The passing of Pete Rose recently comes with great sadness that “Charlie Hustle” did not live to see himself being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. While he committed the crime of betting on baseball that got him banned from being inducted, perhaps the biggest crime in baseball history was his lifetime ban from baseball and being denied entry into the hallowed halls at Cooperstown.
Pete Rose, in most eyes, is a hall of famer and he belongs there. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame should be about your accomplishments on the field as a player and as a manager. Sure, as manager of the Reds he committed the no-no of gambling on his game. However, on the field, there may have never been a greater all-around baseball player.
Pete Rose will be remembered for many things including World Series championships, his infamous running down to first base on a walk, the head first slides, and his fiery attitude towards the game. To try to name one play or event that Pete Rose participated in as the most memorable would be difficult. However, one play does exemplify just what type of player Pete Rose was.
That play came in the 1970 All-Star game, a time when that summer event really did mean something to the players. Back then and for a long time after, players named to each league’s all-star roster played for their loyalty to their league. They treated the game like a championship event and an opportunity to show the world why they were considered the greatest.
That game in 1970 had Pete Rose standing on second base after hitting for a single and reaching second on Billy Grabarkewtiz’s single. Next up was Jim Hickman who also singled and Amos Otis of the Royals was in center field who tried to throw Rose out as he tried to score. In perfect Pete Rose style, he ran over catcher Ray Fosse who was blocking the plate as Rose gave him a violent shoulder block, knocking the ball away and allowing Rose to score the winning run. The final in 12 innings was National League 5 American League 4.
Fosse suffered a separated shoulder and was never the same. Rose was just being Charlie Hustle. Now he’s gone and only exists in memories. It’s a travesty that he is not in the Hall of Fame. The all-time hits leader and among the top ranked players in other categories is one of the greatest ever. There can be no argument against that. I’m sure he knew he belonged in Cooperstown and hopefully, Mr. Pete Rose is resting in peace.
Video of the Ray Fosse incident can be seen using the link below.
