Sports
Rob Manfred Can’t Let Pete Rose Into the Hall of Fame — Even Now
Pete Rose did more harm to Major League Baseball than he did good, no matter what any of his mistaken supporters might have you believe, which is why Commissioner Rob Manfred never removed him from the permanently ineligible list while Rose was alive.
Manfred cannot, should not and probably will not absolve Rose of his sins now. No matter — Manfred appears to be seeking a compromise that could lead to Rose posthumously getting what he wanted all along: induction into baseball’s Hall of Fame.
Not long after he died, Rose’s family made a formal appeal to Manfred — which has since been backed informally by President Donald Trump — for Rose to be removed from the permanently ineligible list. The act of crossing Rose off the list wouldn’t itself put him into the Hall of Fame any more than a presidential pardon would, but Manfred could find a way to work around Rose’s ban and get the Cooperstown gears turning for him.
Speaking Monday at a meeting of Associated Press Sports Editors, Manfred said he “will issue a ruling” and not a “pocket veto” on the matter of Rose, though he didn’t give many details. It’s difficult to envision that Manfred, who is nothing if not a lawyer, would negate precedent and reverse decades of rulings by the commissioner’s office against Rose, who was placed on the permanently ineligible list in 1989.
MLB banned Rose — a 17-time All-Star and the league’s all-time leader in base hits — because it found he gambled on Cincinnati Reds games in which he played and managed. Rose put his own financial interests ahead of winning games, violating the No. 1 rule for ballplayers and, as a result, cast doubt on the authenticity of his entire career. Belying the hype of his reputation, Rose wasn’t a leader or even a good teammate. He was out for himself. Fans called him “Charlie Hustle” because of his style of play, not realizing they were the ones being hustled.
The damage Rose did hasn’t been undone, and the precedent he set — especially today, when MLB dubiously has partnered with gambling enterprises — is not one to be emulated, much less celebrated. The last thing Major League Baseball should do is throw Rose a party, no matter that he can’t come.
Rose, who died Sept. 30 at age 83, also never atoned for his transgressions and false denials, because if he had taken the opportunities MLB offered, the commissioner’s office would have reinstated him at some point before now. Rose never lacked for having choices to make.
On multiple occasions since 2015, after he became commissioner, Manfred denied Rose’s appeals. The most recent denial came in November 2022, after Rose sent a letter to Manfred begging to be reinstated. TMZ reprinted it.
Manfred replied with clarity: “I believe that when you bet on baseball, from Major League Baseball’s perspective, you belong on the permanently ineligible list.”
Manfred meant what he said this past June, when he placed someone else on the ineligible list for violating MLB’s gambling rules. He hit San Diego Padres infielder/outfielder Tucupita Marcano with a lifetime ban — same as Rose. Four other players received yearlong suspensions for gambling-related offenses. Yes, Manfred wants the league to generate income from sanctioned MLB gambling that exploits fans. No, he doesn’t want its players to eat the sport alive by also betting on games.
Another thing Manfred clearly doesn’t want: to be known as the lone individual keeping Rose out of the Hall of Fame. He would much rather make someone else appear responsible for that. Here’s what else Manfred said in 2022, when he previously denied Rose:
“I made it clear that I didn’t think that the function of that baseball list was the same as the eligibility criteria for the Hall of Fame,” Manfred said. “That remains my position. I think it’s a conversation that really belongs in the Hall of Fame board. I’m on that board, and it’s just not appropriate for me to get in front of that conversation.”
The Hall’s board of directors made a rule in 1991 — just before Rose’s name was to appear on a BBWAA ballot for the first time — that anyone appearing on MLB’s permanently ineligible list also would be ineligible for election to the Hall of Fame. The Hall made the rule for Rose himself, although it also retroactively applied to Joe Jackson, the seven other Black Sox and anyone else on the permanently ineligible list.
So why now, after 33-plus years, would the Hall’s board be interested in repealing the rule? Just because Rose has died? Shoeless Joe died in 1951.
More likely, it has to do with Manfred being interested in changing the Hall’s rule because he’s been pestered by Rose’s family and the president. Because of how the rules work, Manfred’s authority as commissioner is, right now, what won’t allow the Hall of Fame to even consider Rose. But if Manfred — as one of 17 individuals on the Hall’s board — could persuade the body to repeal its own rule forbidding banned players, it would deflect heat off himself.
If banned players became eligible, the next step for Rose would be having his name nominated by the Hall’s Historical Overview Committee, a group selected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and approved by the Hall’s board. If he passes that hurdle, Rose would gain a spot on the 16-member Classic Baseball Era committee that meets in December 2027. Twelve votes in his favor and, by 2028, Rose finally would have his day in Cooperstown.
None of it is a sure thing, but a lot of fans would be happy if it happened. Polling on Rose typically tends to be in his favor. Is it because of fans who just don’t care that Rose broke the rules and hurt the integrity of the game? Or they don’t think whatever he did was that bad? That he “only bet on the Reds to win,” which isn’t necessarily true? Or that gambling isn’t worse than players who took steroids? It’s one or more of those things.
Manfred removing Rose from the permanently ineligible list would give tacit approval to anyone else to bet on baseball with impunity. But if Manfred could get the Hall of Fame to do its own dirty work — almost by daring them to come out and actually say, “Pete Rose, we don’t want you” — it would give him historical cover.
Manfred doesn’t even need something that bold. If he could show that the board just considered changing its rule, Manfred could turn to Rose’s family, the president and unhappy fans and say: “Hey, it’s not up to me. I did my best.”
It’s reasonable to say the Hall of Fame had an easy out with Rose all of these years because of their rule against banned players. Then again — why shouldn’t the Hall of Fame have a rule against banned players? They did horrible things to hurt the game. Or else why did MLB ban them?
Perhaps worse (somehow), Rose’s deceit corrupted the game as he pretended to be someone almost holy. And you know who has been hurt most of all by Rose’s illicit activity? The Hall of Fame. Rose totally screwed them over — in loss of foot traffic alone.
Manfred did the polite thing by meeting with Rose’s daughter. He did it again by meeting at the White House with the president because he wanted to talk about Rose and whatever else. It would be quite a political maneuver for Manfred to navigate all of that, keep Pete Rose banned where he belongs, and make himself look like the good guy.
That’s the best-case scenario right now for the good of Major League Baseball. It’s funny how Manfred had no issues saying no to Rose when he was alive. But now, all of a sudden, when Rose’s family and President Trump make what amount to repeat requests, Manfred loses his supply of fortitude.
It would be a shame if this ends with Rose getting a plaque in Cooperstown. His story is already told in the museum part of the building. It’s not like he’s excluded from history. He couldn’t possibly be.
But if this ends with the Hall of Fame telling Rose to go away forever, Manfred’s ploy might be worth it.
Sports
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images LAS VEGAS — Entering her eighth season in the WNBA, Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson is poised to build on what was arguably the most dominant individual campaign in league history.
Wilson joined Cynthia Cooper (1997) as the second player in league history to win a unanimous MVP award and joined an exclusive club as the fourth player to win the award three times. She averaged 26.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season and set the all-time single-season mark for points (1,021) and rebounds (451).
Unfortunately for Las Vegas, injuries and fatigue from their two previous championship runs mounted and resulted in the team’s worst regular-season record (27-13) since 2019. The Aces’ three-peat hopes ended with a 76-62 home loss to the New York Liberty to drop their semifinal series 3-1.
It’s that loss on her home floor that served as Wilson’s motivation this offseason.
“Losing sucks, especially on your home court,” Wilson said “It still kind of burns a little bit, but I’ve used that as fuel to help my teammates understand how hard it is to win in this league. Yes, we can celebrate the two championships. They were great. But for us to move forward, we have to understand how hard this league is and value the basketball and the little things. I think that’s what we lacked last season, so we’re going to make sure that we can show up better than we did.”
While the Aces appeared to be on top of the world heading into their potential three-peat campaign in 2024, the reality inside the locker room was that both the internal and external pressure to win another championship had become suffocating. A common theme across media day was the fact that the team feels less pressure entering the 2025 season, a sentiment Wilson shared as the unquestioned leader of the team.
“(Three-peat talks) obviously impacted us, because it’s like, y’all think we don’t want to win? We’re trying as well,” Wilson said.
“I would definitely say it’s refreshing this year. I feel like this is one of my only years where it feels like there’s no weight. There’s a lot of weight to be defending champs. It’s a lot of weight to be trying to win one. We don’t have that. We actually have a clean slate to really dial into getting back to who we are culturally, like, in our system and everything.”
Leading the Aces back to the top of the mountain for a third time in four years is one of a few historically significant achievements Wilson can collect this upcoming season. Wilson could also become the first four-time MVP in league history, though the meaning of that is something she hasn’t quite allowed herself to ponder yet.
“I haven’t given it much thought, but it would be a blessing to have my name in that conversation,” Wilson said. “Every year, I try to be better than I was the year before just to give myself a chance in this league. Because the league is getting better. We’re growing. At this point, you just want to maintain your stamina. You want to maintain your mental, all of that, because the season gets hard. I can’t think too much about that just yet, but I’m definitely going to try to be better than I was last year.”
As Aces coach Becky Hammon put it, fans can expect to see an even better version of Wilson this season.
“What I see is, she went and got better,” Hammon said. “Which is hard to do when you’re already the best, but it speaks to her work ethic, her desire and her mindset this whole offseason. We talked a lot this offseason. She’s a busy lady, but I can tell you what she always does is her workouts. She’s always getting her workouts in. That comes first and foremost, she never gets her priorities jumbled up.”
When Hammon was asked what a player like Wilson would possibly need to improve after last season’s campaign, the coach did not feel like revealing too much.
“There was (something for Wilson to improve), and she did,” Hammon said. “I’m not going to tell you what it was. Actually, there were two things.”
–Will Despart, Field Level Media
Sports
Jacob Wilson joins Aaron Judge in spotlight for Yankees-A's series
May 5, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) throws to first for an out against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images The top two hitters in the majors square off Friday night when the New York Yankees face the Athletics in the opener of a three-game series in Sacramento, Calif.
It’s no surprise to see Yankees star Aaron Judge off to a superb start after winning American League MVP honors last season. He has a major league-best .400 batting average and entered Thursday’s play tied for the big-league lead with 12 homers and 34 RBIs.
But who had Athletics rookie Jacob Wilson ranking second in the majors at .357 as the season nears the quarter pole? Wilson has played in just 64 career games and quickly has solidified himself as a future All-Star, perhaps even this season.
Sharing the marquee board with Judge seems quite surreal for the 23-year-old shortstop who was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2023 draft.
“It’s a great feeling, for sure,” Wilson said of his name being mentioned with Judge. “Obviously, everybody has seen what he is doing. It’s pretty incredible watching him do his thing on a daily basis. To be up there with him is pretty cool for me.
“I’m excited to play against him this week and see what it looks like in person.”
Wilson had his first career four-hit game during Wednesday’s 6-5 home loss against the Seattle Mariners and has six multi-hit outings in the past eight games. He went 8-for-14 with one game-winning hit in the three-game series against the Mariners and is 16-for-34 (.471) with four walks during the eight-game stretch.
The hot hitting led to Athletics manager Mark Kotsay moving Wilson to the leadoff spot on Wednesday. Kotsay indicated Wilson may be sticking at the top of the lineup.
“I think you’ll see Jacob up there now,” Kotsay said. “Jacob’s earned it. … Jacob has shown enough over the last week. He’s walking and taking pitches, and, obviously, swinging the bat really well.”
Judge arrives in Sacramento in the midst of a four-game funk in which he is 2-for-15.
The two-time MVP just went 1-for-10 in a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres, but the one hit was a homer.
Judge grew up 50 miles south of Sacramento in Linden and starred for Linden High but wasn’t highly sought by major league teams. The then-Oakland Athletics selected him in the 31st round in 2010.
Judge instead went the college route and starred for Fresno State. He was chosen in the first round (32nd overall) by the Yankees in the 2013 draft.
Trent Grisham was one of the heroes of Wednesday’s 4-3, 10-inning win over the Padres. He hit a tying two-run pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning.
Grisham had two homers and five RBIs in the series against the Padres — one of his former teams — and already has 10 long balls in just 89 at-bats. He hit just nine last season in 179 at-bats.
“I’m having fun with the guys, I would say that more than anything,” Grisham said. “The clubhouse is really good in here, led by Cap (Judge). So, I would say the guys have been the most enjoyable part.”
New York is starting right-hander Will Warren (1-2, 5.65 ERA) in Friday’s series opener. Right-hander Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 4.71) will be on the mound for the Athletics.
Warren, 25, struck out a career-high eight in 4 2/3 innings while losing to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. He gave up five runs (three earned) and seven hits. Warren hasn’t previously faced the Athletics.
Bido, 29, received a no-decision against the Miami Marlins last Saturday when he gave up four runs on three hits over five innings. He is winless (0-1) over his last three starts. Bido hasn’t faced the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao coming out of retirement
Aug 21, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada; Manny Pacquiao (right) fights Yordenis Ugas in a world welterweight championship bout at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao plans to end his retirement and return to the ring on July 19 against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas, ESPN reported Thursday.
Pacquiao, 46, will be fighting for the first time since losing a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas in 2021.
The fight will be for Barrios’ WBC welterweight championship belt. Barrios turns 30 on May 18.
Pacquiao is an eight-division champion who is slated to be inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame in June. He reportedly will formally announce his return to boxing next week. The report stated that Pacquiao has been cleared to compete by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
In recent years, Pacquiao has been focusing on his political career in the Philippines.
The boxer nicknamed “PacMan” has a 62-8-2 record with 39 knockouts during his career. He won his first major title — the WBC flyweight crown — at age 19 in 1998.
Pacquiao was 54-3-2 prior to turning 33 and 8-5 afterward. One of those losses was to Floyd Mayweather Jr. via unanimous decision in 2015, a bout that reportedly drew nearly $400 million in pay-per-view sales.
Barrios (29-2-1, 18 knockouts) fought to a 12-round, split-decision draw against Abel Ramos last November. This will be his third defense since winning the title by beating Ugas in 2023.
–Field Level Media
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
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