All-time hit king and former Phillie Pete Rose reinstated by MLB

Pete Rose’s name was forever stained in Major League Baseball due to gambling on games during his playing and managing days with the Cincinnati Reds. Rose received and accepted a lifetime ban handed down by former commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti in 1989, and after years of denial, the all-time hit king admitted to his actions.

Rose had a fiery personality and played with an intense style. He wanted to win at all costs but was often criticized for his behavior and attitude. Rose will be remembered as one of the most polarizing figures in baseball history.

All-time hit king and former Phillie Pete Rose reinstated by MLB

On Tuesday, Commissioner Rob Manfred removed Rose and other deceased players, such as “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, from the permanently ineligible list. It was a historic decision that gained significant support over the years. 

Many believed that Rose should already be in the Hall of Fame. His on-field dominance and impressive accolades speak for themselves. Many thought the punishment was too harsh and that Rose had paid for his actions, especially as the years went on and he neared the end of his life.

Unfortunately, Rose passed away on Sept. 30, 2024, at 83 years old. Not even a full calendar year since his passing, the 17-time All-Star is now eligible to be enshrined among the greats in the Hall of Fame.

Although Rose will be remembered as a Red, spending 22 years with the organization, the former MVP spent 95 games with the Montreal Expos in 1984 after previously playing for the Philadelphia Phillies for five seasons. Rose was selected for four All-Star Games during his Phillies tenure and was a key piece to the 1980 World Series team. 

Rose led the majors with 140 hits for the Phillies in the shortened 1981 season due to a mid-season players’ strike. He finished his Phillies career with a .291 batting average, 826 hits, 165 extra-base hits and 255 RBIs in 745 games.

Rose’s all-time hits record, set at 4,256, is one of the most impressive marks in professional sports and one that may never come close to being broken. Los Angeles Dodgers 35-year-old superstar first baseman Freddie Freeman is the active hits leader with 2,308. Only four active players have 2,000 or more hits.