Pete Rose, the MLB’s all-time leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053), singles (3,215), and outs (10,328), passed away yesterday afternoon at the age of 83.
I am not going to be able to write an article that memorializes Rose’s life in a better way than Chris Klemmer’s piece yesterday, so please go and give that a read:
https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3526865/reds-legend-pete-rose-passes-away-at-83-years-old
Also, check out Carl’s blog which breaks down Rose’s aforementioned outs record of 10,328. Pretty mind-boggling stuff:
Now that you’ve revisited the complicated life of Pete Rose, let’s talk about the main controversy surrounding the man. He should be in the Hall of Fame.
I know what he did was wrong. Gambling on games you have a deep hand in, as both a player and a manager, is corrupt in the highest sense of the word. That being said, what Pete Rose did for the sport of baseball throughout his 27-year career should never be forgotten.
The MLB’s investigation on Rose concluded sufficient evidence of gambling on games that he managed and/or played in throughout the ‘85, ‘86, and ‘87 seasons. Throw the stats from those seasons away, and you’ll find “Charlie Hustle” in the second spot for all-time hits with 4,097.
If it were possible to separate the corrupt Pete Rose from the innocent, the innocent would have 22 seasons under his belt, with enough stats to make the Hall twice over. I know that I bring Tom Brady into more things than I should, but Rose’s career and its longevity are a lot like Brady’s in the sense that if you were to split them in half, both would still make all-time lists.
In my opinion, the MLB has a chance to do something good here. Young fans shouldn’t be hidden from the tragedy of Pete Rose. Instead, they should be able to learn from his mistakes, but more importantly from his hustle and dedication to the sport of baseball, which deserve to live on forever alongside the greats in Cooperstown.