**Baseball Leaders Remain Silent on Pete Rose’s Death, Reflecting Complex Legacy**

In the wake of Pete Rose's recent passing, the silence from both Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Rob Manfred and Tony Clark, the head of the players' union, has been notable. Despite their usual quick responses to the deaths of other baseball figures, both leaders have refrained from issuing formal statements. This reaction contrasts with the comments they provided earlier this year for figures like Orlando Cepeda and Willie Mays.

Rose, baseball's all-time hits leader, passed away on Monday. While MLB and the players' union acknowledged his death via social media, there have been no formal press releases quoting Manfred or Clark by Tuesday afternoon. This quiet response from both parties highlights the complicated legacy that Rose leaves behind in the sport.

Rob Manfred’s position on Rose has been clear and consistent since taking on the role of commissioner. Along the lines of his predecessors, Bud Selig and Fay Vincent, Manfred has kept Rose on the sport’s permanently ineligible list following Rose's 1989 banishment for betting on baseball games. Interestingly, during Manfred’s tenure, MLB has embraced partnerships with gambling companies, such as naming FanDuel its "official sports betting partner in North America" in March 2023.

Despite this shift towards gambling sponsorships, Manfred has maintained that players and others who influence game outcomes must adhere to stricter rules. In a July 2023 response regarding Rose's ban amid MLB’s gambling ventures, Manfred stressed that gambling rules differ fundamentally for players due to the responsibility and privilege of their positions.

In an attempt to seek forgiveness, Rose sent a letter to Manfred in November 2022. Manfred’s stance remained firm, suggesting that anyone who bets on baseball belongs on the permanently ineligible list. He emphasized that Rose's eligibility for the Hall of Fame is a separate matter, one that should be handled by the Hall’s board.

This consistency extends back to Manfred’s early days as commissioner. In 2015, only months into his role, Manfred received and ultimately rejected Rose's reinstatement application, citing a lack of credible evidence of changed behavior and adherence to the rules that led to Rose's ban.

While Clark, tasked with advocating for players’ interests, has expressed a desire to see Rose reinstated, notably stating this in March 2015, he does not have the authority to impact this decision. Like MLB, the union has also embraced gambling partnerships, making MGM Resorts an official partner in 2022.

The restrained reactions from both Manfred and Clark following Rose's death underscore the enduring complexity surrounding Rose's legacy in baseball.