Baseball legend Pete Rose passed away. He was 83. TMZ reported Rose passed away earlier in the day on September 30.
Pete Rose is a former professional baseball player and manager, widely regarded as one of the greatest hitters in MLB history. Born on April 14, 1941, in Cincinnati, Ohio, he spent most of his career with the Cincinnati Reds, playing as a switch hitter. Rose holds the all-time MLB record for hits with 4,256, earning him the nickname “Charlie Hustle” for his passionate and aggressive style of play.
Rose’s career spanned from 1963 to 1986, during which he played multiple positions, including first baseman, outfielder, and third baseman. He won three World Series titles, two Gold Gloves, and was selected to 17 All-Star Games.
However, Rose’s legacy is complicated by his lifetime ban from baseball. In 1989, he was banned for betting on games, including ones involving his own team while managing the Reds. This ban has kept him out of the Baseball Hall of Fame, despite his on-field achievements. He has since admitted to betting on baseball but continues to petition for reinstatement.
There has never been another player like Pete Rose in my lifetime. This is the way I will remember him, playing the game harder than anyone else ever did.
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) September 30, 2024
Few athletes will leave behind more complicated legacies. Today isn’t the day for that.
Today, let’s just say thanks to… pic.twitter.com/pXgnSZXUZg
Rose’s career stats and records are widely celebrated, but his association with gambling remains a significant controversy in the history of baseball.