Happy Birthday, Pete Rose

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 14, 1941, Pete grew up outside the city in Anderson Ferry. His father Harry had been a semiprofessional football player when he was younger and encouraged his son to play sports from an early age. Though he played both football and baseball throughout high school, Rose's talents on the diamond led him to accept an offer to play with the Cincinnati Reds' minor league team. After graduation, Rose traveled around the country playing for the different leagues of the Reds, moving up in the ranks. By the time he was 22, Rose had earned the nickname "Charlie Hustle" for his intensity and work ethic on the field. 

In 1963, Rose opened the season as the Reds' second baseman. He continually proved his worthiness as a player, and was named the National League Rookie of the Year. By 1965, Rose was hitting over .300, and had the league lead for hits with 209. This trend in domination continued throughout his playing career: Rose achieved an average of .300 for a remarkable 15 seasons, and ended 10 seasons with more than 200 hits. Review Rose's biography, along with records and images, on PeteRose.com.

With the unfaltering skills of their star player, the Cincinnati Reds won the division title a whopping five times in the 1970s. The Reds also took home two out of four World Series Championship titles, and their 1975 win over the Boston Red Sox helped Rose earn the World Series Most Valuable Player. Sport's Illustrated also recognized Rose's outstanding contributions in 1975, honoring him with the prestigious title of Sportsman of the Year. Read of the "Big Red Machine" that was the Cincinnati Reds in this 1970 article from Time magazine.

Rose went on to another World Series win in 1980, this time playing first base for the Philadelphia Phillies.  He returned to the Reds during the 1984 season. Acting as manager, he was also allowed to play for the team, giving him the opportunity to break the all-time hit record. Rose accomplished this mighty feat on September 11, 1985 when he hit ball no. 4,192, finally passing Ty Cobb's longstanding record. Read of the record-breaking hit on The Cincinnati Enquirer site. 

Rose retired from playing in 1986 but continued as the Reds' manager until 1989.  It was later in the same year that Rose was suspended from the game after an investigation proved he had bet on baseball teams, the Reds included. This removal meant he was no longer eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Read the numerous articles surrounding the controversy on the New York Times site.

Listen to discussions from 2003 regarding Rose's possible reinstatement into baseball on the NPR site.

Though Rose denied the betting allegations for years after his suspension, he finally admitted to his actions in his 2004 book, "My Prison Without Bars." Read the Sports Illustrated article about it here.