only halfway done. I got off to a good start.”

Scheffler made eight birdies on another wild afternoon of weather, putting him at 10-under 132 as he chases the third leg of the career Grand Slam.

Fitzpatrick was equally dynamic when he began the back nine with four straight birdies, only to miss a 5-foot par putt on the 14th to slow his momentum, and a 3-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole that was mildly irritating. He shot 66.

“I felt like every facet of my game was on today and I felt like I really played solid,” Fitzpatrick said. “To take advantage of the opportunities I had out there was obviously really positive.”

Brian Harman got the best of the weather — surprising sunshine — and took dead aim in his hunt for another Claret Jug. Harman played bogey-free for a 65 that left him only two shots behind, along with Li Haotong of China, who had a 67.

Everyone else was five shots behind or more.

That includes Rory McIlroy, who went around Royal Portrush in his native Northern Ireland with plenty of cheers but only a few roars. McIlroy had a 69 but lost a lot of ground because of Scheffler, Fitzpatrick and Harman.

McIlroy started the second round just three shots behind. He goes into the weekend seven shots behind the top-ranked player in the world.

“I’ve been somewhat close to my best over the first two days in little bits here and there,” McIlroy said. “I’m going to need to have it all under control and have it sort of all firing over the weekend to make a run.”

Fitzpatrick was at his lowest point just four months ago when he changed his caddie and coach and began pulling himself up. And now he takes that into the weekend against Scheffler.

“He’s going to have the expectation to go out and dominate. He’s an exceptional player. He’s world No. 1, and we’re seeing Tiger-like stuff,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament. For me, obviously, I hope I’m going to have some more home support than him, but it’s an exciting position for me to be in given where I was earlier this year.”

Scheffler spent 20 minutes after his round going over video with Shane Lowry over Lowry’s ball moving a fraction in the rough on No. 12, which led to a two-shot penalty. Lowry wasn’t sure he caused his ball to move, but he said he would rather take the penalty to avoid even the slightest suspicion.

His attention turned to Scheffler when someone suggested he had been on the fringes of contention before the penalty.

“Eight shots behind Scottie Scheffler isn’t in the fringes of contention the way he’s playing,” Lowry said.

Scheffler was sharp from the start. He hit eight of the 14 fairways — compared with three in the opening round — though his misses never left him too badly out of position. But he is seeing the breaks on smoother Portrush greens, and he looks confident as ever.

None of his eight birdies were closer than 7 feet. Five of them were in the 10-foot range and then he threw in a 35-foot birdie on the sixth. His lone bogey came on a drive into deep grass on the 11th that kept him from reaching the green.

Harman was called the “Butcher of Hoylake” when he won the claret jug at Royal Liverpool two years ago because the British press was fascinated by the Georgia native’s love for hunting. Now it’s about his golf, and it was superb.

Harman played bogey-free, only once having to stress for par as Royal Portrush allowed for some good scoring in surprisingly good weather in the morning.

“They’re very different golf courses, but the golf is similar,” Harman said. “You’ve got to be able to flight your golf ball. You’ve got to know how far everything’s going. Then you can’t get frustrated. You’re going to end up in funny spots where it doesn’t seem fair, and you just have to kind of outlast that stuff.”

The group at 5-under 137 included Harris English (70), Harman’s former teammate at Georgia; Tyrrell Hatton of England (69) and Chris Gotterup (65), who wasn’t even planning to be at Royal Portrush until winning the Scottish Open last week.

Also still around is Bryson DeChambeau, who made a 13-shot improvement from the first round with a 65. Still, he was 11 shots behind.

McIlroy wasn’t at his best in the opening round and was pleased to be only three behind. Now he has a real mountain to climb. But at least he’s still playing, unlike in 2019 at Royal Portrush when he shot 79 and then had a terrific rally only to miss the cut by one shot.

“I didn’t have this opportunity six years ago, so to play an extra two days in this atmosphere in front of these crowds, I’m very excited for that,” McIlroy said. “I feel like my game’s definitely good enough to make a run.”

That was before Scheffler began to run away from so many except a small collection of challengers. But this is links golf. And this is the Emerald Isle, where the weather seems to have a mind of its own.

Still, Scheffler has gone 10 tournaments without finishing out of the top 10 and would appear to present a challenge every bit as daunting as Royal Portrush.


CONMEBOL eases Copa America warm-up rules after Brazil’s complaints

CONMEBOL eases Copa America warm-up rules after Brazil’s complaints
Updated 18 July 2025
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CONMEBOL eases Copa America warm-up rules after Brazil’s complaints

CONMEBOL eases Copa America warm-up rules after Brazil’s complaints
  • “This decision was made after a detailed assessment of the condition,” said CONMEBOL
  • Tournament organizers had barred outfield players from warming up on the pitch

BUENOS AIRES: CONMEBOL announced on Friday that it has adjusted pre-match procedures at the Women’s Copa America in Ecuador to allow players to warm up on the pitch, following criticism from Brazilian players and coaching staff.

“From now on, in addition to goalkeepers who already had a 15-minute warm-up period on the field, outfield players will also be allowed to warm up on the pitch for the same duration,” the South American soccer governing body told Reuters.

“This decision was made after a detailed assessment of the condition of the playing surfaces at the competition’s stadiums to date, and after taking into account feedback from some participating teams.”

Tournament organizers had barred outfield players from warming up on the pitch to preserve the playing surface, with each stadium hosting two matches in a day during the group stage.

Brazil captain Marta, midfielder Ary Borges, and head coach Arthur Elias voiced their frustration after their dominant group-stage win over Bolivia, as both teams had been forced to warm-up in a shared room of about 15 square meters that smelled of paint.

They also criticized the restrictions after their tournament opener against Venezuela, saying they were unable to properly assess Kerolin’s fitness, which ultimately led to the Manchester City striker being sidelined.

Defending champions Brazil top Group B with two wins and will face Paraguay on Tuesday.