Rose passes at 83

Tributes are pouring in for Pete Rose, the baseball legend nicknamed ‘Charlie Hustle’ for his feisty, front-footed attitude, after he passed away aged 83 in Las Vegas.

all-time hits leader passed Monday

Despite confirming MLB’s all-time hits leader died Monday, Rose’s former team the Cincinnati Reds did not divulge the cause of death. The Reds took to X with an image of a candlelit memorial to Rose outside the franchise’s Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati:?

Nevada law enforcement stated Rose family member found the body of the MLB legend. Investigators are examining the scene and the medical examiner in Clark County, Nevada, said a coroner will investigate to “determine the cause and manner of death.”

MLB in 1989 handed Rose a lifetime ban from baseball after he gambled on Reds games that he managed.

Tsunami of tributes

Despite, or because of his combative attitude and controversial past, instead of a flood of tributes pouring in, Rose’s passing has prompted a tsunami of them.

Former shortstop and third baseman major leaguer Alex Rodriguez stated: “Nobody loved baseball more than Pete and I’ll miss him terribly.” The “absolutely heartbroken” FOX broadcaster took to X with a video clip of Rose who, Rodriguez said: “always brought a smile to my face”:

Cincinnati Reds President and CEO Bob Castellini stated on the Reds’ official MLB.com homepage that: “Pete was a Red through and through. No one loved the game more than Pete and no one loved Pete more than Reds Country.”

Rose spent 19 of his 24-year MLB career with the Cincinnati Reds, where he held top spot for most career hits, including games played, plate appearances plus at-bats. The 16-time All-Star won two World Series with the Reds and one with the Philadelphia Phillies.

He made me laugh and kept me loose.”

Former Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt stated his “heart goes out” to Rose’s  family and that his late teammate “boosted my confidence.” Schmidt continued: “He made me laugh and kept me loose. He taught me to enjoy the game, perhaps the advice that I needed the most.”

Perhaps the most poignant of tributes came from Hall of Famer and Rose’s longtime Reds teammate Johnny Bench. He said: “My heart is sad. I loved you Peter Edward. You made all of us better. No matter the life we led. No one can replace you.”

Gambling dues

Despite numerous appeals since his ban in 1989, three successive MLB commissioners have upheld Rose’s ban for 33 years. 

Former MLB slugger Jose Canseco is one of many Rose admirers who, in wishing Rose RIP, added his baseball exploits should be recognized, stating the late big hitter “should be in the HOF.”

At the world premiere in July of a HBO documentary series about his betting scandal, Rose stated the fallout cost him an estimated $100m.