Pete Rose dies at 83

[slusher]

 

Nicknamed "Charlie Hustle," Rose spent 24 years in Major League Baseball, and he retired as the league’s all-time hits leader, among other things. The Cincinnati native got his start with the Reds in 1963, and he spent the first 16 seasons of his career with the organization. He won a pair of World Series titles in 1975 and 1976, which marked the club’s first championships in 35 years.

Rose then spent a five-year run with the Philadelphia Phillies, and he won his third World Series title with the team in 1980. He then spent half a season with the Montreal Expos in 1984 before returning to Cincinnati that year to wrap up his playing career.

Rose finished with 4,256 hits — the most in MLB history. He’s one of just two players, along with Ty Cobb, to surpass 4,000 hits. Rose also holds MLB records for games played (3,562), plate appearances (15,890) and at-bats (14,053). He won three batting titles and two Gold Glove awards during his career, and he picked up 17 All-Star nods. He was the league’s MVP in 1973, when he held a .338 batting average with 230 hits, five home runs and 64 RBI.

“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 spent seven seasons as the Reds’ manager, including the final few seasons when he was still playing. He won two division titles while in that role and finished with a 412-373 overall record.

Rose’s

[Mike 1017]

He was a thorn in the side of the Cubs for 19 years.

Mike

[Jim N]

Pete Rose was one of the main pieces of the Reds.  I absolutely despised that team growing up, but they were an amazing collection of talent.  Unfortunately for Rose, his gambling habit got in his way and caused his demise with baseball.  Rest in peace Charlie Hustle.  You were one of a kind.

[iamsuperdan]

I was amazed to read that he played ball for 25 years. I can't imagine any of these current professional athletes having a career that lasts well into their 40s or 50s.

[Jim N]

On 10/1/2024 at 4:28 PM, iamsuperdan said:

I was amazed to read that he played ball for 25 years. I can't imagine any of these current professional athletes having a career that lasts well into their 40s or 50s.

Barry Bonds played at a high level into his 40's.  Yes, I know all about the steroids, but he did play that long.  Tom Brady played (albeit football) until he was 47.  There will be a very few guys who can play into their mid to late 40's, but Father Time usually catches up with them long before then.

Pete Rose by the end of his career was a spank hitter.  His base hits were almost always landing in the shallow parts of the outfield.  He no longer had the drive in his swing to give the ball a ride.  Hitters in baseball usually fall into two categories that spell their demise.  They either cannot turn on a fastball anymore or they cannot read the spin of the laces on the breaking balls.  They are finished once the pitchers figure this out.  The pitchers lose a few miles per hour off of their pitches and then the batters can turn on them and drive the balls almost at will.

That is what makes the guys like Pete Rose or Nolan Ryan really special.

[slusher]

I grew up a cub fan in Chicago and I watched many Reds game with my dad and he loved the Reds being from Kentucky and he worked in Cincinnati when there was no work at home before my time.  I can still name several Reds from the big Red machine from memory and I am surprised with my MS.