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Pete Rose in his stint with the Montreal Expos in 1984. Source: https://x.com/baseballinpix/status/1631802886375063555 (May be subject to copyright) |
I was reminded of him, especially playing first base in Philadelphia, when I heard a few days ago that Peter Rose had died.
Pre-history
Pete Rose broke into Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds in 1963, and was National League Rookie of the Year that year. That Cincinnati team, dubbed the “Big Red Machine” would be the dominant team in the National League in the 1970s, and produce a lot of exceptional players including Johnny Bench, Dave Concepcion, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, George Foster and more.
Pete Rose broke into Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds in 1963, and was National League Rookie of the Year that year. That Cincinnati team, dubbed the “Big Red Machine” would be the dominant team in the National League in the 1970s, and produce a lot of exceptional players including Johnny Bench, Dave Concepcion, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, George Foster and more.
They would go on to the World Series four times, losing to Baltimore in 1970 and Oakland in 1972, but defeating Boston in 1975 and the New York Yankees in 1976.
Pete Rose would be World Series Most Valuable Player in 1975; as well as National League Most Valuable Player in 1973; an all-star in 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979; National League batting champion in 1968, 1969 and 1973; and win two Gold Gloves in 1969 and 1970. He also had a 44-game hitting steak in 1978, falling 12 games shy of Joe Dimaggio’s record 56 games.
He joined Philadelphia in 1979, and it was in a Phillies uniform that I first saw him. The Phillies had won the National League East Division in 1976, 1977 and 1978, but could not get past the National League Championship Series. They signed Rose with the hope he would put them over the top. That was not the case, as the Pittsburgh Pirates won the division, outlasting my beloved Montreal Expos, and went on to win the World Series. The Phillies had plummeted to fourth place with a record of 84 wins and 78 losses, although Pete Rose was an all-star.
It was the 1980 season where I saw Pete Rose play for the first time, and a lot more over the next four seasons.
Sitcom mention
It was around that time I saw an episode of “WKRP in Cincinnati”. Radio Station Owner Arthur Carlson was lamenting to his secretary Jennifer Marlowe. He kept saying “Why? Why? Why did he have to go to Philadelphia.”
It was around that time I saw an episode of “WKRP in Cincinnati”. Radio Station Owner Arthur Carlson was lamenting to his secretary Jennifer Marlowe. He kept saying “Why? Why? Why did he have to go to Philadelphia.”
Pete Rose’s influence had even permeated network TV.
Back on top
In 1980, I was still learning about baseball, so I had no idea how great Pete Rose was. The Expos were once again challenging for the National League East Division title, but this time they were battling Rose and the Phillies.
In 1980, I was still learning about baseball, so I had no idea how great Pete Rose was. The Expos were once again challenging for the National League East Division title, but this time they were battling Rose and the Phillies.
I recall the first time the two teams played. Rose was playing first base. After the Phillies recorded the third out, Rose spiked the ball off the ground. Only later did I discover he had been a third baseman but, when he joined the Phillies, they already had all-star Mike Schmidt patrolling the hot corner.
The Phillies would best the Expos by one game to win the National League East, outlast the Houston Astros in the National League Championship Series which went the maximum five games, and defeat the Kansas City Royals in six games to win the World Series.
Rose was an all-star, batting .282, with 185 hits, including one home run, one triple, 42 doubles and 64 runs batted in.
Almost
The 1981 season was interrupted by a players’ strike. When play resumed, the teams who lead the four divisions were named first-half champions. Major League Baseball set the records back to zero, so the four teams leading at the end of the season were named second-half division champions and would play the first-half champions in a best-of five Divisional Series.
The 1981 season was interrupted by a players’ strike. When play resumed, the teams who lead the four divisions were named first-half champions. Major League Baseball set the records back to zero, so the four teams leading at the end of the season were named second-half division champions and would play the first-half champions in a best-of five Divisional Series.
The Phillies won the first half with a record of 34 wins and 21 losses, facing the Montreal Expos in the Divisional Series. The teams went the distance before the Expos won, advancing to the National League Championship Series, which they lost to Los Angeles.
Rose was again an all-star, and won his lone Silver Slugger Award, while batting .325 with 140 hits, including five triples, 18 doubles, and 33 runs batted in.
On the outside looking in
The Phillies finished second in the National League East Division in 1982 with a record of 89 wins and 73 losses, three games back of the St. Louis Cardinals who went on to win the World Series.
The Phillies finished second in the National League East Division in 1982 with a record of 89 wins and 73 losses, three games back of the St. Louis Cardinals who went on to win the World Series.
Rose was named an all-star once more, batting .271, with 172 hits, including three home runs, four triples, 25 doubles, and driving in 54 runs.
Back to the show
Philadelphia rebounded in 1983, winning 90 games and losing 72, to finish six games ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates for the National League East Division title. They defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the best-of-five National League Championship Series in four games, but lost to Baltimore in the World Series four games to one.
Philadelphia rebounded in 1983, winning 90 games and losing 72, to finish six games ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates for the National League East Division title. They defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the best-of-five National League Championship Series in four games, but lost to Baltimore in the World Series four games to one.
Rose batted .245, with 121 hits, including three triples, 14 doubles, and 45 runs batted in.
Heading north
The Phillies released Pete Rose after the 1983 season, and he signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Expos. It really was weird seeing him in an Expos uniform.
The Phillies released Pete Rose after the 1983 season, and he signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Expos. It really was weird seeing him in an Expos uniform.
Rose played 95 games with the Expos, batting .259 with 95 hits including two triples, six doubles, and 23 runs batted in. He also recorded his 4,000th career hit with the Expos
Montreal traded Rose back to the Cincinnati Reds in August. He was immediately named player-manager, and appeared in 26 games, batting .365 with 26 hits, including nine doubles and 11 runs batted in.
His managerial record was 19 wins and 22 losses in 41 games, as the Reds finished fifth place in the National League West Division.
Record breaker
In 1985, Rose’s first full season back with the Reds, he broke Ty Cobb’s all-time hits record, with his 4,192nd hit against San Diego on September 11, 1985. He finished the season batting .264 with 107 hits, including two home runs, two triples, 12 doubles, and 46 runs batted in. He was also named to the final all-star game of his career.
In 1985, Rose’s first full season back with the Reds, he broke Ty Cobb’s all-time hits record, with his 4,192nd hit against San Diego on September 11, 1985. He finished the season batting .264 with 107 hits, including two home runs, two triples, 12 doubles, and 46 runs batted in. He was also named to the final all-star game of his career.
His managerial record was 89 wins and 72 losses, good enough for second place in the National League West Division.
The end
The 1986 season was Pete Rose’s last as a player. He appeared in 72 games, batting .219 with 52 hits, including two triples, eight doubles, and 25 runs batted in. He was dropped from the 40-man roster in November and unofficially retired soon after.
The 1986 season was Pete Rose’s last as a player. He appeared in 72 games, batting .219 with 52 hits, including two triples, eight doubles, and 25 runs batted in. He was dropped from the 40-man roster in November and unofficially retired soon after.
He finished with career totals of 4,256 hits, 160 home runs, 135 triples, 746 doubles, 1,1314 runs batted in, and a batting average of .303. He played in 67 post-season games, including six World Series, batting .321 with five home runs, two triples, 13 doubles, and 22 runs batted in.
His managerial record was 86 wins and 76 losses, good enough for second place in the National League West Division.
This, however, would not be the end of Pete Rose.
Managing success
Rose, who is the last player-manager to date, was exclusively the manager of the Reds in 1987. His managerial record was 84 wins and 78 losses, good enough for second place in the National League West Division.
Rose, who is the last player-manager to date, was exclusively the manager of the Reds in 1987. His managerial record was 84 wins and 78 losses, good enough for second place in the National League West Division.
Demise
The 1988 season was a sign of things to come. The Reds were 11-12, playing the New York Mets, when Rose was suspended for 30 days for bumping an umpire and his behaviour leading up to and after that. When he returned, his managerial record was 64 wins and 47 losses in 111 games, good enough for second place in the National League West Division.
The 1988 season was a sign of things to come. The Reds were 11-12, playing the New York Mets, when Rose was suspended for 30 days for bumping an umpire and his behaviour leading up to and after that. When he returned, his managerial record was 64 wins and 47 losses in 111 games, good enough for second place in the National League West Division.
In February of 1989, Rose was informally questioned on his gambling activities by National League Presidet Bart Giamatti and Commissioner Peter Ueberroth. Ueberroth was retiring and Giamatti was elected his successor, so the matter was deferred to the new commissioner. Three days after Giamatti assumed office, he had legal counsel John Dowd open an investigation into Rose’s gambling activities.
The investigation found Rose bet on 52 Reds’ games in 1987, although there was no evidence he bet against the Reds. Still, the Major League Baseball rule governing the situation made no distinction between betting for or against. Rose denied the allegations, and refused to attend a hearing with Giamatti. He filed a lawsuit, and Giamatti responded.
Ultimately, Rose agreed to a permanent position on Major League Baseball’s ineligible list. He accepted there was a factual reason for the lifetime ban, but in turn Major League Baseball agreed to make no formal finding regarding the allegations. However, according to the rules, Rose could apply for reinstatement after one year.
At the time, the Reds were sitting at 59 wins and 66 losses. With Rose banned for life, Tommy Helms became manager, and the Reds wound up fifth in the National League West with a record of 75 wins and 87 losses.
The time after
Eight days after announcing Rose’s lifetime ban, Bart Giamatti died of a heart attack.
Eight days after announcing Rose’s lifetime ban, Bart Giamatti died of a heart attack.
The next season, 1990, the Reds shocked the baseball world under manager Lou Piniella. After winning the National League West Division and defeating Pittsburgh in the National League Championship Series, the Reds swept the seemingly invincible defending World Series champion Oakland A’s in four games.
Pete Rose continued to apply for reinstatement, including after the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal in 2020, and Major League Baseball’s increasing partnerships with sports betting, but he has had no success.
Pete Rose died on September 30, 2024.
He was 83.
Parting thoughts
To be honest, I never really liked Pete Rose, and at times I had a hard time respecting him. When I first saw him with the Phillies, he was brash and seemed cocky, especially relative to humble teammates such as Mike Schmidt, Manny Trillo, Gary Maddux and Bake McBride.
To be honest, I never really liked Pete Rose, and at times I had a hard time respecting him. When I first saw him with the Phillies, he was brash and seemed cocky, especially relative to humble teammates such as Mike Schmidt, Manny Trillo, Gary Maddux and Bake McBride.
Then I saw how he essentially ended catcher Ray Fosse’s career by running him over at home plate – in the all-star game. It was an exhibition game. What was the point?
When I heard the gambling allegations surface, I was not at all surprised. I thought him acting like he was above the rules was all part of the same attitude he always had. I shed no tears with the lifetime ban.
Yet, he was a great player on the field. He was consistent, hardworking and earned the nickname “Charlie Hustle”. Beating Ty Cobb’s career hits record is still an amazing feat because it takes longevity and sustained success. Rose was also an excellent fielder.
His numbers and career warrant a place in the Hall of Fame.
His behaviour is what excludes him. Yet, there are two things that really bother me. One is that, even at the time, back in 1989, I said to my friend, a longtime Reds fan, that there are players in the Hall of Fame who have done much worse. There has been domestic abuse, sexual assault, and ethical lapses. It’s just that Major League baseball takes a hard line on gambling going all the way back to the 1919 Black Sox scandal.
The other is that Major League Baseball’s cries of protecting the integrity of the game seem muted when they are openly courting associations with legalized gambling.
So, over time, my dislike of Pete Rose subsided somewhat, but there are some things I cannot really forgive.
When people say “Think of Pete Rose”, I think of Ray Fosse, clutching that injured shoulder.
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