38 Pete Rose Facts for the 38 States That Legalized Sports Betting!

Happy weekend everyone! I recently put together this content piece to honor Pete Rose. I was inspired because I think it's ridiculously hypocritical for his permanent ineligibility to still be in place now that sports betting is widely accepted across the U.S. and in several countries. I made a video to accompany all this if you'd rather check that out, but I'm trying to respect the rules here 🙂

Pete Rose was banned from baseball in 1989 after an investigation found he was betting on baseball games between the years of 1985 to 1987. Rose wasn’t exactly in the right for betting on the team he managed, but despite owning up to his actions and being one of the best pure hitters of all time, he was completely barred from the game he loved. 

Pete Rose recently passed away and never got a chance to make the hall of fame due to his permanent ineligibility. Since Cooperstown passed this rule in 1991, 38 states have gone on to legalize sports betting – the same past time that ruined one of the greats careers. The 1973 National League MVP recorded 4,256 hits and ended his career with a .303 batting average when he retired in 1986. Pete Rose was one of the greatest to ever do it, and he paved the way for a lot of what’s happening today. 

1. Pete Rose was nicknamed "Charlie Hustle" by Yankee pitcher Whitey Ford after Rose sprinted to first base on a walk during a spring training game.
2. Rose holds the record for the most hits in Major League Baseball history, with 4,256 hits over his 24-year career.
3. Rose is one of the most successful switch-hitters of all time, excelling from both sides of the plate.
4. In 1963, Rose won the National League Rookie of the Year award, batting .273 with 170 hits.
5. Rose was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and played most of his career for his hometown team
6. Rose was a key player in the "Big Red Machine," the nickname for the dominant Reds teams of the 1970s.
7. Rose was selected to 17 All-Star Games and played at five different positions during those appearances: first base, second base, third base, left field, and right field.
8. In 1970, during the MLB All-Star Game, Rose famously collided with catcher Ray Fosse to score the winning run in one of the most memorable moments in All-Star history.
9. Rose won three National League batting titles during his career (1968, 1969, and 1973).
10. Rose was named the NL MVP in 1973 after hitting .338 and leading the league in runs, hits, and doubles.
11. Rose holds the record for the most games played in MLB history, with 3,562.
12. Rose had a 44-game hitting streak in 1978, which remains the longest in the National League since 1897.
13. Rose won three World Series championships (1975, 1976, and 1980).
14. He was named World Series MVP in 1975 after batting .370 in a thrilling seven-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
15. Rose never went on the disabled list during his 24-year career.
16. Rose served as a player-manager for the Cincinnati Reds from 1984 to 1986.
17. In 1989, Rose was banned for life from Major League Baseball for betting on games, including his own team, while managing.
18. Rose wrote an autobiography, Pete Rose: My Story, where he detailed his career and controversies.
19. Despite being banned from baseball, Rose was voted to the MLB All-Century Team in 1999 by fans.
20. Rose broke Ty Cobb's all-time hit record on September 11, 1985, with his 4,192nd hit.
21. The city of Cincinnati honored Rose by renaming a section of the riverfront "Pete Rose Way."
22. Rose played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos during his career, in addition to the Reds.
23. Pete Rose Jr. also played in the majors, briefly appearing with the Reds in 1997.
24. Rose is one of the few players to have 500 hits in three separate decades (1960s, 1970s, and 1980s).
25. In 1978, Rose appeared on the game show Match Game, charming audiences with his wit.
26. Rose's high school, Western Hills, has a Pete Rose Field in his honor.
27. Rose was a skilled bowler and participated in celebrity bowling tournaments.
28. Rose hit more singles (3,215) than any other player in MLB history.
29. Rose had ten seasons of 200 or more hits, tied for the most in MLB history.
30. Rose's minor league team, the Macon Peaches, honored him with a special exhibit after his MLB success.
31. Rose was known for his ability to foul off tough pitches, frustrating opposing pitchers.
32. Despite his 4,256 hits, Rose only hit 160 home runs, showcasing his singles-oriented game.
33. Rose was a huge fan of classic rock music and has mentioned The Beatles as his favorite band.
34. Rose once guest-starred in an episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, where he discussed the importance of teamwork.
35. Rose has worked extensively with charities, including raising funds for children’s hospitals.
36. A bronze statue of Rose sliding headfirst into a base stands outside Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
37. Rose popularized the headfirst slide, saying it gave him an edge in stealing bases.
38. Rose remains ineligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame due to his lifetime ban, sparking ongoing debate among fans and analysts.

RIP PETE ROSE! YOU WILL FOREVER BE A LEGEND.