In 1921, commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis came to the conclusion that Joseph “Shoeless Joe” Jackson, as well as 7 other players would be permanently banned from MLB due to accepting a $5,000 bribe ($92,000 in today’s money) to throw the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds in 1919. It had been widely speculated that Shoeless Joe did not partake in the scandal. Jackson had 12 hits in the World Series, a record that would stand until 1964, and had a batting average of .375. It was alleged that Jackson admitted to participating but the jury acquitted the 8 players. Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who had just been appointed commissioner in November of 1920, self imposed a lifetime ban of the 8 players, including Jackson and so the Black Sox Scandal would go on to live in infamy.

Fast forward to 1989, Cincinnati Reds player/manager Peter Edward Rose was permanently banned from MLB for gambling on baseball. MLB used betting slips from Rose as evidence dating back to 1985. Did Pete bet against his team and throw games? It’s never really been proven. Does it effect the integrity of the game. Yes. Either way, Pete didn’t exactly do himself any favors with the situation. Pete publicly denied betting on baseball for 15 years. In an ESPN article by Jeff Passan it was stated that commissioner Bud Selig offered Pete an ultimatum.

“In the early 2000s, commissioner Bud Selig offered Rose an opportunity for reinstatement. It came with conditions. He would need to come clean. No more casino appearances, no more gambling. Rose could have had everything he wanted — everything everyone wanted for him. And he passed it up, a self-inflicted wound in a lifetime of them”

Here is some history of players being banned from baseball. Thomas Devyr, Ed Duffy and William Wansley of the New York Mutuals were banned in 1865 for associating with known gamblers. Devyr was reinstated later that year, and Duffy and Wansley were reinstated in 1870. They are known to be the first players banned from baseball, but they were reinstated. The first player to ever be banned for life was George Bechtel of the Louisville Grays. He was banned in 1876 for conspiring with his teammates to intentionally lose a game for $500, equal to almost $3,000 today. Bechtel was never reinstated; he died in 1921.

8 players were banned during the Black Sox Scandal. The conspiracy was that the players conspired to throw the series in spite of their owner, Charles Comiskey. Comiskey was known to having a reputation for underpaying players. The most notable player in the scandal was Shoeless Joe Jackson. Jackson was banned at the age of 32 years old. He finished with 1,772 hits, 54 home runs, 307 doubles and 202 stolen bases. This was during the dead ball era. His career would’ve spanned beyond the dead ball era had he not been banned.

On Tuesday, oddly enough a day in which the Reds start a 3 game series against the Chicago White Sox on May 13, 2025, (513 day if you live in Cincinnati) Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that players who received a lifetime ban and are deceased can be eligible for the Hall of Fame. Will they get in? That will be up to the veterans committee. Rose’s stats speak for themself.

Pete Rose played 24 seasons, for 17 of those season he was an All-Star. He won rookie of the year, an MVP, lead the league in hits 7 times, doubles 5 times, won a gold glove 2 times, won the batting title 3 times, and won the World Series MVP in 1975. His numbers scream Hall of Fame. Rose let a gambling addiction get in the way of that and ultimately paid the price for it. Now with his passing and Manfred’s new rule, we’ll see if Rose, and Shoeless Joe, will be voted in come 2027.

Photo credits; SABR.org, Dayton Daily Newsm,

Follow me on 𝕏 for my live thoughts on the Reds and Reds MiLB. Follow my podcast; The Red Hot Reds podcast on all socials and YouTube. We have some big interviews lined up and we go live every Sunday at 8pm EST to talk about the week that was in Reds baseball.

***Are you interested in sports betting? If so, make sure to use our promo code below where you can get your deposit matched (up to $1000). Use promo code Sportz***

***Have you tried Dubby?? Are you looking for a Pre-Workout??
Our promo code : WeLikeSportz for 10% off!***