Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum says MLB has come to a decision on reinstatement

Rob Manfred has reportedly come to a decision on whether to reinstate former Chicago White Sox great Shoeless Joe Jackson. Arlene Marcley, curator of the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum in Greenville, S.C., will reveal Jackson's fate on the museum's Facebook page Tuesday, according to Greenville Online.

Shortly after Manfred took office, Marcley organized a petition asking him to consider reinstating the outfielder. Jackson was one of the eight members of the 1919 White Sox who were banned from the game by former commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis after allegedly throwing the World Series.

Jackson was accused of accepting a bribe to throw games, though he was acquitted of those charges by a Chicago court. Despite the acquittal, Jackson remains banned from baseball.

This whole reinstatement situation is a little strange. If Jackson were being reinstated, you would think Major League Baseball would make that announcement. At the same time, the fact that the museum is promoting the announcement makes it look like that's exactly what's going to happen.

Of course, it's possible Jackson won't be reinstated, and the museum is releasing the news in order to get some attention. It's starting to look like that's the case.

If that's what happens, we can't really fault the museum for promoting the story. If they have a letter from Manfred ruling on Jackson's reinstatement, even if it's a negative outcome, that's still significant to them. Plus, a little self promotion in this case is hardly the worst thing.

If Manfred has truly made a decision regarding Jackson's reinstatement, questions about Pete Rose are sure to follow. A decision on Rose is expected by the end of the year, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

While the two cases aren't directly connected, it would be tough to see Rose allowed back in the game if Jackson remains ineligible. Jackson was at least acquitted by a jury, while Rose accepted a lifetime ban and admitted to gambling on baseball. Letting one of them in while the other remains out doesn't make a lot of sense unless Manfred is all-in on the Rose redemption tour.

In Jackson's case, it looks like we'll have our answer Tuesday. Reinstating Jackson would be a major story that could have huge implications regarding how Manfred will approach the Rose decision. If something that big is going to happen, we doubt MLB would allow anyone else to break the news.