Pete Rose, MLB’s controversial all-time hits leader, dead at 83

Baseball legend Pete Rose died on Monday at the age of 83, the Reds confirmed.

The 17-time All-Star owned numerous MLB records during his playing career that spanned 24 years and included time with the Reds, Phillies and Expos.

News of Rose’s passing was first reported by TMZ and the outlet revealed that he had died at his home in Las Vegas.

Rose’s agent Ryan Fiterman of Fiterman Sports told TMZ that the MLB great’s family is “asking for privacy at this time.”

Details about Rose’s passing are limited, but ABC News reported that Rose had been found by a family member and that the scene is being examined.

Pete Rose’s breathtaking numbers overshadowed by his countless denials

There were no signs of foul play.

The coroner will determine the cause and manner of Rose’s death, ABC News reported.

Known as “Charlie Hustle” for his play on the field, Rose will be remembered as MLB’s hits king as well as for his gambling on baseball that led to a lifetime ban from the game.

Rose is one of baseball’s all-time greats having won three World Series titles — two with the Reds and one with the Phillies — and the 1973 National League MVP, while hanging up his cleats with records in a number of categories.

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When Rose retired from the baseball diamond in 1986, he ended his playing career as Major League Baseball’s all-time leader in hits (4,256), singles (3,215), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and plate appearances (15,890). Additionally, he captured three batting titles and two Gold Gloves.

During the 1978 season, Rose gained national attention for his 44-game hitting streak, in which he tied a nearly 100-year-old record in the National League.

It came to an end on Aug. 1 of that year when he was struck out in the ninth inning against the Braves.

“Our hearts are deeply saddened by the news of Pete’s passing,” Reds principal owner and managing partner Bob Castellini said in a statement. “He was one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen, and every team he played for was better because of him. Pete was a Red through and through. No one loved the game more than Pete and no one loved Pete more than Reds Country. We must never forget what he accomplished.”

Rose finished out his playing career as a player-manager for Cincinnati from 1984-86 before turning his full attention to managing duties until 1989.

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While there has never been any question about Rose’s greatness on the field, his lifetime ban from baseball over accusations he bet on baseball while managing the Reds has overshadowed his legacy.

Rose’s ban from baseball has remained a controversial issue to this day and he had been denied reinstatement on a number of occasions since he was handed the lifetime ban on Aug. 24, 1989.

Rose has never been up for nomination to the Baseball Hall of Fame because of the scandal and despite years of denying he ever bet on the game, Rose admitted to betting on baseball in 2004.

He claimed he never bet against the Reds.

In a 2018 interview with the Cincinnati Inquirer, Rose called his decision to bet on baseball the “one thing I would change if I had to live it all over again.”

“I would obviously turn my life around and not bet on baseball,” Rose said. “Having said that, I feel like I’ve been a pretty good citizen. You never read about me being in a bar after hours, beating up my wife, or getting into a fight with a fan and I was as gracious to everyone as I could be.”

Rose said in 2018 that the reason he never came clean about his betting was because he was afraid.

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