Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred recently engaged in discussions at the White House with President Donald Trump. Major League Baseball confirmed that Trump, known for his enthusiasm for baseball, has previously welcomed Manfred for discussions on baseball-related matters. This meeting took place on Wednesday and gained attention following a report from The Washington Post.
In related news, a petition was filed by Southern California lawyer Jeffrey Lenkov on January 8 to seek the reinstatement of Pete Rose from baseball’s permanent ineligible list. Rose had agreed to be placed on this list in 1989 after an investigation by lawyer John M. Dowd revealed that he had placed multiple bets on the Cincinnati Reds to win while he was both a player and manager of the team from 1985 to 1987. The ineligible list prevents individuals from being considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Manfred had previously denied a similar reinstatement request by Rose in 2015.
In February, President Trump expressed his intent to pardon Rose, who had pleaded guilty in 1990 to charges of filing false tax returns, resulting in a five-month prison sentence. Rose, a celebrated figure in baseball, boasts a remarkable career with 4,256 hits, earning him the position of career leader. Additionally, he holds major league records for games played and plate appearances, and was named the 1973 National League MVP, contributing to three World Series victories.
