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Pete Rose Photo Gallery
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Pete Rose Steps to the Plate for the First Time, April 8, 1963!
“Somebody’s gotta’ win and somebody’s gotta’ lose…and I believe in letting the other guy lose!” –Pete Rose
“Doctors tell me I have the body of a thirty-year-old. I know I have the brain of a fifteen-year-old. If you’ve got both, you can play baseball!” –Pete Rose
The first quote above nicely summarizes the competitive philosophy of “Charlie Hustle,” Pete Rose. It’s sort of the baseball equivalent of a famous quote from another well-known competitor, General George Patton: “Don’t die for your country. Let the other guy die for his country.” (paraphrasing).
A Historic day
Fifty-nine years ago this week, April 8, 1963, was a significant date in major league history, although at the time, no one could possibly have known it. On that date, a young, 21-year-old rookie from Cincinnati strode to the plate for his first major league at-bat. It was the Reds vs. the Pirates at Crosley Field. The second batter in the Reds’ lineup, the kid coaxed a walk off the Pirates’ Opening Day right-handed hurler, Earl Francis. He then scored a run two batters later when Frank Robinson blasted one out of the park. But it was a rather inauspicious beginning for the kid, as he went 0-3 in his first game.
The Rook also went for the collar in the next three games, and suddenly found himself 0-12 (reminiscent of the major league debut Willie Mays twelve years earlier). His manager, Fred Hutchinson, stood by him in spite of his early-season struggles. Then finally, in Game Four, on April 13, his luck turned. In the bottom of the eight, after a previous infield out, a hit-by-pitch, and a walk in his first three at-bats, the kid finally came through with a triple, his first major league hit.
When he finally hung up the spikes in 1986, 24 seasons later, this same rookie, who, of course, we know as Pete Rose, had collected 4,255 more hits and had retired as the all-time major league career hits leader, breaking the record of 4189 hits set by Ty Cobb.
Pete’s Great Career
Of course, you can’t mention Pete Rose without opening up the controversy about his ban from baseball and his eligibility for the Hall of Fame. Before you make up your mind, here are a few highlights from his great career:
Pete played for the Reds (1963-78), Phillies (1979-83), Expos (1984), and Reds again (1984-86). He managed the Reds from (1984-89). In addition to his 4256 hits, Pete batted .303, with 160 home runs, 746 doubles (National League record), 1,314 RBIs, 2,165 runs (National League Record), and a .375 on-base percentage. He holds major league records for singles (3,215), games played (3,562), plate appearances (15,890), and at-bats (14,053). In 268 post-season at-bats covering 67 games, he hit .321. His 44-game hitting streak in 1978 is second all-time in the modern era to Joe DiMaggio’s 56. Pete holds many other major league records, too numerous to list here.
Pete was a 17-time All-Star, a member of three World Series championships (1975, 1976, 1980), the National League Rookie of the Year (1963), a three-time National League batting champion (1968, 1969, 1973), a two-time Gold Glove winner (1969, 1970), a Silver Slugger Award winner (1981), the Roberto Clemente Award winner (1976), and a member of major league baseball All-Century team.
Should He Be In or Out…
Should his lifetime ban be lifted? Should he be in the Hall of fame? I say let him in. I guess I’m more of the lenient and forgiving type (just ask my wife and kids!). That’s just my opinion and I certainly don’t expect everyone to agree with me. No doubt Pete broke one of baseball’s cardinal rules and then lied about it for 15 years. He deserved punishment. But I think at this stage he’s suffered enough. I think his punishment should have started from the point he finally “came clean,” which was 2004. A ten-to-fifteen-year ban seems like it would have been appropriate. It would be over by now.
Let’s not forget that the offense which got him banned in the first place – betting on baseball – is now a legal activity and has become a multi-million dollar industry, engaged in by tens of thousands of fans. It’s sanctioned and even encouraged by major league baseball, with betting venues popping up at numerous major league ballparks. Granted, his offense was made many times worse by the fact that he did it while in uniform, and then lied about it, so his offense warranted significant punishment. But, considering all, I can’t help but seeing the lingering hypocrisy of the situation.
And let’s also not forget that we’ve still recovering from the “steroid era,” an offense which I feel is much worse than anything Pete Rose ever did. None of the offenders – some of which also have lying under oath on their rap sheet – have ever been banned from the game to my knowledge.
Those of us who saw Pete Rose play on a regular basis will never forget the fire he brought to the game. Love him or hate him, there’s no disagreement he was a great ballplayer, one of the best ever. I don’t think keeping the game’s all-time hits leader out of the game and out of the Hall of Fame is good for anyone, especially since his offense is one that is now indulged in legally by thousands of fans.
Pete has paid a steep price…I say let him back in. Again, that’s just my opinion, and I certainly respect the opinion of others who disagree with me.
Gary Livacari
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Information: Excerpts edited from Pete rose Wikipedia page; stats from baseball-reference.com
Great work, Gary! You covered all the bases in summarizing the remarkable Rose career.
I remember when Ron Hunt and Pete broke in together in 1963 and fans were wondering which of the two hard-nosed rookies would emerge as the best second baseman in the NL. That first year when Rose hit .273, Hunt batted .272. Mets fans loved their feisty, spikes first, hustling newcomer. But soon, Hunt was beset with injuries and it was clear there would be no comparison.
I loved the all-out, race to first base, all consuming fire for the game Charlie Hustle manifested on a daily basis. And that hit total, combining talent and durability, makes it a crying shame Pete Rose is not in the Hall.
But gambling on baseball while still playing and managing, then lying about it, was reprehensible. Your point, however- enough is enough-is well taken. “Now, let’s fully recognize a truly great player” makes sense.
However, if indeed the crime is deigned too abominable for HOF induction, how about a new section at Cooperstown headed: Honorable Mention. This way Pete’s amazing record will at least be recognized. And other players whose stats are border line, or who had one truly noteworthy accomplishment, will also be duly noted.
The current MLB Commissioner may have many short-comings and made a lot of ill-advised decisions, but at least he has held steadfast in upholding the penalty put upon Rose for his wagering misdeeds by the late Commissioner Bart Giamatti. If Rose is ever granted a plaque in Cooperstown {traditionally or via “honorable mention”}, the door will be swung wide open to allow scores of other miscreants that strayed from the HOF’s induction guidelines {character & honor; as well as on-field accomplishment} to be granted a place in Cooperstown. Rose has suffered long enough, many say ? Put that into this perspective : how long has Shoeless Joe’s family and his legacy been deprived of his place in the HOF ? If Rose is ever inducted, then Jackson should IMMEDIATELY be right behind him.
Another fine second baseman of that time was Ken Hubbs of the Cubs. He was ROY in 1962. Tragically, he died in a plane crash in 1964 otherwise we may be talking about his HOF creds.
Hi Gary:
Sorry. I can’t go along on this one. A hall of fame is for the very best it’s participants have to offer. Along with playing talent, fair play and integrity are just two character traits a hall of famer must have. As far as I can remember, Mr. Rose’s exploits leave a lot to be desired in this respect.
Having fought so long and hard for a man who had all the qualities of a hero and more, Gil Hodges, I’m surprised you would champion Pete Rose.
Respectfully,
Joan
Don’t forget the statutory rape that forced him off the Fox postseason postgame shows back in 2017:
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/all-time-hits-leader-pete-rose-admits-sexual-tryst-teen-article-1.3372777?outputType=amp
He also was an inveterate “greenie” user during his playing days, albeit a blind eye was definitely in play, but what he and many did would be cause for suspension today.
While his numbers are definitely HOF, there is definitely a major hole in the
character and honor piece of requirements for induction.
I concur with T. L. Marshall.
Thanks for your honest perspective Gary and it won’t surprise you that I agree. How can you have a HOF without the man that has the most hits in baseball history? As Bill S. put it – there’s a place – maybe a separate one, for Pete Rose in the HOF and Barry Bonds too. You couldn’t really call it the ‘Corridor of infamy’ within the Hall, but it’s better than not having them there at all IMO.
Hi Mark:
How can you have a hall of fame without the player who has the most hits? If prowess at the plate was the only requisite to entry you wouldn’t need a committee to vote for any player. You could use a book of stats to fill the place to bursting. Fortunately, a man’s character is an important part of his consideration for enshrinement. Yes. Enshrinement. That is what it’s rcalled when you become a member. The very word denotes quality, a specialness applied to the most deserving. That ain’t Pete or any other player who feels the rules don’t apply to him.
Quite a discussion. And you’re right, Thomas L., Shoeless should be in the Hall, unequivocally. His numbers and general play in that Series would seem to indicate Joe was an innocent dupe, not realizing what was going on.
Paul, no question Rose is not a paragon of character (though he may not be guilty of the statutory charge in Ohio). But a bunch of players took “Greenies” in those days to combat fatigue. Nowhere near steroid enhancement.
And Joan, Kevin, Thomas and Paul–understand your indignation but would you also be tempted to throw out Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth? Cobb went up in the stands and pummeled a crippled man. Ruth was a full fledged glutton on more than one level and hardly a role model for youthful fans. Yeah, I know, that doesn’t mean Rose should be eligible for “Enshrinement.” Which brings me to…
Honorable Mention. BTW, Mark, thanks for acknowledging my idea and I like your “Corridor of Infamy” twist. But, seriously, another section should be added. If you think “honorable” is too good for Rose, he and others, in varying degrees, should be recognized with some official title. How about-
OTHER PLAYERS OF INTEREST
Hey Bill:
How about a back door with a sign reading “this way for the not so honorable.”
I don’t know who sat on the committees that voted Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth into the hall. They were a little before my time. Not much but a little. But I do know this: There are rules to the game of baseball. The umpires can’t get together and say, “This guy had a bad night. His kid had him up all night with a sore throat. Let’s call that foul ball fair and give him a hit.” The rules are the rules. There is a set of rules for admission to the hall of fame. You measure up or you don’t.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m no paragon of virtue. I’m an ordinary woman who tries to do as much good as I can without hurting anyone else. Just an ordinary person. But I really believe heroes should be worth the designation. Especially in this case, don’t fix what ain’t broke.
Perhaps the game can make an official list of significant stats and publish it on their website, just not in the hall of fame.
Actually, Joan, if you do as much good as you can without hurting anyone, you’re doing just fine. That’s what we’re here for.
Of course, I was being facetious about Cobb and Ruth. Nobody’s perfect. And both did a number of good things in and out of the game. His other issues aside, Rose went against the grain of baseball’s cardinal rule, so his full enshrinement is not likely.
Your website idea is a good one. But I like the intrigue of a separate room in the Hall where fans can read about Pete and Shoeless Joe; Smokey Joe Wood and Pete Reiser (who had brilliant but injury riddled short careers); Dwight Gooden (one great year followed by one of the all-time great years-short circuited by drugs); Roger Maris, a fine player with one season nobody will ever forget. You get the point.
Best, Bill S.
Hey Bill:
I do see your point a n d you’ve brought me around a bit. I can see a totally separate room (or perhaps building) to acknowledge stats of the players who will never be admitted. But, here too, listing guys whose careers were cut short by illness or injury is very different from guys who cheated.
Damn it, Gary! Why did you have to open this can of worms to begin with?
Joan
I believe the stats for Rose, Jackson, Bonds, and others who likely would be in the Hall but are not are noted in Cooperstown. Cooperstown does not ignore their achievements. It is just that they do not have plaques and are not members of the Hall.
Wow! I’ve been away from the computer visiting the grandkids in Phoenix for the past five days and I came home last hight to see that I unintentionally opened a can of worms, as Joan so aptly described it. I appreciate all the sincere sentiments expressed here, and I tend to agree with Bill Schaefer that full enshirnement perhaps isn’t warrented, but maybe some other accommodation is in order for miscreants like Pete Rose.
If you think this is something…check out Facebook! I posted it Sunday on my FB page, Old-Time Baseball Photos and, as of this morning, it has generated 9K likes, 1.5K comments, and 1.7K shares. The 1.5K comments, according to my FB partner Ron Bolton, are a record since we started the page back in 2014. I really had no idea the post would generated that kind of response! And, as I said in the post, I respect the opinions of all. Thanks! -Gary
Thank you, Kevin. I had no idea. How did they handle it?
Kind regards, Joan
Rose post on FB now up to 10K likes, 1.9K comments, 2.1 shares, just since Sunday. Not only that, it has reached 525K people. Those numbers are off the charts. I just Pete geneerates a lot of emotion on both sides!
I grew up in Ohio a huge Pete Rose fan, so much so he became my identity through high school (he broke Ty Cobb’s record my senior year). It took me many years to realize my hero was deeply flawed as a human being. I finally succumbed to the reality he is selfish and shallow. BUT, he defined an era in a sport full of flawed, selfish, and shallow athletes via unprecedented hustle and enthusiasm. And his recollection of game situations, decades later, is a testament to his love of the game.
I visited Cooperstown in 2013. Pete, of course, wasn’t enshrined there. But a continual loop of his record breaking hit off Eric Show was.
I agree with you, Gary. Bud Selig’s gamble on the game at the turnstiles during the steroid era is much more egregious than Pete betting on his team to win.