8. Pete Rose Will Be Welcomed Back To The Game And Put On The Hall Of Fame Ballot
This isn't a point about an active person in the 2015 season, but it's relevant because the possible reinstatement of the all-time hit leader Pete Rose is a possibility now that there's new commissioner of baseball named Rob Manfred. Rose has been banned from baseball since 1989 because he bet on baseball. With former commissioner Bud Selig retiring, Rose has applied to go back to the game. At age 74 in a few days, Rose isn't likely going to get a job with any organization. What he wants is to be put on baseball's Hall of Fame ballot for the first time so he can take his place with baseball's greats in Cooperstown, NY. There's a general feeling that if Rose is on the ballot he's going to get voted in because he deserves it based on what he did on the field. There are likely going to be people against him, but the support may be enough that he makes it. Will Rose's appeal lead to his return? I think it will. It's been over 25 years. That's a long enough punishment for what he did especially considering there were known steroid users that either didn't face punishment or were punished for much less. The appeal process will take several months, but it wouldn't be a surprise if there's good news for Rose fans at some point this season.