Pete Rose: Ohio’s Hit King, All Hail The King!

One of my boyhood heroes died today, Pete Rose. The "Hit King" of professional baseball who had 4256 hits (for non-baseball fans, that means hitting the ball and succeeding in getting on - at least first base - in the process), an all-time major league record.

Pete was from my side of town, the blue collar west side of Cincinnati. He lived in the area, went to school there, and played most of his career for the Cincinnati Reds (including player-head coach for while). We called him "Charlie Hustle" because he ran like hell for first base even if it was 99% certain he'd be thrown out.

Other players would break stride and figure not worth the effort to see if the first baseman muffed the catch or it got there late. They would jog. Not Pete. He went after the 1% possibility. Every time. Even if it was bottom of the 9th and the Reds down 10 runs.

He dove head first, as needed. He watched every throw from the time the pitcher let go until it either hit his bat or went into the catcher's glove. Pete was a baseball scientist and he hammered his way into the record book by pure passion and guts.

It's truly an injustice that big sports betting operations are all over the internet, and every baseball team - including the Reds - has an "official gambling partner of MLB", that Pete was kept out of the Hall of Fame during his lifetime.

Look up how disgusting Ty Cobb was as a human being sometime, including things Cobb said about the Negro Leagues. He's the guy Pete displaced in 1985 for the top number of hits. Look up OJ who is in the football Hall of Fame. Pete never murdered anybody or threw a game to cover a bet or cleated opposing players.

My competitive ethic comes from Pete via my father. We loved Pete for what he did between the lines on the field.

That's how I choose to race my cars, from the same mentality. Leave it all on the field of play, never quit right up to the checker flag, and stay between the lines. It's the mindset my dad and Pete taught me.

And he's in my Hall of Fame no matter what the hell they do in Cooperstown amongst the weenies who never played the game but get to vote. Pete was Teddy Roosevelt's prototype of "The Man In The Arena". Take your Hall and shove it up your ass, MLB.

Pete is The Hit King. All hail the King!

Photo is of my other hero Jackie Robinson's Louisville Slugger bat, Hudepohl Beer World Series commemorative, and Pete's Mizuno bat - personally signed by him in my presence above the manufacturer's facsimile signature. Hell yes.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Hustle.