Pete Rose has officially petitioned Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred for reinstatement. Manfred said he will consider the request "on its merits."
"I want to make sure I understand all of the details of the Dowd Report and Commissioner [Bart] Giamatti's decision and the agreement that was ultimately reached," Manfred said after a meeting with Los Angeles Dodgers players in Arizona on Monday morning. "I want to hear what Pete has to say, and I'll make a decision once I've done that."
The all-time Major League hits leader played and managed for the Cincinnati Reds. He also played for the Phillies and the Expos. In August 1989 he retired and accepted permanent ineligibility after allegations that he bet on baseball.
Attorney John Dowd investigated.In his reportDowd said, "no evidence was discovered that Rose bet against the Reds." But in a December 2002 interview he said Rose probably bet against the Reds while managing them.
In 1991, the Baseball Hall of Fame voted to ban players who were ineligible from reinstatement.
ESPN also reports, Manfred, who is a member of the Hall of Fame board, said he has had no discussions with the museum about its plans regarding Rose.
"Honestly, I don't think people should read any disposition into what I'm saying about this. I see it as a really simple thing. He's made a request," Manfred said. "Part of my obligations under the major league constitution is to deal with those requests, and I'll deal with it."
Manfred has already told the Reds he will allow Rose to have some involvement in the 2015 All Star Game celebration in Cincinnati, but that role hasn't been defined.
