Meet Pete Rose

PETE ROSE

"Charlie Hustle"

Positions: Outfielder, First Baseman and Third Baseman

Full Name: Peter Edward Rose Sr.

Bats: Both - Throws: Right

Born: April 14, 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Organizations: Cincinnati Reds (19), Philadelphia Phillies (5), Montreal Expos (1)

PETE ROSE'S WALL OF GLORY

HONORS AND AWARDS

• All Star: 17 (1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985)
• Rookie of the Year: 1 (1963)
• MVP: 1 (1973)
• World Series MVP: 1 (1975)
• Gold Gloves: 2 (1969, 1970)
• Silver Sluggers: 1 (1981)
• World Series Rings: 3 (1975, 1976, 1980)

BATTING

• AVG Leader: 3 (1968, 1969, 1973)
• OBP Leader: 2 (1968, 1979)
• G Leader: 5 (1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1982)
• AB Leader: 4 (1965, 1972, 1973, 1977)
• Runs Leader: 4 (1969, 1974, 1975, 1976)
• Hits Leader: 7 (1965, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1981)
• 2B Leader: 5 (1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980)

FIELDING

• Def. Games as 1B: 2 (1980, 1982)
• Assists as 1B: 1 (1980)
• Def. Games as 2B: 1 (1965)
• PO as 2B: 1 (1965)
• Def. Games as 3B: 1 (1977)
• Def. Games as LF: 3 (1972, 1973, 1974)
• PO as LF: 3 (1972, 1973, 1974)
• Assists as LF: 3 (1972, 1973, 1974)
• PO as RF: 1 (1971)
• Assists as RF: 1 (1968)
• Def. Games as OF: 2 (1972, 1974)
• Assists as OF: 2 (1968, 1972)
• Fielding % as 1B: 1 (1980)
• Fielding % as 3B: 1 (1976)
• Fielding % as LF: 2 (1972, 1974)
• Fielding % as RF: 1 (1970)
• Fielding % as OF: 2 (1970, 1974)

WHO?

"Charlie Hustle" is an American former professional baseball player and Manager. Pete Rose played in MLB from 1963-1986, and managed from 1984-1989.

Rose is the all-time MLB leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053), singles (3,215) and outs (10,328). Among other achievements he made 17 All-Stars appearances at an record of five positions (2B, LF, RF, 3B and 1B), and is the only MLB player that had played more than 500 games in 5 different positions.

In August 1989 Rose was penalized with permanent ineligibility from baseball amidst accusations that he gambled on baseball games while played for and managed the Reds.

MY COMMENT:

Passion and versatility. And hits. Lots of hits.
This is Pete Rose's career summarized. 

Probably the most aggressive man that ever played in MLB, Rose also was the last Player-Manager (Cincinnati Reds: 1984-1986) before getting the full-time managerial job with the team until 1989, when he was penalized. As a Manager his W-L record was 412-373.

If not were for the suspension, I'm sure he had been voted for the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

"Charlie Hustle" could had some flaws, but being lazy was not one of them. You could see him running to first base after getting a base on balls, trying to climbing the outfield's wall to catch a homerun that was flying one hundred feet above his head, or playing aggressively in otherwise funny All-Stars Games. That was him.

One of the two members of the 4000 hits-club (Ty Cobb is the other one), Rose admitted in 2004 that he had gambled in baseball games (included Reds games while managing them), but he stated that he never bet against Cincinnati. He has asked the ban to be lifted and applied for reinstatement. Even with some flexibility shown by MLB allowing him to participate in certain baseball-related ceremonies, the Commissioner's Office has not answer positively to Rose's request.

The Hall of Fame has among his member players that had dealt with drinking and drugs abuse. Is betting to much different? I hope that the man can have his induction ceremony before he pass away.
  

BEST FIVE SEASONS

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1969	28	CIN	NL	156	627	120	218	33	11	16	82	7	88	65	.348	.428	.512	.940	*98/4
1973	32	CIN	NL	160	680	115	230	36	8	5	64	10	65	42	.338	.401	.437	.838	*7
1975	34	CIN	NL	162	662	112	210	47	4	7	74	0	89	50	.317	.406	.432	.838	*57
1976	35	CIN	NL	162	665	130	215	42	6	10	63	9	86	54	.323	.404	.450	.854	*5/9
1979	38	PHI	NL	163	628	90	208	40	5	4	59	20	95	32	.331	.418	.430	.848	*3/54

Note: If you are using a cell phone to look at this table, put it horizontally for a better experience

What do you think? Was Pete Rose the most aggressive player in MLB? Should he be allowed to be voted for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame? Share your thoughts!