BASEBALL LEGEND-AMERICAN HERO
Years after being banned from Major League Baseball "for life" because
of alleged sports gambling, Pete Rose continues to be a colorful and
controversial newsmaker. His frequent appeals to Commissioner Bud Selig
for reinstatement have had the overwhelming support of fans, reflecting
the enthusiasm Rose brought to the game and the passion he has generated
over the years.
Rose played twenty-four seasons before retiring in 1986 with numerous
records; most career hits (4,256), most games played (3,562), most
at-bats (14,053), most seasons with 200 or more hits (10), and most
winning games played in (1,972). During a career with the Cincinnati
Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, and Montreal Expos, Rose was the National
League's Rookie of the Year in 1963 and its Most Valuable Player in
1973. In addition to winning three batting titles and two Gold Glove
Awards, he also was the World Series MVP with Cincinnati's "Big Red
Machine" team that won the 1975 world championship.
In Pete Rose: Baseball's Charlie Hustle, dozens of the people who know
him best-teammates, opposing players, friends, fans, hometown
acquaintances, and baseball experts-share their memories of the man and
the player. Among the many aspects of his life explored are his
competitive zeal even as a Little Leaguer, his athletic success in high
school, his on-fields scrapes and collisions, his leadership role on the
Big Red Machine, his leaving the Reds to join the Phillies, his
record-setting 44-games hitting streak, his pursuit of Ty Cobb's
all-time hits record, his turbulent days as manager of the Reds, his
banishment from baseball, and his various enterprises after baseball.
