Baseball icon Rose dies on the same day as NBA hero Mutombo

US baseball icon Pete Rose, whose successes were overshadowed by a betting scandal, died on Monday in the US state of Nevada at the age of 83, according to authorities.

Rose will therefore miss out on induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

He also made headlines in the US for having a child out of wedlock and filing false tax returns, which landed him five months in prison.

Rose set a record with 4,256 hits. When he became the sole record holder in September 1985, then US President Ronald Reagan called to congratulate the then 44-year-old.

Rose played a total of 24 years in the MLB, including 18 years for the Cincinnati Reds. He was named to the All-Star team 17 times and won the World Series three times.

“Major League Baseball extends its deepest condolences to Pete Rose’s family, his friends throughout the game, and the fans of his hometown of Cincinnati, Philadelphia and beyond who admired his greatness, courage and determination on the field. “May he rest in peace,” MLB said in a statement.

The MLB opened an investigation into Rose in 1989 over allegations that he had bet on baseball games, including in Cincinnati. Rose repeatedly denied the allegations but agreed to a lifetime ban.

His death came on the same day that NBA star Dikembe Mutombo died of a brain tumor at the age of 58.

The 7-foot-11 Basketball Hall of Fame member played in the NBA from 1991 to 2009, playing for the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.

He was named to the NBA All-Star team eight times and was named Defensive Player of the Year four times. His index finger became legendary when he blocked an opponent on the offensive and said: “Not in my house.”