Pete Rose, a hustler as a player and manager, will be remembered for his skills as well as his gambling.
Pete Rose, a great player with a controversial legacy, rewrote baseball history but reached Cooperstown only as a vendor selling his autograph.
Rose, who died Sept. 30 at age 83, will be remembered as the career leader in hits (4,256) and 17-time All-Star who also managed his hometown Cincinnati Reds for five years.
The versatile switch-hitter broke in with the Reds in 1962 as a second baseman but wound up playing more games at first base, third base, and left field. He even won two Gold Gloves as an outfielder, adding to a trophy shelf that also included a Rookie of the Year Award and Most Valuable Player trophy.
One of baseball’s early free agents, he shocked the baseball world when he left the Reds to sign with Philadelphia on Dec. 5, 1978 after the Phillies offered him a four-year, $3,225,000 deal.
He was part of three playoff teams there, helping his team win its first world championship in 1980. He also spent time with the Montreal Expos, who signed him for $700,000 in 1984 following his release by the Phils.
Rose didn’t spent a full season north of the border, however, as the Expos traded him to the Reds, where Rose became a player-manager for the first time. He ended his playing career after his batting average fell to .219 in 1986.
In 24 seasons, Rose hit .303 with a .375 on-base percentage, winning three batting crowns and leading the National League in hits eight times and runs four times.
