In February 1989, MLB tapped former federal prosecutor John Dowd to lead the investigation, producing the Dowd Report and resulting in Pete Rose's lifetime ban announced in August of that year.

New FBI documents show MLB began looking into Rose in 1988, a year before the public probe that culminated in the lifetime ban for betting on baseball.

ESPN notes that many records are heavily redacted, and the released documents come from the FBI’s second release in response to ESPN’s information request.

The FBI materials estimate Rose’s suspected betting and debt at the time ranged from about $300,000 to $400,000, with only limited corroboration of gambling activity.

Rose’s path to Hall of Fame eligibility will begin with a vote by the Classic Era Committee in 2027, which will evaluate his resumes against criteria of integrity, sportsmanship, and character.

The released records also reference Rose’s connections in the 1980s to bookmakers and an IRS investigation, though they do not establish direct mob links within these documents.

A memo indicates the FBI asked MLB to pause the probe to avoid hindering ongoing law enforcement work; MLB subsequently resumed the investigation with FBI assistance.

Commissioner Rob Manfred lifted Rose’s ban in May 2025, eight months after Rose’s death, restoring his eligibility for Hall of Fame consideration.

MLB paused its investigation in 1988 at the request of federal authorities who were reviewing Rose’s finances at the time.