Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred recently engaged in a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, where they discussed pertinent baseball matters. The encounter, which occurred on Wednesday, was confirmed by MLB, citing President Trump’s longstanding affinity for the sport. This news was initially reported by The Washington Post.

A notable development surrounding this meeting is the petition filed by Jeffrey Lenkov, a lawyer from Southern California, on behalf of Pete Rose, seeking reinstatement from baseball’s permanent ineligible list. Rose voluntarily accepted this ban in 1989 after an investigation revealed his involvement in betting on his team, the Cincinnati Reds, during his time as a player and manager. Individuals on this list are ineligible for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

It is worth mentioning that Manfred had previously denied a similar reinstatement request from Rose in 2015. President Trump has expressed his intention to pardon Rose, who faced legal issues in the past related to tax evasion. Despite these controversies, Rose remains a legendary figure in baseball history, boasting impressive records such as the most career hits and games played, in addition to multiple accolades like All-Star appearances and World Series victories.

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