MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred reinstated Pete Rose, allowing potential Hall of Fame induction, alongside 17 other banned players. This move appears influenced by the gambling industry and political lobbying, notably by President Trump. Critics argue that such actions undermine the integrity of baseball, as exemplified by the historical context of the 1919 World Series fix involving Shoeless Joe Jackson. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding history and integrity, arguing that public perception of innocence can mislead our judgment about past events and key figures like Jackson.
"The reinstatement was an obvious sop to the gambling industry, an MLB partner, and possibly also to President Donald Trump, who lobbied for Rose's future election into the Hall of Fame."
"Understanding history, human nature, mistakes made and the significance of previous cultures is essential to cultivating integrity."
"The story now circulating...is that Jackson was an innocent bystander in the 1919 World Series fix...Claims of his innocence rest on two facts: He hit .375..."
"Whatever else Manfred learned at Harvard Law School, history's lessons failed to make the curriculum."
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