Rob Manfred's Pete Rose reversal leaves Hall of Fame in chaos

It finally happened, Reds fans. ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. revealed on Tuesday that commissioner Rob Manfred removed Pete Rose from Major League Baseball's permanent ineligible list, thus paving the way for The Hit King to finally be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

While many Cincinnati Reds fans will claim that it's too little, too late, others will say that it's better late than never. Rose sadly passed away last fall, and his loss has been felt by the entire Reds community. Strangely enough, the Reds plan to celebrate Pete Rose Day at Great American Ball Park this Wednesday with pregame ceremonies, a video tribute, and Rose's family serving as honorary captains for the game against the Chicago White Sox.

Rose was placed on the permanent ineligible list after allegations of gambling on baseball arose in the late 1980s. In August of 1989, Rose accepted placement on the list, and in 1991, the Baseball Hall of Fame voted to ban players who were on that list; meaning Rose was ineligible to be enshrined in Cooperstown despite a resumé that said otherwise.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's Pete Rose reversal leaves Hall of Fame in chaos

With that hurdle now cleared, Manfred has passed the baton to the voters. Seeing as how Rose retired over 30 years ago, if he's to be elected into the Hall of Fame, it'll have to come by way of the Era (formerly Veterans) Committees. These include the Contemporary and Classic Baseball Eras.

While Rose's time in the big league crossed between both the Classic (before 1980) and Contemporary (after 1980) eras, his greatest achievements came during the period of the Big Red Machine in the 1970s. With that, the earliest that Rose would be eligible to be on the Classic Era ballot would be December of 2027.

There will be debate that rages on for years, and Rose may not even get into the Hall of Fame during the first year that he's eligible. His checked past obviously gives some fans and media members reservations, but his resumé speaks for itself. If inclusion in the Hall of Fame is based solely on merit, then Charlie Hustle belongs in Cooperstown.

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