Pete Rose

Peter Edward Rose Sr. (born April 14, 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio), nicknamed Charlie Hustle, is an American former player and manager in Major League Baseball who played from 1963 to 1986, best known for his many years with the Cincinnati Reds. Rose, a switch hitter, is the all-time major league leader in hits (4256), games played (3562) and at bats (14,053). He won three World Series rings, three batting titles, one Most Valuable Player Award, two Gold Gloves, the Rookie of the Year Award, and made 18 All-Star appearances at an unequalled four different positions (2B, OF, 3B, 1B).

Professional Career

Minor leagues

Rose was signed by the Reds as an amateur free agent on July 8, 1960, and was assigned to the Geneva Redlegs of the New York-Penn League. In 1961 Rose was promoted to the Class D Tampa Tarpons of the Florida State League where he batted .331, set a league record for triples and led the league in fielding errors.

Related Topics:
July 8 - 1960 - Geneva Redlegs - New York-Penn League - 1961 - Tampa Tarpons - Florida State League - Triples - Fielding errors

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Rose's next move was to the Class A Macon, Georgia team, where he hit .330, leading the league in triples and runs scored. During a spring training game against the Chicago White Sox in 1963, the Reds' regular second baseman, Don Blasingame, pulled a groin muscle. Rose got his chance and made the most of it. During another spring training game against the New York Yankees, Whitey Ford nicknamed him "Charlie Hustle" after witnessing Rose run down to first base after drawing a walk.

Related Topics:
Macon, Georgia - Spring training - Chicago White Sox - 1963 - Don Blasingame - New York Yankees - Whitey Ford - Walk

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Major Leagues

Early years

Rose made his debut on opening day, April 8, 1963 against the Pittsburgh Pirates and drew a walk. On April 11, Rose – who was 0-for-11 at the time – got his first Major League hit, a triple off Pittsburgh's Bob Friend. He hit .273 for the year and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award, collecting 17 of 20 votes.

Related Topics:
April 8 - 1963 - Pittsburgh Pirates - April 11 - Bob Friend - National League - Rookie of the Year Award

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On April 23, 1964, in the top of the ninth inning of a scoreless game in Colt Stadium, Rose reached first base on an error and scored on another error to make Houston Colt .45s rookie Ken Johnson the first pitcher to lose a complete game no-hitter. Rose slumped late in the season, was benched, and finished with just a .269 average.

Related Topics:
April 23 - 1964 - Colt Stadium - Houston Colt .45s - Ken Johnson - Complete game - No-hitter

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Rose came back in 1965 to lead the league in hits (209) and at-bats (670), and hit .312, the first of his 10 seasons with 200-plus hits and the first of 15 consecutive .300 seasons. He hit a career-high 16 home runs in 1966, then switched positions from second base to right field the following year. In 1968, Rose started the season with a 22-game hit streak, missed three weeks (including the All-Star Game) with a broken thumb, then had a 19-game hit streak late in the season. He had to finish the season 6-for-9 to beat out Matty Alou and win the first of two close NL batting-title races.

Related Topics:
1965 - Home run - 1966 - Second base - Right field - 1968 - Hit streak - All-Star Game - Matty Alou

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Rose had his best offensive season in 1969, leading the league in batting for the second straight season (.348) and leading the league in runs with 120. As the team's leadoff man he was a catalyst, rapping 218 hits and walking 88 times. He hit 33 doubles, 11 triples, and a career-best 16 homers. He drove in 82 runs, slugged .512 (by far the highest mark of his long career), and had a .432 OBP (also a career best). But the Reds finished four games out of first, and Pete lost the MVP to Willie McCovey. Rose and Roberto Clemente were tied for the batting title going into the final game; Rose bunted for a base hit in his last at-bat of the season to beat out Clemente.

Related Topics:
1969 - Slugged - OBP - Willie McCovey - Roberto Clemente

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1970 All-Star Game

On July 14, 1970, in brand new Riverfront Stadium (opened just two weeks earlier), Rose was involved in one of the most famous plays in All-Star history. In the 12th inning, Rose led off with a single and went to second on a single by the Dodgers' Bill Grabarkewitz. The Cubs? Jim Hickman then singled sharply to center. Amos Otis' throw beat Rose to the plate, but Rose barreled over Indians catcher Ray Fosse, separating the catcher's shoulder, to score the winning run. Fosse never fully recovered from the injury and he has remained critical of Rose's aggressive maneuver to this day.

Related Topics:
July 14 - 1970 - Riverfront Stadium - Dodgers - Bill Grabarkewitz - Cubs - Jim Hickman - Amos Otis - Indians - Catcher - Ray Fosse

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1973 National League Championship Series

In 1973 Rose won his third and final batting title with a .338 average, collected a career-high 230 hits and was named the NL MVP. The Reds ended up losing the National League Championship Series to the Mets despite Rose?s eighth-inning home run to tie Game One and his 12th-inning home run to win Game Four. During Game Three of the series Rose got into a fight with Mets shortstop Bud Harrelson while trying to break up a double play; the fight resulted in a bench-clearing brawl.

Related Topics:
1973 - National League Championship Series - Mets - Bud Harrelson

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44-game hitting streak

On May 5, 1978 Rose became the 13th and youngest player in major league history to collect his 3,000th career hit, with a single off Expos pitcher Steve Rogers. On June 14 in Cincinnati, Rose singled in the first inning off Cubs pitcher Dave Roberts; Rose would proceed to get a hit in every game he played until August 1, making a run at Joe DiMaggio?s record 56-game hitting streak, which had stood unchallenged for 37 years. The streak started quietly, but by the time it had reached 30 games, the media took notice and a pool of reporters accompanied Rose and the Reds to every game. On July 19 against the Phillies, Rose was hitless going into the ninth with his team trailing. He ended up walking and the streak appeared over. But the Reds managed to bat through their entire lineup, giving Rose another chance. Facing Ron Reed, Rose laid down a perfect bunt single to extend the streak to 32 games. On July 25 in Shea Stadium, Rose singled in the third inning to set the National League record of 38 consecutive games with a hit. On July 31, Rose tied Willie Keeler at 44 games; but the next day the streak came to end as Gene Garber of the Braves struck Rose out in the ninth inning. The competitive Rose was sour after the game, blasting Garber and the Braves for not challenging him with fastballs.

Related Topics:
May 5 - 1978 - 3,000th career hit - Expos - Steve Rogers - June 14 - Dave Roberts - August 1 - Joe DiMaggio - July 19 - Phillies - Ron Reed - Bunt - July 25 - Shea Stadium - July 31 - Willie Keeler - Gene Garber - Braves

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Rose goes to the Phillies

On a team with many great players that is acknowledged by many as one of the greatest teams ever, Rose was viewed as one of the club's leaders (along with future Hall of Famer, first baseman Tony Pérez). The influence that Rose's hustling team attitude had on his teammates was very likely a factor in the success of what was called "The Big Red Machine". His 1975 performance was considered outstanding enough that he earned the Hickok Belt as top professional athlete of the year and Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year" award. The following year, Rose was a major force in helping the Reds repeat as World Series winners. The 1976 Reds sweept the Phillies 3-0 in the National League Championship Series and the Yankees 4-0 in the World Series. The 1976 Reds remain the only team since the expansion of the playoffs in 1969 to go undefeated in the postseason.

Related Topics:
Tony Pérez - The Big Red Machine - Hickok Belt - Sportsman of the Year

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In 1979 Rose became a free agent and signed a four-year, $3.2 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, temporarily making him the highest-paid athlete in team sports. With Rose, the Phillies earned three division titles, two World Series appearances and one World Series title (1980).

Related Topics:
1979 - Free agent - Philadelphia Phillies - World Series - 1980

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Back to the Reds

In 1984 Rose signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Expos. On April 13, Rose doubled off of the Phillies? Jerry Koosman for his 4,000th career hit, joining Ty Cobb to become only the second player to accomplish that feat. Rose was traded to the Reds for infielder Tom Lawless on August 15, and was immediately named player-manager, replacing Vern Rapp.

Related Topics:
1984 - Montreal Expos - April 13 - Jerry Koosman - Ty Cobb - Tom Lawless - August 15 - Vern Rapp

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On September 11, 1985 Rose broke Cobb?s all-time hit record with his 4,192nd hit, a single to left-center field off San Diego Padres pitcher Eric Show. Rose?s final career at-bat was a strikeout against San Diego?s Goose Gossage on August 17, 1986. On November 11, Rose was dropped from the Reds? 40-man roster to make room for pitcher Pat Pacillo.

Related Topics:
September 11 - 1985 - San Diego Padres - Eric Show - Strikeout - Goose Gossage - August 17 - 1986 - November 11 - Pat Pacillo

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