Major League Baseball lifts lifetime ban on Pete Rose and 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson

The commissioner of Major League Baseball has removed Pete Rose, 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson and 15 other deceased players from the sport's permanent ineligibility list.

The move clears the way for Rose, Jackson and others to potentially be voted into the Hall of Fame.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made the decision after the Rose family filed an application to change the policy following Rose's death last year at age 83.

Pete Rose thrilled a generation of baseball fans with his gritty play and yeoman work ethic and then roiled the sport after he was banned for life for betting on baseball.

Rose, known as Charlie Hustle, was baseball's all-time hits leader (4,256), all-time plate appearance leader (15,890) and was an 18-time All-Star. In 1973 he was named MVP and in 1978, he had a hit in 44 consecutive games.

Rose played in 24 big league seasons, mostly with the Cincinnati Reds, his hometown team. The Reds inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 2016 and retired his No. 14 jersey.

Despite Pete Rose's baseball dominance and greatness, he was never inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. because of his lifetime ban for betting on the game.

In announcing the decision, MLB Commissioner Manfred has concluded that MLB's policy shall be that permanent ineligibility ends upon the passing of the disciplined individual.