Pete Rose, the all-time Major League Baseball hit leader who was permanently banned from the sport, passed away Monday afternoon, according to an announcement by the Cincinnati Reds. He was 83.
Details about Rose’s passing have not yet been revealed, though his death was confirmed by the Clark County, Nevada, medical examiner and reported by ABC News.
Known as “Charlie Hustle,” Rose enjoyed a 24-year career in Major League Baseball, finishing as the league’s all-time hits leader. A Cincinnati native, he began his career with the Reds in 1963 and spent his first 16 seasons with the team. He led the Reds to two World Series championships in 1975 and 1976, the team’s first titles in 35 years.
Rose then played for the Philadelphia Phillies for five seasons, securing a third World Series win in 1980. In 1984, after a short tenure with the Montreal Expos, he returned to Cincinnati to conclude his playing career.
Rose amassed 4,256 hits, the most in MLB history, becoming one of only two players, along with Ty Cobb, to surpass 4,000 hits. He also holds records for the most games played (3,562), plate appearances (15,890), and at-bats (14,053). Over the course of his career, Rose won three batting titles, earned two Gold Gloves, and was named to 17 All-Star teams. In 1973, Rose was named league MVP with a .338 batting average, 230 hits, five home runs, and 64 RBIs.
“I am the winningest athlete in team sport history,” Rose told the Cincinnati Enquirer in 2018. “To me, my biggest record is the number of winning games I played in. And that’s also a testament to all the great teammates I played with.”
Rose also served as the Reds’ manager for seven seasons, including the final ones of his playing career. During his tenure as manager, he led the team to two division titles and finished with a record of 412-373.
Despite his achievements, Rose’s career ended in scandal. In 1989, he was banned from baseball for life due to gambling on games, including betting on his own team while managing the Reds.
Following his ban, Rose was convicted of tax evasion and spent several months in prison. After years of denial, Rose admitted in a 2004 autobiography that he had bet on baseball.
The lifetime ban has kept Rose out of the Baseball Hall of Fame, sparking continuous debate as new MLB commissioners came and went. Rose made a final attempt for reinstatement in 2015, but it was denied by current commissioner Rob Manfred. Reflecting on his career, Rose acknowledged his mistake.
“There’s only one thing I would change if I had to live it all over again … I would obviously turn my life around and not bet on baseball,” Rose said in an interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Having said that, I feel like I’ve been a pretty good citizen.
“You never read about me being in a bar after hours, beating up my wife, or getting into a fight with a fan and I was as gracious to everyone as I could be.”
{Matzav.com}