Pete Rose, Baseball’s Banned Hits Leader, Dies at 83

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Pete Rose, Baseball’s Banned Hits Leader, Dies at 83

As I delve into the captivating tale of Pete Rose, a name synonymous with baseball greatness, I find myself awestruck by the sheer magnitude of his accomplishments and the unwavering passion he brought to the game. His life story is a testament to the indomitable spirit that resides within each and every one of us, a spirit that refuses to be tamed or silenced.

Legendary baseball figure Pete Rose, known for holding the record of most career hits, has regrettably passed away at the age of 83. Once revered as a hero in the sport, his dream of being inducted into the Hall of Fame was tarnished when he bet on the game he once symbolized.

Stephanie Wheatley, speaking on behalf of the Clark County Medical Examiner, announced that Rose passed away on Monday. However, the specific cause and manner of his death are still under investigation.

For those who grew up in the 1960s and ’70s, no player was more thrilling than Cincinnati Reds’ No. 14, “Charlie Hustle,” the bold superstar known for his shaggy hair, prominent nose, and muscular arms. In a time when artificial playing surfaces, divisional play, and free agency were emerging, Rose was an embodiment of the old school, a deliberate homage to baseball’s early days. Millions can still vividly remember him poised and scowling at the plate, running full tilt to first base even after getting a walk, or sprinting towards the next base and diving headfirst into the bag.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but marvel at the incredible career of Pete Rose, a 17-time All-Star who graced three World Series-winning teams. In 1973, he was crowned the National League’s Most Valuable Player, and in 1975, he clinched the World Series MVP title. His remarkable records include most games played (3,562) and plate appearances (15,890) across all major leagues, and he holds the NL record for the longest hitting streak (44). As the leadoff hitter for one of baseball’s mightiest lineups during the Reds’ championship seasons of ’75 and ’76, I can’t forget his teammates like Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, and Joe Morgan.

Nevertheless, his hit total of 4,256 never came close to being surpassed, eclipsing Ty Cobb’s record of 4,191 and underscoring his exceptional talent, regardless of the notoriety that trailed him. This number was so remarkable that averaging 200 hits over a span of 20 years would still fall short. Rose’s success was rooted in consistency and longevity. Across 24 seasons, with the exception of six where he played elsewhere, Rose achieved 200 or more hits ten times, and exceeded 180 on four additional occasions. He maintained a batting average of .303 overall, even as he switched positions from second base to outfield to third to first, and he led the league in hits seven times.

Every summer, Rose would often remark, “Three things will occur: the grass will turn green, the temperature will rise, and Pete Rose will achieve 200 hits and maintain a batting average of 0.300.

In 1963, Pete Rose was named Rookie of the Year, but his debut wasn’t promising; he went 0 for 12 with three walks and a hit-by-pitch before securing his initial major league hit – an eighth-inning triple against Bob Friend from Pittsburgh. This significant moment occurred in Cincinnati on April 12, 1963, a day prior to Rose’s 22nd birthday. He achieved 1,000 hits by 1968, reached 2,000 within five years, and hit 3,000 only five years later.

In 1982, he advanced to the second spot, surpassing Hank Aaron, with his 3,772nd hit. His 4,000th hit came against Jerry Koosman of the Phillies in 1984, marking the same day, 21 years after his initial hit. He matched Ty Cobb on September 8, 1985, and overtook him three days later, with Rose’s mother and teenage son, Pete Jr., present at the game in Cincinnati.

In his 44th year, Rose served as both player and manager for the team. During the opening inning against Eric Show from the San Diego Padres, he skillfully hit a 2-1 slider into the left field, securing a clean single. The crowd of over 47,000 spectators erupted in cheers and applause, causing the game to be paused for celebration. Rose was presented with the ball and first base, and he openly wept on the shoulder of his former teammate and first base coach, Tommy Helms. He whispered to Pete Jr., who would later play briefly for the Reds, “I love you, and I hope you surpass me.” He reminisced about his late father, a talented athlete who instilled in him a passion for sports since youth. Additionally, he thought of Cobb, the legendary player from the dead-ball era who he admired so much that he named another son after him.

Observing from New York, Baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth stated that Rose had “secured a notable place in Cooperstown.” Following the match, a 2-0 victory for the Reds where Rose scored both goals, he received a call from President Ronald Reagan on the phone.

Reagan assured him, ‘Your esteemed image and impact will endure,’ he said, ‘For quite some time, it’s unlikely another will occupy the position you currently hold.’

Four years later, he was gone.

On March 20, 1989, Ueberroth (who was later replaced by A. Bartlett Giamatti) disclosed a thorough examination into severe accusations concerning Rose. It was revealed that he had been utilizing a system of bookies, friends, and associates within the gambling circle to wager on baseball games, with some of these bets involving the Reds. Rose asserted his innocence, but the inquiry uncovered evidence suggesting widespread betting activity by Pete Rose related to professional baseball, specifically Cincinnati Reds matches, during the 1985, 1986, and 1987 baseball seasons. The testimonies of witnesses, supporting documents, and phone records pointed towards significant betting activity by Pete Rose in connection with baseball games, particularly those of the Cincinnati Reds.

Gambling on baseball has been considered a grave transgression ever since 1928, when several members of the Chicago White Sox were dismissed for allegedly fixing the 1919 World Series – in favor of the Cincinnati Reds. Rule 21, posted in every professional clubhouse, states that “Any player, umpire, or league official who places a bet on any baseball game where they have a responsibility to perform will be banned permanently.

After the 1919 Series, managers like Leo Durocher of the Dodgers and Denny McLain from the Tigers were among those who faced suspensions due to gambling. Meanwhile, baseball greats Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle were reprimanded for their connections with casinos, despite having retired many years prior. As early as the 1970s, Pete Rose was a cause for concern. It’s said that he never bet against his own team, but betting on the Reds could potentially be used to blackmail him and cast doubt on whether certain managerial decisions were influenced by his personal financial interests.

In August 1989, at a press conference held in New York City, Giamatti made one of the most sorrowful statements in baseball history: “One of our game’s finest players has been involved in several actions that have tarnished the sport, and he must now bear the repercussions of his actions.” Giamatti revealed that Rose had consented to a permanent ban from baseball. This decision, made in 1991, would ultimately prevent Rose from being inducted into the Hall of Fame. In an attempt to minimize the impact of this news, Rose maintained that he had never gambled on baseball and expressed hope for his eventual reinstatement.

Shortly after his announcement, Pete Rose passed away due to a heart attack. Nevertheless, the ban on him was upheld and he didn’t enter the Hall of Fame during his lifetime. However, he did receive 41 votes in 1992, which were required for election being 323. At this time, the Hall officially declared that those banned from the sport could never be inducted. Over the years, Rose’s eligibility was a topic of much discussion. Even Donald Trump, who tweeted in 2015 (a year before he became president), expressed his support for Rose, stating: “I can’t believe Major League Baseball rejected @PeteRose_14 for the Hall of Fame. He’s served his time. This is so absurd – let him in!

In the meantime, his account of events shifted. In a memoir published in November 1989, co-authored with Roger Kahn (author of “The Boys of Summer”), Rose once more asserted his innocence; however, this stance was reversed in 2004. Eager to return, he ultimately sabotaged his prospects. He persisted in visiting casinos, maintaining that he was there for promotional purposes rather than gambling. Despite feeling remorseful and believing his father would have been disappointed, he continued to wager on baseball, though legally.

He expressed in his 2019 published memoir, ‘Play Hungry,’ that he doesn’t view betting as morally wrong, nor does he believe it’s morally wrong to bet on baseball. However, he emphasized that while he participated in such activities, it was against the rules of baseball and should be considered illegal.

The hardship of his disgrace was even more pronounced because it seemed no one else was as passionately dedicated to baseball as Rose was. He could recall specifics from games long past and recite the least commonly known statistics about players from various other teams. Just as tenacious in spring training, he was just as combative during the postseason, engaging in a brawl with Buddy Harrelson of the New York Mets during the 1973 NL playoffs.

In a seemingly insignificant competition, his uncontrollable urge found its most striking expression – the 1970 All-Star Game held in Cincinnati.

Towards the end of the 12th inning, when the score was level at 4, he managed to single with just two outs left. His teammate Billy Grabarkewitz then followed with a single, causing our player to advance to second base. As Jim Hickman came up next and hit a single, our player sprinted past third base and collided violently with the Cleveland Indians’ Ray Fosse at home plate, securing the winning run for his team. This collision left Fosse with a fractured shoulder, an injury he would later say caused him ongoing discomfort for years to come.

In his 2019 memoir, Rose expressed that if he found himself in the same situation today, he wouldn’t hesitate to make the same choice. However, he wishes deeply that Ray hadn’t sustained an injury that affected his career.

Pete abstained from drinking and smoking, yet found other means of indulgence. He was openly financially ambitious, aiming to be the first singles player to earn $100,000 annually. After the 1978 season, he exercised his right to free agency, leaving the Reds for the Phillies, only to return in 1984. His personal life was marked by two failed marriages and a divorce, as well as acknowledging the birth of a child outside wedlock. In 1990, he admitted guilt to charges of filing false tax returns and spent five months behind bars. The prosecutor described his sentencing as a “sad day for those young Americans who idolized Pete Rose.

To start off, it was all about the game for me, growing up as a kid from Cincinnati’s working-class neighborhood. Just like Mickey Mantle, my father, Harry Francis Rose, instilled in me the knack of being a switch hitter. I honed my skills using a broom handle and a rubber ball, tossed to me by my younger brother, Dave.

Pete Rose shared with The Cincinnati Enquirer in 2015 that he would allow his opponent to come as near as desired. The closer he came, the more challenging it became for him to hit successfully. For hours upon end, he’d attempt to strike me out. I wore down that wall through constant attempts,” (paraphrased version)

Growing up, I was fortunate enough to witness countless games at the iconic Crosley Field in Cincinnati alongside my family, the Roses. During these games, my father, the elder Rose, couldn’t help but notice the tireless hustle of St. Louis outfielder Enos Slaughter – whether he was up to bat or patrolling the field, he always gave it his all. Inspired by this relentless drive, my father would often urge me to emulate that same spirit on the field.

Pete Rose completed high school in June 1960. Two days after that, he boarded a flight to Rochester, New York, and then hopped on a bus for a 45-mile journey to Geneva, where the Reds’ minor league team was based. By 1962, he had moved up to level A, in Macon, Georgia. That year, he hit an impressive .330, and promised to surpass Reds second baseman Don Blasingame in 1963, telling a journalist “I plan to keep close on his tail.

By mid-season, Blasingame joined the Washington Senators, while Rose quickly became an extraordinary figure: “Charlie Hustle,” as Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford supposedly nicknamed him, sarcastically, following his swift dash to first after drawing a walk during spring training. As a rookie, Rose managed a batting average of 0.273 and, from 1965 onwards, consistently hit over .300 for 14 out of 15 seasons. His reliability was such that in the “Year of the Pitcher” (1968), he topped the league with a batting average of 0.335, earning one of three batting titles.

Dave Bristol, who coached him in the minors and with the Reds, expressed this back in 1985 to the Los Angeles Times: “He showed potential even in the minor leagues, you could tell. He was destined to break records at something, perhaps not Cobb’s. His determination was evident. He didn’t just hit the ball, he assaulted it. He was like a man intervening in a dogfight. He adored batting and wanted more of it. If you visited his hotel room at night, he’d be practicing swings on the bedpost.

Following the 1969 season, during which the Reds placed third, Bristol was dismissed and replaced by a relatively inexperienced manager, Sparky Anderson who was 36 years old. This marked the emergence of the “Big Red Machine.” Anderson earned the nickname “Captain Hook” due to his tendency to swap out pitchers, but he favored and indulged his batters, appointing Rose as team captain and allowing him to practice separately with Morgan, Bench, and Perez. From 1970 to 1976, the Reds claimed five division championships, four league pennants, and two World Series titles.

Just like any other player, Rose was instrumental in keeping the machine (the team) going, not just on offense. In the beginning of the 1975 season, with the Reds facing difficulties, he consented to shift from left field to third base, allowing power hitter George Foster to take his place. The Reds quickly became invincible, ending the season with a record of 108-54 and sweeping Pittsburgh in the playoffs. In the World Series, one of baseball’s most thrilling, they outlasted the Boston Red Sox over seven games, securing their first championship since 1940. Rose had an impressive batting average of .370, enjoying the game so immensely that during Game 6, won by Boston on Carlton Fisk’s 11th-inning home run, he expressed his admiration for the exciting match to the Red Sox catcher in a previous inning.

After their triumphant World Series win against the Yankees in 1976, the Reds’ performance began to dwindle. However, Pete Rose’s impressive hitting streak persisted. In the year 1978, he managed to bat safely in an astounding 44 consecutive games, coming second only to Joe DiMaggio’s record of 56 games. After moving to the Phillies in 1979, he surpassed Stan Musial as the National League’s all-time hit leader and played a significant role in Philadelphia’s first ever World Series victory in 1980. At the age of 39, Rose maintained a commendable batting average of .282 and scored 95 runs, while also making one of the most iconic defensive plays in World Series history.

In a nail-biting Game 6 against Kansas City, the Royals were behind 4-1 as they entered the ninth inning. With one out and bases loaded versus reliever Tug McGraw, things looked grim for Kansas City. Frank White hit a pop fly to the first base side of home plate. Catcher Bob Boone darted under it, but the ball slipped from his grasp. Pete Rose, running from first base, grabbed the ball for an out. McGraw then struck out Willie Wilson to secure the victory.

In 1983, Rose participated in another World Series game, where he hit a remarkable .313, however, his team, the Philadelphia Phillies, lost to the Baltimore Orioles in just five games. Later in 1984, he signed with the Montreal Expos, but returned to the Reds in August, taking over both playing and managerial roles following the dismissal of Vern Rapp. Upon being asked by reporters, Rose admitted, “I’m certain I’ll make some errors.

Initially, Rose intended to only play as a substitute for the Reds, but the trade rejuvenated him and he went on to bat an impressive .365 for the rest of the season, compared to his previous .259 batting average with Montreal. After the 1986 season, he decided to hang up his playing boots. His final game as a manager took place two days before his suspension on August 21, 1989, resulting in a 6-5 win over the Chicago Cubs. Throughout his career, he managed 412 wins and suffered 373 losses.

After retiring from baseball, he managed to join several prestigious organizations. In 2016, a year prior to the unveiling of a bronze statue depicting his famous slide, the Cincinnati Reds inducted him into their Hall of Fame.

Despite not being enshrined at Cooperstown, Rose’s illustrious career was adequately showcased. Artifacts at the Baseball Hall of Fame, such as his MVP helmet from the 1973 season, the bat he used during his 44-game hitting streak in 1978, and the cleats he donned on the day he surpassed the hits record in 1985, are all on display.

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2024-10-01 03:25