Elliott: Remembering Pete Rose
Pete Rose, far right, after his 4,000th career hit at Olympic Stadium. Photo: Ron Poling, Canadian Press
October 2, 2024
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
One morning in February of 1984, Al Oliver had finished an interview inside the third base clubhouse at Municipal Stadium at West Palm Beach.
Oliver was a great hitter and was not shy about talking about his chances of being elected to the Hall of Fame. Entering the 1984 season, he had 2,546 hits in his career and would often predict he was bound for Cooperstown. Oliver, who Pete Rose called Dr. Hall, watched as Oliver headed to the field.
“Hey kid,” Rose yelled across the room to catcher Gary Carter after Oliver disappeared, “Dr. Hall thinks he’s going to the Hall of Fame, but you and I know we both are going.”
Rose already had 3,990 hits when he put on an Expos blue uniform. Carter was elected to Cooperstown in 2003, his sixth year on the ballot. Oliver would finish with 2,743 hits in his 18-year career.
As Oliver would often point out after he retired, he had more hits than Lou (The Iron Horse) Gehrig, who had 2,721 hits in his 18 years. Only 11 players have more than 2,700 hits and are not in the Hall: Rafael Palmeiro (3,020), Barry Bonds (2,935), Omar Vizquel (2,877), Johnny Damon (2,769), Vada Pinson (2,757), Oliver, Carlos Beltran (2,725), Rusty Staub (2,716), Bill Buckner (2,715), Dave Parker (2,712) and Doc Cramer (2,705).
Of course, Albert Pujols (3,384), Miguel Cabrera (3,174) and Ichiro Suzuki (3,089) have not been eligible.
Oliver was on the Baseball Writers of America Association ballot only in 1991 when he obtained 4.3% of the vote, less than the 5% needed to remain on the ballot. He has been on the Veteran’s Committee ballot three times (2007, 2009 and 2011) without gaining election.
Yet, Oliver got closer to the plaque gallery than Rose, the all-time hit leader with 4,256 hits, who passed away on Monday. Rose was often in upstate New York on induction weekend ... except Rose was sitting in a storefront window or down a side street signing autographs for a price. Any year we saw him there was always a line.
* * *
We remember when the key member of the Big Red Machine came to the Expos. Johnny Bench. Joe Morgan. Tony Perez. Hall of Famers all. Except for Rose.
Rose told us of his rookie year in 1963 how Reds GM Bob Howsam called him into the office to ask him, “Why are you hanging around with black players Frank Robinson and Vada Pinson?”
The second baseman told us his answer: “Well, Mr. Howsam, the white players don’t want to hang with me because I took their friend’s job at second.” Rose replaced the popular Don Blasingame.
And once we asked former Reds infielder Tommy Helms about Rose.
“Pete was a great guy ... we always went for beers together after games,” Helms said. “And I’d drink both the beers.”
* * *
We remember thinking we knew Rose well enough to believe Rose’s “I didn’t bet on baseball” line for decades. He would often say he’d “run over his own grandmother to score the winning run” -- as he did to his friend Ray Fosse ending the 1970 All-Star Game. And Fosse’s career.
I even voted for Rose as a write-in candidate as did 40 others in 1992. Rose never was on the BBWAA ballot. I doubt he ever would have been elected as he violated the game’s Rule No. 21: “no wagering on the game” rule. Yet writers were not given the opportunity to make the decision. The commissioner’s office placed him on the ineligible list.
Years later, he admitted that he had bet on the game “in 1987 and 1988.” His defence was he didn’t always bet on his team ... but if he bet the first three games of a four-game series and did not wager on the fourth, well chances are his bullpen was spent.
There was a thought by some that Rose’s crime -- wagering -- was worse than Jose Canseco and the steroid gang. The rationale was while Canseco and others cheated, they cheated to win. What if a family of four drove 50 miles into Cincinnati for a game, paid for parking, bought tickets, bought a round of hot dogs and drinks? Their sole goal was to see the Reds win and the manager had so much confidence in his team, he didn’t bet.
* * *
We remember the No. 1 question of the spring of 1984 was “where will Rose play?” The Expos had three players — Terry Francona, Rose and Oliver, who won 2/3 of the NL triple crown in 1981 — for two spots — first base and left field. Manager Bill Virdon eventually decided that Francona, 25, would play first base and Rose, 43, would be in left field when the season opened at the Astrodome against the Houston Astros.
Oliver was dealt to the San Francisco Giants for Fred Breining, Max Venable and Andy McGaffigan on Feb. 27 that spring.
With rookie shortstop Argenis Salazar and Rose in left, we wondered how many balls to shallow left might fall into the Bermuda Triangle. We remember on decision day being in Virdon’s office for maybe 40 minutes as he explained why the 43-year-old would be asked to cover left field and not the 25-year-old.
As we were about to depart Virdon dropped an “oh by the way gentleman ... Andre Dawson will move to right field, we don’t want his knees taking all that abuse on the turf at home ... Tim Raines will play centre.”
Rose playing left fielder became the secondary story. Dawson had been part of the Expos young outfield of prospects with Warren Cromartie in left, Dawson in centre and Ellis Valentine in right. Cromartie was granted free agency after the 1983 season. The Expos always had questions about Raines’ sore arm, moving the second baseman to left. Now he was expected to cover centre.
Ten hits shy of 4,000, Rose had two hits opening day, then a hit in each of the three-game series in Atlanta and two in each of the first two games in Cincinnati. So, he headed into the series finale at Riverfront Stadium needing one for 4,000.
Reds starter Bruce Berenyi walked Rose to lead off the game, walked him again in the second and again in the fourth. Rose grounded out against Frank Pastore, but Pastore walked Rose to lead off the eighth as 18,923 fans booed the hometown pitcher.
Rose said something like “probably 90% of the people here know me ... and roughly 50% are probably right.”
As the Expos rushed for their charter, word spread that Rose had been wed that morning in a civil ceremony. Expos boss John McHale had a rule only wives were allowed on the charter. Rather than asking his wife’s name, a Los Angeles scribe asked, “What do you call her?”
Rose said, “Well, I call her Carol, but if you saw her you’d probably say ‘WOW!’” Carol was a former Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader.
I was talking to Dawson at the next locker, who had one leg in his dress pant and was about to put his other leg in when he heard Rose’s ‘Wow’ line. Standing on one leg he fell backwards over the bench into the locker.
I thought there goes the Expo season. The headline would be “Rose’s one-liner knocks out Dawson with knee surgery.” Once he stopped laughing, Dawson righted himself and all was well.
* * *
We remember the night of Aug. 15 in San Francisco. The Expos had beat the Giants 8-3 in a day game. After we wrote we heard that Rose had been traded to the Reds. In those days, everyone on the charter had a rooming list.
So, rather than going out on the town, I sat in my room at Westin St. Francis and dialed Rose’ room extension every 15 minutes. I recognized the lobby from a movie starring Barbara Streisand and Ryan O’Neal. I can’t recall the name of the movie.
The next day I was told he’d left town before dark and two days later he made his debut as playing-manager with the Reds.
Rose started 66 of the Expos first 116 games, 38 starts at first and 28 more in left field. He was used as a pinch hitter in 29 games.
* * *
I remember Rose being the easiest interview. It was similar to Duke Snider interviewing Gary Carter on an Expo post-game show.
Snider: “Good game, Kid ...”
Carter: “All’s I gotta say Duker ...”
Maybe Snider asked a second question, maybe not. Carter would just ramble for seven minutes. And Rose was the same.
Writer: “Hey Pete ... how is it going?”
Pete: “I got one for you ...”
Ten minutes later, the writer said, “Thanks for your time Pete.”
* * *
I remember Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle being placed on the suspended list for being ‘greeters’ at Atlantic City casinos. As a greeter, they would stop by a few weekends to say hello to the high rollers and play a golf tournament or two. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn handed down the decision.
Kuhn’s successor Peter Ueberroth lifted the suspensions.
We are not suggesting that neither was Rose a saint, nor should be elected to Cooperstown. Just as the game has changed since Rose’s day, so has the betting climate. Every TV station has ads for point spreads, for over/unders on total bases, hits, home runs and any prop bet you can imagine. DraftKings is a partner with big-league baseball.
* * *
I remember the night Rose broke Stan Musial’s National League hit record in 1981 at Veterans Stadium. As Philadelphia Phillies legendary P.R. man Larry Shenk told us: “Pete always knew everything, the other team’s pitching rotations, hot and cold hitters, injured players and promoted players.”
After the game in which he broke Musial’s record, Shenk and Rose walked the corridor to a press conference and Rose asked: “I suppose you have the president calling.”
It took three or four tries for the two sides to connect. The White House operator apologized and Rose said, “I’ve waited 19 years. I can wait five more minutes.” After another failed connection, Rose said, “What’s that, a missile isn’t on the way?” as the audience laughed.
The statue of Pete Rose in Cincinnati is adorned with roses outside the Great American Ballpark.
* * *
And I remember Rose, now back with the Reds, hitting a single to left to break Ty Cobb’s all-time hit record facing San Diego’s Eric Show at Riverfront Stadium.
President Reagan called Rose to congratulate him again and Rose told him, “You missed a good ball game tonight. If you had been here tonight, sir, you would know why we consider Cincinnati the baseball capital of the world.”
President Regan introduced himself and said, “Congratulations for breaking one of the most enduring records in history. I’ve been rooting for you.”
* * *
I remember a visit to see Rose in March of 1992 inside the clubhouse of the Stonebridge condo/golfing community in Boca Raton, Fla. He was doing a two-hour talk show on WJNO in West Palm Beach.
Rose told me that day that he doesn’t “do any illegal gambling.’’ We sat in the clubhouse as Rose’s friends stopped by. He asked me, “You know Freddie right?”
“Fred McGriff ... yes, I know him.”
Rose says “No, Freddie Couples the golfer.”
The all-time Hit King dropped names like hits off the bat to all fields: Calumet Farms. Kentucky Gov. Brereton Jones. Race car driver Price Cobb. Meeting Princess Margaret and Princess Fergie.
The questions came fast and furious from guests who stopped by the table to get some bats signed. Rose answered them all as if he was trying to get the words out to beat a quiz show buzzer.
Q: “Who’d you get the most hits off?’’
Rose’s answer: “I had 70 off Phil Niekro and 30 off his brother, Joe. Nice family.’’
Q: “What do you think of Nolan Ryan?’’
A: Could throw the ball through a car wash and not get it wet.’’
Q: “Best pitcher you ever faced?’’
A: “Juan Marichal.’’
Q: “Best hitter you played with?’’
B: “Mike Schmidt.’’
Q: Best player on the Big Red Machine?’’
A: “Joe Morgan.’’
Q: “Best owner?’’
A: “Ruly Carpenter of the Phils.’’
Q: “Best hitter in the game today?’’
A: “Wade Boggs.’’
Q: “The pitcher you were most afraid of?’’
A: “I was never afraid.’’
Rose was asked about sitting in prison watching the Reds - the team he managed to four straight second-place finishes - win the 1990 World Series. Rose explained he was behind bars for tax evasion - not for wagering on baseball. Rose said he was supposed to have paid $2.363 million in taxes over the time frame the I.R.S. examined but only paid $2.2 million.
He claimed he paid $366,000 in back taxes and fines yet he still went to jail. Regrets? Rose must have a few.
“The biggest I have is all the fans I disappointed, I’m human. All I want is a second chance,” Rose said. “Bob Costas once he asked me why I wasn’t bitter. I don’t have time for bitterness. Life’s too short.’’
Wife Carol and son Tyler arrive.
“You remember this guy, Carol?’’ asks Rose. “He was telling me how the writer asked what I called you. I said I called you Carol, but most people just look at you and say, ‘Wow!’”
Carol blushed.
“This guy knew you when you were young,’’ Rose says to Tyler.
“How young?’’ wonders Tyler.
“Back when you were in Mommy’s tummy.’’
Tyler made a face. Now he wants an omelette. Rose called over the waitress, who told Rose “this is the third time I’ve closed out your chit and had to start a new one. You’re as bad as some of our older members.’’
“I am an older member,’’ said Rose.
* * *
Rose was often asked about a second chance and whether he’d ever be eligible for the Hall of Fame.
“The sad thing about my deal is this,” he said in pure Rose speak, “if I’d have been a drug addict, if I’d have been an alcoholic, if I had been a spousal abuser ... I probably would be reinstated and back managing the Reds. I took the wrong vice.”
He’s not correct on the second chance -- maybe to the game itself, but not the Hall of Fame.
Pete Rose was never mistaken for a saint. He had his major-league flaws like many of us.
And Monday night in Las Vegas, Rose, died at age 83.
The discussion on his career and life continues.