Pete Rose, the all-time Major League Baseball hits leader, passed away at the age of 83, leaving behind a legacy filled with unmatched accomplishments and undeniable controversy. Known as "Charlie Hustle" for his relentless style of play, Rose's career was one for the ages. His 4,256 hits, accumulated over a remarkable 24-year span, remain an untouchable record. Ryan Fiterman, Rose’s agent, confirmed his passing, asking for privacy for the family during this time.
Rose's connection to baseball began in 1963 with his hometown Cincinnati Reds, where he played 19 of his 24 seasons. His accomplishments on the field were legendary—three World Series titles, a league MVP award in 1973, 17 All-Star appearances at five different positions, three batting titles, and countless unforgettable moments. Yet, despite these accolades, Rose’s name was often spoken in the same breath as controversy due to his ban from baseball in 1989 for betting on games while managing the Reds.
In December 2017, I had the privilege of speaking with Pete Rose about his life and career. It was an interview that revealed not just the depth of Rose’s love for baseball, but also his continued insight into the game he once dominated.
“You know, it’s crazy to think that you have now spent more of your adult life out of baseball than as a professional player or manager,” I remarked during the interview. Rose, ever the baseball fan, responded with a passion that had clearly not dimmed over time: “I think the older you get, the more you appreciate the game of baseball. I live in Vegas, and I watch games every day during the season. I’m a fan. I enjoy the great young players baseball has today. It’s fun to watch.” Rose reflected. “I live in Vegas, and I start watching games every day about 4, 4:30 on the East Coast… I pretty much get my fill of baseball every day during baseball season.”
When asked what it takes to be a successful manager, Rose had a simple but profound response. “All a manager does is put players in situations that they won’t fail in. Some guys don’t want to bat with a man on second and two outs in the ninth. Some guys don’t want to be brought in the game with bases loaded, one out, and you need a strikeout. The managers with experience know more about their personnel, and they know what they can ask their players to do.”
Rose emphasized the importance of understanding each player, citing advice from Sparky Anderson: "There’s three ways you can treat a person. Pat him on the butt, kick him in the butt, or leave him alone. You don’t pat the guy that needs to be kicked. You don’t kick the guy that needs to be left alone. And it's up to you as a manager who is calling the shots to understand your personnel."
Reflecting on his teammates, he mentioned the legendary Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench, saying, "Sparky was the best at understanding people, but you also had Joe and Johnny. They brought so much to the table, not just in skill but in leadership. They understood how to elevate those around them. You want players who can handle pressure and perform when it counts.”
As we discussed the changing landscape of the game, I asked Rose about the rise in defensive shifts and how it would have impacted his approach at the plate. His response was classic Pete: “I don’t give a damn where I’m playing or who’s pitching. I’m going to try to use the whole field based on where the pitch is. If it’s inside, I’m pulling it. If it’s down the middle, I’m going up the middle. If it’s away, I’m hitting it to left. You can’t hit .300 if you’re just hitting the ball to one field—it’s impossible.”
Rose’s analytical take on today’s game didn’t stop at the shift. We talked about modern bullpen usage and the trend of using a team’s best reliever in key situations, regardless of the inning. Rose expressed his agreement with this philosophy, stating, “If you’ve got a great closer, sure, use him in the ninth. But a lot of games are won or lost in the sixth or seventh inning. You’ve got to have guys who can get outs in those innings, too.”
In reflecting on his storied career, I asked Rose about the night he broke Ty Cobb’s all-time hits record, a moment etched in baseball history. On September 11, 1985, at Riverfront Stadium, Rose recorded his 4,192nd hit, surpassing Cobb. “That was the only time in my life I didn’t know what to do on a baseball field,” Rose admitted. “They took the base, everybody came out, and I didn’t know what to do. But it was a great feeling, especially since I was born in Cincinnati. I felt like I had iced tea with half the crowd.”
As the conversation turned to his legacy and his hopes of eventually being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Rose was candid: “I’ve kind of given up on that. I made the mistakes that got me out of the Hall of Fame. But being in the Reds Hall of Fame, getting my number retired, and having a statue in my hometown—that’s icing on the cake.”
The interview was a reminder that, despite the controversies that defined his later years, Pete Rose’s love for baseball never wavered. His passion for the game remained as fierce as ever, even after decades away from the field. “Baseball has been very good to me,” Rose said in closing, echoing the words of his friend and fellow Hall of Famer, Tony Perez.
Pete Rose was more than just a record-holder; he was a symbol of a bygone era in baseball. He was a player who left everything on the field, a man whose intensity and drive earned him the nickname "Charlie Hustle." While his exclusion from Cooperstown will always be a subject of debate, his place in the history of the game is undeniable. Pete Rose, the Hit King, may be gone, but his impact on baseball will live on forever.
Here is the complete interview with Pete Rose:
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