Baseball icon and all-time MLB hits leader Pete Rose passed away at the age of 83, leaving behind a legacy marked by both his prodigious on-field achievements and the gambling scandal that forever barred him from the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Pete Rose, the fiery and relentless baseball legend whose all-time records for hits, at-bats, and games played immortalized him in the annals of the sport, passed away on September 30, 2024, at the age of 83. The Clark County Coroner in Nevada confirmed Rose's death, but the cause remains unknown.
As news of Rose's passing spread, tributes and remembrances poured in from across the baseball world. "Charlie Hustle," as he was affectionately known during his glory days with the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and Montreal Expos, was remembered as a polarizing figure who gave his all on the field.
Pete Rose Dies at 83: Major League Baseball Legend's Controversial Legacy Remembered
"Dogged, determined, relentless, competitor, vicious competitor," described legendary sportscaster Jim Gray. "I think he played and cared about the results. He cared about his personal results, his team results, and he was aggressive. The fans loved him."
Rose's on-field greatness, however, was overshadowed by a gambling scandal that erupted during his time as manager of the Reds. In 1989, an investigation revealed that Rose had bet on at least 52 Reds games in 1987, a violation of baseball's strict gambling rules.
Pete Rose Dies at 83: Major League Baseball Legend's Controversial Legacy Remembered
Rose agreed to a voluntary banishment from baseball, but his efforts to be reinstated were repeatedly denied by commissioners Fay Vincent, Bud Selig, and Rob Manfred. Despite his impressive lifetime batting average of .303 and unparalleled hit total, Rose's gambling indiscretion kept him out of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The issue of Rose's ineligibility has been a subject of debate among baseball legends. Ted Williams adamantly opposed his induction, while Mike Schmidt wondered why Rose was treated differently from players who used performance-enhancing drugs.
Pete Rose Dies at 83: Major League Baseball Legend's Controversial Legacy Remembered
Years after his banishment, Rose admitted to betting on baseball in an autobiography, reversing his previous denials. Sports gambling has since become more prevalent in the United States, but Manfred has maintained that reinstating Rose would be "an unacceptable risk."
Gray, who knew Rose well, believes that he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame despite his past transgression. "You can't erase a man's records," Gray said. "If they were to do it posthumously, perhaps it should reflect that he was banned from baseball and the reason why on the plaque – for gambling. But he should be in the Hall of Fame."
Pete Rose Dies at 83: Major League Baseball Legend's Controversial Legacy Remembered
Pete Rose's legacy is a complex one, marked by remarkable achievements on the field and a permanent scar from his gambling scandal. His death has reignited the debate about his Hall of Fame eligibility, a debate that is likely to continue for years to come.
