NEW YORK — Pete Rose, the all-time leader in career hits and a once-revered baseball icon whose legacy was marred by his gambling on the sport he cherished, has passed away at the age of 83.
Stephanie Wheatley, a spokesperson for Clark County, Nevada, confirmed on behalf of the medical examiner that Rose died on Monday. He was discovered by a family member, and while the coroner will investigate to determine the cause and manner of death, there are no indications of foul play, according to ABC News. Just over the weekend, Rose had participated in an autograph event in Nashville alongside former teammates Tony Perez, George Foster, and Dave Concepcion.
For fans who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s, no player was more thrilling than the Cincinnati Reds’ No. 14, “Charlie Hustle.” Known for his shaggy hair, distinctive nose, and strong forearms, Rose was a throwback to baseball’s early days during the era of artificial turf, divisional play, and free agency. Millions remember him for his intense focus at the plate, sprinting to first base even after a walk, and diving headfirst into bases.
Major League Baseball, which banned him in 1989, issued a brief statement offering condolences and acknowledging his “greatness, grit, and determination on the field.” Bob Castellini, the Reds’ principal owner, described Rose as “one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen” and emphasized the importance of remembering his accomplishments.
A 17-time All-Star, Rose played on three World Series-winning teams. He was the National League MVP in 1973 and the World Series MVP in 1975. He holds the major league records for games played (3,562) and plate appearances (15,890), as well as the National League record for the longest hitting streak (44 games). As the leadoff hitter for the Reds’ championship teams in 1975 and 1976, he played alongside Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, and Joe Morgan.
“My heart is sad,” Bench said in a statement. “I loved you, Peter Edward. You made all of us better. No one can replace you.”
The Reds expressed their sorrow on social media, stating they are “heartbroken” to learn of Rose’s passing.
The Reds are heartbroken to learn of the passing of baseball legend Pete Rose. pic.twitter.com/zOlU9NreWR
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 30, 2024
Rose’s most significant achievement was his 4,256 hits, surpassing his hero Ty Cobb’s 4,191, a testament to his excellence despite the controversies that followed. Achieving such a total would require averaging 200 hits for 20 years. Rose’s success was due to his consistency and longevity. Over 24 seasons, mostly with the Reds, he had 200 or more hits in 10 seasons and over 180 hits in four others, maintaining a .303 career batting average while playing multiple positions.
“Every summer, three things are going to happen,” Rose famously said. “The grass is going to get green, the weather is going to get hot, and Pete Rose is going to get 200 hits and bat .300.”
Rose reached 1,000 hits in 1968, 2,000 in 1973, and 3,000 in 1978. He moved into second place, ahead of Hank Aaron, with his 3,772nd hit in 1982. His 4,000th hit came off the Phillies’ Jerry Koosman in 1984, exactly 21 years after his first hit. He tied Cobb on September 8, 1985, and surpassed him three days later in Cincinnati, with his mother and son, Pete Jr., in attendance.
At 44, Rose was the team’s player-manager. Batting left-handed against the Padres’ Eric Show, he hit a clean single to left field, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd of over 47,000. The game paused for a celebration, and Rose received the ball and first-base bag, openly weeping on the shoulder of first base coach Tommy Helms. He told Pete Jr., “I love you, and I hope you pass me.”
He reflected on his late father, a star athlete who encouraged him to play sports, and on Cobb, whom he admired so much that he named another son Tyler.
Baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth, watching from New York, declared that Rose had “reserved a prominent spot in Cooperstown.” After the game, President Ronald Reagan called to congratulate him, saying, “Your reputation and legacy are secure.”
However, four years later, Rose’s career took a dramatic turn.
On March 20, 1989, Ueberroth announced a “full inquiry into serious allegations” about Rose’s gambling activities. Reports indicated that Rose had been placing bets on baseball games, including those involving the Reds, through a network of bookies and associates.
Despite Rose’s denials, the investigation revealed extensive betting activity on professional baseball, particularly Reds games, during the 1985-1987 seasons. Betting on baseball had been a cardinal sin since the 1919 Black Sox scandal. In August 1989, Giamatti announced Rose’s lifetime ban from baseball, a decision that rendered him ineligible for the Hall of Fame. Rose initially downplayed the news, maintaining he never bet on baseball and hoped for reinstatement.
In his 2004 autobiography, Rose admitted to betting on baseball, including Reds games, but insisted he never bet against his team.
“I don’t think betting is morally wrong,” Rose wrote in his 2019 memoir “Play Hungry.” “There are legal ways, and there are illegal ways, and betting on baseball the way I did was against the rules of baseball.”
Despite his admission, Rose was never inducted into the Hall of Fame during his lifetime, though he received some votes in 1992. His status remains debated, with former President Donald Trump advocating for his posthumous induction.
“The GREAT Pete Rose just died,” Trump posted on social media. “He was one of the most magnificent baseball players ever. He paid the price! Major League Baseball should have allowed him into the Hall of Fame many years ago. Do it now, before his funeral!”
After the ban, Rose was convicted of tax evasion and served time in prison. In 2017, a woman alleged in court documents that she had a sexual relationship with Rose in the 1970s, starting before she turned 16. Rose acknowledged the relationship but believed it began when she was 16, the legal age of consent in Ohio.
Born in Cincinnati, Rose grew up in a working-class neighborhood. His father, Harry Francis Rose, taught him to be a switch-hitter. Rose honed his skills with a broom handle and a rubber ball, thrown by his younger brother, Dave.
After graduating high school in 1960, Rose quickly joined the Reds’ minor league system. By 1962, he was promoted to level A in Macon, Georgia, batting .330 and vowing to replace Reds second baseman Don Blasingame. By midseason, Blasingame was with the Washington Senators, and Rose was a sensation. Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford reportedly dubbed him “Charlie Hustle” after watching him sprint to first on a walk during spring training. Rose hit .273 as a rookie and batted .300 or higher in 14 of the next 15 seasons, leading the league with a .335 average in 1968.
In his post-baseball life, Rose was honored by the Reds, who inducted him into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2016. A bronze sculpture of his iconic slide was unveiled outside Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park the following year.
Though never inducted into Cooperstown, Rose’s career is well-represented at the Baseball Hall of Fame, with items like his helmet from his MVP 1973 season, the bat from his 44-game hitting streak in 1978, and the cleats he wore when he became the all-time hits leader in 1985.
Pete Rose shares tons of baseball knowledge with A-Rod and Frank Thomas. It’s a 6 minute video, but I promise you, it’s the best thing you’ll see about Pete Rose today.#RIPPeteRose pic.twitter.com/dlpBbZ4e1C
— BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history) September 30, 2024