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Toronto Sun
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Trump's support of Pete Rose among the voices Rob Manfred listened to in ending MLB ban
Published Jun 05, 2025 • 5 minute read FILE - MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks at the SBJ CAA World Congress of Sport, April 22, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. Photo by George Walker IV / AP President Donald Trump's support of Pete Rose was among the factors Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred weighed when he decided last month that permanent bans by the sport ended with death, which allows the career hits leader to be considered for the Hall of Fame. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Manfred announced the new interpretation on May 13, a decision that allows Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson to be considered for a Hall committee vote in December 2027. 'The president was one of a number of voices that was supportive of the idea that this was the right decision,' Manfred said Wednesday during a news conference at an owners meeting. 'Obviously, I have respect for the office and the advice that he gave I paid attention to, but I had a lot of other people that were weighing in on the topic, as well.' Rose and then-Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti agreed to a permanent ban in August 1989 after an investigation commissioned by MLB concluded Rose repeatedly bet on the Reds as a player and manager for the team from 1985-87, a violation of a long-standing MLB rule. The Hall of Fame in 1991 decided people on the permanent banned list were ineligible for consideration. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Those who really think about the reasons that I did it think that it is the right decision, and other people I think largely get confused with whether he's going to be in the Hall of Fame or not and maybe don't think that was so good,' Manfred said. Robot umpires Computer technology to appeal ball/strike calls could be in place for the 2026 regular season. Manfred said use of the Automated Ball-Strike System was likely to be considered by the 11-man competition committee, which includes six management representatives. During a spring training experiment in 288 games, teams were successful on 52.2% of their ball/strike challenges using the Automated Ball-Strike System. 'I do think that we're going to pursue the possibility of change in that process and we'll see what comes out at the end of that,' he said. 'The teams are really positive about ABS. I do have that unscientific system that I use: my email traffic. And my distinct impression is that using ABS in spring training has made people more prone to complain of balls and strike calls via email to me referencing the need for ABS.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. An experiment with a technology system to challenge checked-swing calls started in the Class A Florida State League on May 20. That is not under consideration for MLB use in 2026. 'I think we've got to get over the hump in terms of either doing ABS or not doing it before you'd get into the complication of a separate kind of challenge,' Manfred said. Baseball in 2028 Olympics Baseball is returning to the Olympics in 2028 after being played from 1992 to 2008 and then in 2021. MLB is considering whether to allow big league players to be used at the 2028 Games. It did not allow players on 40-man rosters to participate in the 2021 Olympics and many teams discouraged top eligible prospects from playing. 'We made some progress with LA 2028 in terms of what it could look like,' Manfred said. 'We have some other business partners that we need to talk to about, changes that would need to be made in order to accommodate the Olympics. I think we're going to go forward with that process.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Manfred said the players' union appears to be supportive. Labor and possible salary cap proposal A decision on MLB's bargaining positions with the players' association, including whether to propose a salary cap, will be made after this season. Bargaining is likely to start in the spring of 2026 for a successor to the five-year agreement with the union that ended a 99-day lockout on March 10, 2022. The deal expires on Dec. 1, 2026. An ownership economic study committee was formed in early 2023, sparking speculation about a renewed push for a salary-cap system aimed at decreasing payroll disparity. 'Payroll disparity is such a fact of life among the ownership group that there's not a lot of need for talking about whether we have it or not. Everybody kind of gets it,' Manfred said. 'We understand that it has become a bigger problem for us, but there has not been a lot of conversation about that particular topic.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. When MLB proposed a cap in 1994, players struck for 7 1/2 months in 1994 and '95, leading to the first cancellation of the World Series since 1904. 'Obviously, over the winter we're going to have to decide what is going to be out there from our perspective, but no decisions on that topic so far,' Manfred said. Broadcasting MLB hopes to reach a deal before the All-Star break on a Sunday night national broadcast package and for the Home Run Derby to replace the agreement ESPN said in February it was ending after this season. Manfred said MLB is negotiating with three parties and is weighing traditional broadcasters and streaming services, who may pay more but have a smaller audience. Manfred regrets giving ESPN the right to opt out, which is causing a negotiation for rights lasting three seasons. MLB's contracts with Fox and Turner end after the 2028 season. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'If you're talking about what we're doing for the next three years, I would overweight reach,' Manfred said. 'The larger negotiation we'll have for the post-'28 period and we continue to believe that reach drives our live business.' Tropicana Field repair Tampa Bay hopes to return to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, next season after playing home games this year across the bay at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the New York Yankees' spring training home. The St. Petersburg City Council approved $22.5 million in April to repair the roof, destroyed by Hurricane Milton last Oct. 9. A new roof is being built in Germany and will be shipped to Florida. 'Repair of the stadium is moving along. We remain optimistic that we will be ready either for opening day or very shortly thereafter,' Manfred said. 'Obviously, the big contingency is what happens with hurricane season.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A formal groundbreaking hasn't taken place for the Athletics' planned ballpark to open in 2028, though work is being done at the site and a ceremony could be held this month. 'My understanding is they believe they're going to make opening day '28,' Manfred said. Attendance up slightly from 2024 Attendance averaged 28,081 through Tuesday and 900 dates, up 1.4% from 27,687 through the same point last year, when MLB finished with a 0.9% rise to 29,568 for its highest average since 30,042 in 2017. MLB could finish with an average increase in three straight years not impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic for the first time since 2004-07. Tariffs on baseballs While MLB is not concerned about Trump administration tariffs raising the cost of big league baseballs, which are manufactured in Costa Rica, the impact on minor league balls is a concern. 'The minor league baseball is made in China. That's more of an issue,' Manfred said. NHL Columnists Columnists Columnists Columnists
New York Post
04-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Adam Silver reveals massive change to NBA All-Star Game
The NBA All-Star Game is changing again. Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday on FS1's 'Breakfast Ball' that the 2026 All-Star Game at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles will feature a new format with USA vs. the World. Full details on how things will shake out, though, are to be determined. Advertisement 4 NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaking at the SBJ CAA World Congress of Sport. AP This change comes after the NHL introduced the Four Nations Face-Off in lieu of a traditional All-Star Game this year. Advertisement The first meeting between the United States and Canada drew over 10 million viewers while the finale drew an astonishing 9.3 million on ESPN alone — a hockey record for the network. Silver admitted in March that the NBA's revamped 2025 format, which was a tournament, was 'a miss.' 4 Adam Silver on FS1's 'Breakfast Ball' show. @BrkfstBallOnFS1/X He also took note of the success of the Four Nations and used it as inspiration for reshaping the NBA's All-Star Game. Advertisement 'What better time to feature some form of USA against the World? I'm not exactly sure what the format will be yet,' Silver said. 'I paid a lot of attention to what the NHL did, which was a huge success.' 4 Kevin Durant of Team Shaq and Karl-Anthony Towns of Team Chuck go up for the opening tip off during the 74th NBA All-Star Game as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Sunday, February 16, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NBAE via Getty Images Another interesting part of the new All-Star Game — taking place on Feb. 16, 2026 — is that it will take occur in the middle of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy, which are running from Feb. 6-Feb. 22. NBC, which is getting the NBA TV rights back this coming season, will air both the All-Star Game and the Olympics. Advertisement 'The very day we're on, the lead-in will be Winter Olympic events.' Silver said. 'And then, coming out of the All-Star Game, which will now be in the afternoon instead of the evening, there will be more Olympic events.' 4 Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Team Chuck look on during the 74th NBA All-Star Game as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Sunday, February 16, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NBAE via Getty Images With the new format emerging, it will provide fans with a matchup between the USA's best players against the top ballers from across the globe. Players like Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards and Jayson Tatum could, in theory, match up against the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
New York Post
30-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Rob Manfred calls MLB's decision to reinstate Pete Rose ‘overdue'
Rob Manfred defended his choice to reinstate Pete Rose, 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson and other deceased banned players. Manfred, who made the decision May 13 after removing them from the permanently ineligible list, explained his reasoning behind the reinstatement during a Thursday interview on 'CBS Mornings,' saying that it was 'overdue.' 'I would say three things,' Manfred said. 'No. 1: Our permanently ineligible list is effectively a ban on working in the game. This is a matter of logic. There's no reason to have a person who has passed away still on that list. No. 2: Pete Rose is a part of the history of our game. Advertisement 3 Rob Manfred speaks during a news conference Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. AP 'Every other player, including Shoeless Joe Jackson, has been considered by the Hall of Fame and they've made a decision. I saw no reason to leave Pete Rose out there as one of one, no consideration.' Rose, who died in September, was placed on the MLB's ineligible list in August 1989 due to gambling on baseball as the manager of the Reds. Advertisement Manfred, 66, went into detail about Rose's punishment that was enacted by then-commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti. 3 Pete Ross acknowledges spectators during a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame induction ceremony before a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, July 21, 2018, in Cincinnati. AP 'And then, last, I think what people don't realize is Pete Rose wasn't disciplined by commissioner Giamatti,' Manfred continued. 'He entered a settlement agreement with the league. At the time they entered into that settlement, he went on the permanently ineligible list knowing that the rules allowed the Hall of Fame to consider him. 'Commissioner Giamatti went out, had a press conference the day of the settlement and he was asked about the Hall of Fame and he said this settlement should have nothing to do with the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame should consider Pete Rose under its existing rules. So I see the decision as baseball living up to the deal that they originally made with Pete Rose.' Advertisement Two years after Rose's settlement with the MLB, the Hall of Fame created a rule stating that any player on a banned list would not be eligible to be inducted, with the league's all-time hits leader never appearing on a ballot. 3 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks at the SBJ CAA World Congress of Sport, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. AP Manfred said his decision to reinstate Rose was 'difficult,' citing the emotions from the fans and other individuals around the game. 'Yeah, it's a difficult decision because people are passionate about issues like this,' Manfred said. 'When you come up the side of the business that I came up, living up to your agreements is a really important thing and this was overdue, in my opinion.' Advertisement Following Manfred's decision, chairman of the board of the Hall of Fame Jane Forbes Clark said the formerly ineligible players will be considered by the Historical Overview Committee. The committee is set to create the ballot for the Classic Ball Era Committee to vote on when it next meets in December 2027.
New York Post
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Rob Manfred to rule on posthumous Pete Rose reinstatement after Trump talk
NEW YORK — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said he discussed Pete Rose with President Donald Trump at a meeting two weeks ago and he plans to rule on a request to end the sport's permanent ban of the career hits leader, who died in September. Speaking Monday at a meeting of the Associated Press Sports Editors, Manfred said he and Trump have discussed several issues, including Manfred's concerns over how Trump's immigration policies could impact players from Cuba, Venezuela and other foreign countries. Manfred is considering a petition to have Rose posthumously removed from MLB's permanently ineligible list. The petition was filed in January by Jeffrey Lenkov, a Southern California lawyer who represented Rose prior to the 17-time All-Star's death at age 83. 4 A petition to reinstate Pete Rose from MLB's ineligible list is being considered by commissioner Rob Manfred. Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 'I met with President Trump two weeks ago, I guess now, and one of the topics was Pete Rose, but I'm not going beyond that,' Manfred said. 'He's said what he said publicly, I'm not going beyond that in terms of what the back and forth was.' Trump posted on social media Feb. 28 that he plans to issue 'a complete PARDON of Pete Rose.' Trump posted on Truth Social that Rose 'shouldn't have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING.' It's unclear what a presidential pardon might include — Trump did not specifically mention a tax case in which Rose pleaded guilty in 1990 to two counts of filing false tax returns and served a five-month prison sentence. The president said he would sign a pardon for Rose 'over the next few weeks' but has not addressed the matter since. Rose had 4,256 hits and also holds records for games (3,562) and plate appearances (15,890). He was the 1973 National League MVP and played on three World Series winners. An investigation for MLB by lawyer John M. Dowd found Rose placed numerous bets on the Cincinnati Reds to win from 1985-87 while playing for and managing the team. Rose agreed with MLB on a permanent ban in 1989. 4 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks at the SBJ CAA World Congress of Sport. AP 4 Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds watches as Pirates' first baseman John Milner catches his third inning pop-up, Aug. 14, 1978. AP Lenkov is seeking Rose's reinstatement so that he can be considered for the Hall of Fame. Under a rule adopted by the Hall's board of directors in 1991, anyone on the permanently ineligible list can't be considered for election to the Hall. Rose applied for reinstatement in 1997 and met with Commissioner Bud Selig in November 2002, but Selig never ruled on Rose's request. Manfred in 2015 denied Rose's application for reinstatement. Manfred said reinstating Rose now was 'a little more complicated than it might appear on the outside' and did not commit to a timeline except that 'I want to get it done promptly as soon as we get the work done.' 'I'm not going to give this the pocket veto,' he said. 'I will in fact issue a ruling.' 4 President Donald Trump honors the Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles at The White House. Josh Morgan-USA TODAY via Imagn Images Rose's reinstatement doesn't mean he would automatically appear on a Hall of Fame ballot. He would first have to be nominated by the Hall's Historical Overview Committee, which is picked by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and approved by the Hall's board. Manfred is an ex-officio member of that board and says he has been in regular contact with chairman Jane Forbes Clark. 'I mean, believe me, a lot of Hall of Fame dialogue on this one,' Manfred said. If reinstated, Rose potentially would be eligible for consideration to be placed on a ballot to be considered by the 16-member Classic Baseball Era committee in December 2027. Manfred added he doesn't think baseball's current ties to legal sports betting should color views on Rose's case. 'There is and always has been a clear demarcation between what Rob Manfred, ordinary citizen, can do on the one hand, and what someone who has the privilege to play or work in Major League Baseball can do on the other in respect to gambling,' he said. 'The fact that the law changed, and we sell data and/or sponsorships, which is essentially all we do, to sports betting enterprises, I don't think changes that. It's a privilege to play Major League Baseball. As with every privilege, there comes responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is that they not bet on the game.' Manfred did not go into details on his discussion with Trump over foreign-born players other than to say he expressed worry. 'Given the number of foreign-born players we have, we're always concerned about ingress and egress,' Manfred said. 'We have had dialogue with the administration about this topic. And, you know, they're very interested in sports. They understand the unique need to be able to go back and forth, and I'm going to leave it at that.'
Toronto Sun
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Rob Manfred says he discussed Pete Rose's status with Donald Trump and will rule on reinstatement
Published Apr 28, 2025 • 3 minute read MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks at the SBJ CAA World Congress of Sport, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. Photo by George Walker IV / AP NEW YORK — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said he discussed Pete Rose with President Donald Trump at a meeting two weeks ago and he plans to rule on a request to end the sport's permanent ban of the career hits leader, who died in September. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Speaking Monday at a meeting of the Associated Press Sports Editors, Manfred said he and Trump have discussed several issues, including Manfred's concerns over how Trump's immigration policies could impact players from Cuba, Venezuela and other foreign countries. Manfred is considering a petition to have Rose posthumously removed from MLB's permanently ineligible list. The petition was filed in January by Jeffrey Lenkov, a Southern California lawyer who represented Rose prior to the 17-time All-Star's death at age 83. 'I met with President Trump two weeks ago, I guess now, and one of the topics was Pete Rose, but I'm not going beyond that,' Manfred said. 'He's said what he said publicly, I'm not going beyond that in terms of what the back and forth was.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trump posted on social media Feb. 28 that he plans to issue 'a complete PARDON of Pete Rose.' Trump posted on Truth Social that Rose 'shouldn't have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING.' It's unclear what a presidential pardon might include — Trump did not specifically mention a tax case in which Rose pleaded guilty in 1990 to two counts of filing false tax returns and served a five-month prison sentence. The president said he would sign a pardon for Rose 'over the next few weeks' but has not addressed the matter since. Rose had 4,256 hits and also holds records for games (3,562) and plate appearances (15,890). He was the 1973 National League MVP and played on three World Series winners. An investigation for MLB by lawyer John M. Dowd found Rose placed numerous bets on the Cincinnati Reds to win from 1985-87 while playing for and managing the team. Rose agreed with MLB on a permanent ban in 1989. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Lenkov is seeking Rose's reinstatement so that he can be considered for the Hall of Fame. Under a rule adopted by the Hall's board of directors in 1991, anyone on the permanently ineligible list can't be considered for election to the Hall. Rose applied for reinstatement in 1997 and met with Commissioner Bud Selig in November 2002, but Selig never ruled on Rose's request. Manfred in 2015 denied Rose's application for reinstatement. Manfred said reinstating Rose now was 'a little more complicated than it might appear on the outside' and did not commit to a timeline except that 'I want to get it done promptly as soon as we get the work done.' 'I'm not going to give this the pocket veto,' he said. 'I will in fact issue a ruling.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Rose's reinstatement doesn't mean he would automatically appear on a Hall of Fame ballot. He would first have to be nominated by the Hall's Historical Overview Committee, which is picked by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and approved by the Hall's board. Manfred is an ex-officio member of that board and says he has been in regular contact with chairman Jane Forbes Clark. 'I mean, believe me, a lot of Hall of Fame dialogue on this one,' Manfred said. If reinstated, Rose potentially would be eligible for consideration to be placed on a ballot to be considered by the 16-member Classic Baseball Era committee in December 2027. Manfred added he doesn't think baseball's current ties to legal sports betting should color views on Rose's case. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'There is and always has been a clear demarcation between what Rob Manfred, ordinary citizen, can do on the one hand, and what someone who has the privilege to play or work in Major League Baseball can do on the other in respect to gambling,' he said. 'The fact that the law changed, and we sell data and/or sponsorships, which is essentially all we do, to sports betting enterprises, I don't think changes that. It's a privilege to play Major League Baseball. As with every privilege, there comes responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is that they not bet on the game.' Manfred did not go into details on his discussion with Trump over foreign-born players other than to say he expressed worry. 'Given the number of foreign-born players we have, we're always concerned about ingress and egress,' Manfred said. 'We have had dialogue with the administration about this topic. And, you know, they're very interested in sports. They understand the unique need to be able to go back and forth, and I'm going to leave it at that.' Federal Elections Federal Elections News World Editorial Cartoons
