Embattled MLB legend Pete Rose, all-time hit leader, has died aged 83

Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader who was banned from baseball for betting on the sport, has died at age 83, the coroner in Clark County, Nevada, confirmed to ABC News on Monday.

Rose was found by a family member. The coroner will conduct an investigation to determine the cause and manner of death, but there are no signs of foul play, according to ABC News.

“Charlie Hustle,” as he was known for his relentless playing style, failed in his attempt to be inducted into the Hall of Fame during his lifetime. Only gambling prevented him from being inducted, as his achievements on the field are undoubtedly Hall of Fame worthy.

Rose’s 4,256 hits are 67 more than Ty Cobb’s career mark for most hits in MLB history. Rose also played in the most games and had the most attacks in history. In a playing career that spanned from 1963 to 1986, Rose won three batting titles and led the league in hits seven times. He was the 1963 Rookie of the Year, a 17-time All-Star and the 1973 National League MVP.

His best seasons came as a member of the Cincinnati Reds’ “Big Red Machine,” which won back-to-back titles in 1975 and 1976. Rose was the 1975 World Series MVP. In 1978, Rose captivated the baseball world as he followed Joe DiMaggio’s record-breaking 56-game hitting streak. He ended up reaching the NL mark of 44 games, but that was the end of it.

Even before the gambling scandal broke, Rose was a polarizing figure. His hard-nosed style was loved by his team’s fans, but not appreciated by everyone. Nothing encapsulated this dynamic better than the 1970 All-Star Game, when Rose scored the game-winning hit by outrunning Cleveland catcher Ray Fosse at the plate. Even though the All-Star Games were taken more seriously back then than they are today, many still felt critical of the game.

However, even those who didn’t love him had to admit that Rose was one of the best players of all time – a surefire Hall of Famer. But that all unraveled in 1989. MLB conducted an investigation into rumors that Rose — who managed the Reds — had bet on baseball. John Dowd concluded in his report that he had placed bets on baseball games, including on his own team.

After a legal battle in which Rose denied ever betting on baseball, he finally relented and accepted a lifetime ban from commissioner Bart Giamatti. Shortly after the ban came into effect, Rose was also convicted of tax evasion and spent several months in prison.

Many believe Rose accepted the ban in hopes of successfully applying for reinstatement, but that never happened. Although he applied several times, most recently in 2015, he was always rejected. The argument against reinstatement often included Rose never admitting wrongdoing. He finally did so in a 2004 autobiography in which he admitted to betting on baseball, including Reds games, although he said he never bet against his team.

Baseball made an exception to the ban in 1999, allowing Rose to take the field in a ceremony at Turner Field as a member of the MLB’s All-Century Team.