Legendary Major League Baseball player Pete Rose, who holds numerous records including the all-time hit record, passed away on Monday at the age of 83 in Las Vegas, as confirmed by his former team Cincinnati Reds.
Rose was affectionately known as “Charlie Hustle” for his relentless work ethic and determination. Throughout his illustrious 24-season career, Rose amassed an impressive list of achievements, setting MLB records with 4,256 hits, 15,890 plate appearances, 3,562 games played, and 3,215 singles.His most iconic moment came on September 11, 1985, when he surpassed Ty Cobb’s long-standing hit record with a single off San Diego pitcher Eric Snow in Cincinnati. Rose’s versatility was unmatched, as he was selected to the All-Star team a record 17 times across five different positions.
Rose’s career was adorned with accolades, including three World Series titles (1975 and 1976 with the Reds, 1980 with the Phillies), three batting titles (1968, 1969, 1973), the 1973 National League MVP award, and the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year honor. After brief stints with the Montreal Expos and as a player-manager for the Reds, Rose’s career took a dramatic turn in 1989 when allegations of his gambling on MLB games surfaced.
Despite Rose’s initial denials, an investigation led by attorney John Dowd, appointed by then-MLB Commissioner Bart Giamatti, revealed evidence of Rose’s betting activities during the 1985-1987 seasons, including bets placed on Reds games while he served as the team’s manager. On August 24, 1989, Rose was permanently banned from MLB, a decision that has kept him out of the Baseball Hall of Fame due to the institution’s policy of excluding players on the permanent ban list.
In the years following his ban, Rose sought reinstatement multiple times without success. He eventually admitted to betting on Reds games in 2004, claiming he always bet on his team to win. However, in 2010, on the 25th anniversary of his record-breaking hit, Rose apologized to his former teammates for “disrespecting baseball.”
Despite his off-field controversies, including a five-month prison sentence for tax evasion in 1990-1991, Rose remained a prominent figure in the sports memorabilia circuit and even ventured into professional wrestling from 1998 to 2000. In 2016, the Reds honored Rose by retiring his jersey number, 14.
(With AP inputs)