There were rumblings Monday that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred had made a decision about the possible reinstatement of Shoeless Joe Jackson.
It appeared unlikely the decision would be reversed, and that proved to be true. In a letter sent to Arlene Marcley, the president of the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum in Greenville, S.C., Manfred concludes that "it would not be appropriate for me to re-open the matter."
The letter from the commissioner, dated July 20, was posted on the museum's Facebook page early
Tuesday morning:
Jackson was one of eight members from the 1919 Chicago White Sox team that were banned from baseball by then-commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis for allegedly throwing that year's World Series. Dubbed the "Black Sox Scandal," it remains one of the most infamous events in the long history of the game. There have always been questions about Jackson's involvement though. He was acquitted of the charges by a Chicago court, but that did not change his status in baseball. Jackson died in 1951, but his legacy lives on as one of the game's most compelling figures.
Marcley told the Hall of Very Good she had sent a petition with over 16,000 signatures to Bud Selig a few years back, but never received a response. With Manfred taking over the commissioner's office from Selig, Marcley had hoped that a fresh perspective would help Shoeless Joe's case, especially considering public comments Manfred made about Alex Rodriguez.
It was not be be.
That doesn't mean they're done campaigning to clear Jackson's name. Marcley and the Shoeless Joe Museum are asking fans to make it known to the commissioner that they too believe Jackson should be removed from the league's ineligible list.
Now, about Pete Rose ...
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