One of the few men in baseball to enjoy success as both a player and a manager, Pete Rose is one of the most famous names in Cincinnati baseball history. Rose played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1963 to 1978, while he also served as player-manager for the team from 1984 to 1986. He played as a switch hitter in the Major Leagues, and Pete Rose still holds several MLB records. No player has completed more hits, games, at-bats, singles and outs compared to Pete Rose. During his illustrious career, he managed to win the World Series three times, while he also won three batting titles and the MVP award in 1973. He was the World Series MVP during his team’s win in 1975.
Pete Rose’s Career: Highs and Lows
As is the case with many athletes in the United States, Pete Rose had plenty of highs in his career, but a few lows as well. Given his athletic talent, it is no surprise that most of his on-field moments were filled with stupendous quality, determination and talent. However, his off-field behavior was not always up to the mark. Allegations of gambling on baseball games while being a MLB player continued to dog Rose, and they rendered him ineligible for the baseball Hall of Fame for many years.
Having denied the gambling allegations for many years, Rose eventually admitted that he did bet on his Cincinnati Reds several times. But he claimed to have never bet against a team that he was playing for at the time. An investigation also revealed that Rose continued to gamble on professional baseball games while he was a player manager from 1984 to 1986, again at the Cincinnati Reds. He continued to manage the team for another three years after retiring from playing – and it is unclear whether his gambling habits continued into those years.
Eventually, the controversy surrounding Pete Rose and his gambling habits died down. His admission and apology seemed to make a difference, and he was added to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2016. Given the sheer talent and achievements of the player, his gambling scandal was the only reason he did not receive the honor at an earlier date.
Born and bred in Cincinnati, Rose was always a huge fan of the Reds, and dreamed of playing for them from a young age. He was always a star on the baseball field, going back to middle school and high school. And it only took him three years after graduating high school to earn a spot on the Cincinnati Reds’ training roster. It did take a few injuries before Rose could make his first appearance, but he finished the season as the National League Rookie of the Year.
Throughout an illustrious baseball career spanning many decades, Pete Rose won all there was to win in the major leagues. The three best years of his career came in 1975, 1976 and 1980, when he won the World Series. Two of his wins came with his beloved Cincinnati Reds, while the third title came with the Philadelphia Phillies!
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Such a shame the level of punishment Pete has gone through.
This was a very good blog post on Pete Rose. You are correct that he had many highs and lows during a very long baseball career. I was a little boy in Cincinnati when Pete Rose and the Big Red Machine won the World Series titles back to back in 75 and 76. Going to the Reds games at the old Riverfront stadium and sitting in the Red Seats (nose bleeds) and enjoying every moment of it. Pete Rose was nicknamed Charly Hustle for a reason, he played every play with his heart and soul. It is sad how such a terrific player was ruined for his off field gambling addictions and transactions. I was back in Cincy when MLB officially banned Pete Rose from baseball. I wish MLB would someday allow Rose to enter the Hall of Fame for what he accomplished as a player, but I don’t know if we will see it when Pete is still alive.