Pete Rose, the missing piece whose arrival spurred the Phillies to their first World Championship in 1980, died Monday in Nevada, at 83. Responses to the news, from Philly and all over the baseball world, was appreciative, rich, and complicated. His obituary is here.
Rose is the all-time baseball leader in hits, won an MVP, and served as the driving engine of the great Cincinnati Reds “Big Red Machine” teams of the ’70s. He was also banned from baseball for betting on the sport, and was never made eligible afterward for the sport’s Hall of Fame. His legacy is among the most contentious and complicated in American professional sports.
His time with the Phillies was less complicated. The Phillies signed Rose as a free agent in 1979, making him the highest-paid athlete in team sports with a four-year, $3.2-million contract, though that honor didn’t last long.
One year later, he helped them to the World Series, just as the team hoped. They had won their division the three previous years, but had been unable to corral the biggest prize.
That all changed in 1980, with Rose playing first base and living up to his nickname, “Charlie Hustle,” won its first World Series.
During Rose’s five-year tenure with the Phillies, the team experienced consistent success:
- They earned three division titles
- Made two World Series appearances (1980 and 1983)
Despite being a great player when he joined the Phillies, he showed an ability to be flexible to help the team. With Mike Schmidt established at third base, Rose moved to first base.
Rose retired after the 1986 season, and became manager of the Reds. It seemed he was certain to go to the Baseball Hall of Fame, but that all came apart in 1989. The league conducted an investigation into rumors that Rose had bet on baseball. A report by investigator John Dowd found that Rose had bet on baseball games, including on his own team. He ultimately accepted a lifetime ban from the game.
Baseball relented over time, and Rose was allowed to visit ballparks. He visited Citizens Bank Park in 2022 for an alumni event.
Rose was a 17-time All-Star, a three-time champion and baseball’s all-time leader in hits and games played. And he was clutch. RIP, Pete.
