One of my favorite baseball players of all time passed away earlier this week.
Pete Rose, also known as “Charlie Hustle,” died on Monday of hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. He was 83.
He inherited his famous work ethic and hustle from his old man, Harry Rose.
The “Hit King” was primarily a left-handed hitter, but his dad taught him how to switch hit when he was 9 years old. The rest, as they say, is history as Rose ended up with over 3,000 hits from the left side and 1,000 hits from the right side.
I grew up a Cincinnati Reds fan during the 70s and quickly became enamored with the Big Red Machine, which included Major League Baseball (MLB) Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Pérez and Ken Griffey Sr.
From 1970-1979, the Reds dominated, winning six National League West Division titles, four National League pennants and two World Series titles. Cincinnati averaged over 95 wins a season, with a total record of 953 wins and 657 losses.
But Rose, who made 17 All-Star Games, won three World Series and earned an NL MVP award, has never been inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame.
Even though he has passed on, betting on baseball earned him a permanent ban in 1989, not a ‘lifetime’ one.
The 2016 Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer was certainly not denied a spot in the MLB Hall of Fame because of what he did on the field.
His 15,890 plate appearances and 4,256 hits are MLB records and among several in history that might be unbreakable.
To put things in perspective, Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman has the most career hits by an active player with 2,267 hits in 2,032 games. He trails Rose by 1,989 hits (3,562 games).
“It was obviously aimed at Pete Rose, and from that day forward and to today, my position, the position of millions of others is, yeah, we get it, he broke the cardinal rule. He should be banned from baseball under that rule for life,” longtime broadcaster Bob Costas said Tuesday on ESPN’s “Get Up!” morning show. “But somebody got those 4,256 base hits and those three batting championships. Put him in the Hall of Fame, put it at the bottom of his plaque ‘banned from baseball 1989, for life’. It’s part of the record, but he should be in as a player.”
Sadly, he has only himself to blame for his tarnished MLB legacy.
Two years ago, Rose sent a letter to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred saying, “I have apologized many times, both for betting on baseball games while managing the Cincinnati Reds and then for denying that I did.
“I am writing today for three reasons. First, because at my age I want to be 100% sure that you understand how much I mean it when I say that I’m sorry. Second, to ask for your forgiveness. And third, because I still think every day about what it would mean to be considered for the Hall of Fame.”
It’s my belief that if he had not lied again and again about his gambling, which was an addiction for Rose, he’d be in the Hall of Fame.
According to Rose, he never bet against his team, which I believe because of how much he wanted to win.
However, it’s not an excuse. The do not bet on baseball rule is prominently displayed in every MLB clubhouse.
No one loved baseball, or damaged it, as much as Pete Rose. He was banned for life for gambling.
He also had other issues off the field.
But I choose to remember what he did on the field, remembering Pete Rose the player. It’s the first time I ever saw a head-first slide.
Pete Rose will always be baseball’s hit king, but I also loved his passion and love for the game, how hard he played, and his will to win.
“Losing sucks,” Rose said in an interview with Graham Bensinger. “Of all the records I have the proudest record is 1,972 winning games. That’s more winning games than anyone in the history of sports. You play the game to win…if you take losing in stride, you’re never going to be a good professional athlete.”
The famous No. 14 will live in my memories forever.