Pete Rose, Cincinnati’s “Hit King,” has died

Major League Baseball’s controversial hit king has died. Pete Rose, who both played for and managed the Cincinnati Reds, was 83 years old.

Rose’s former wife, Karolyn Rose, confirmed his death and stated that he was found lifeless in his Las Vegas home.

Rose grew up in Cincinnati and began his professional career in 1963 with his hometown team. He was a member of the “Big Red Machine,” the lineup that dominated the MLB in the 1970s.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of Pete’s death,” 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. Nobody loved the game more than Pete and nobody loved Pete more than the Reds.” Country. We must never forget what he achieved.

LISTEN: “Charlie Hustle” chronicles the historic and tumultuous career of Pete Rose

In a post on social media, longtime Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman wrote: “I really don’t know what to say. I can’t believe he’s gone. My two best baseball friends are gone. First Joe Morgan and now Pete. I’m having a hard time coming to terms with this at the moment.

After stints with the Phillies and Montreal Expos, Rose returned to Cincinnati as player-manager. In 1985, Rose surpassed Ty Cobb’s record and finished his career a year later with 4,256 hits. His days in Major League Baseball ended in obscurity when Rose was accused of illegal gambling and received a lifetime ban from the MLB and Hall of Fame.

John Erardi, a former sportswriter for the Cincinnati Enquirer, says Rose deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously.

“He deserves it because his record is largely free of any scandals regarding steroids and the like,” he said. “(There is) no indication that he bet against the Reds – ever bet. I think his record for all-time hit number is clear and indicates that he should be inducted into the Hall of Fame. So I hope it will be inducted posthumously,” but I wouldn’t guarantee it.

Erardi says no one has ever played harder than Rose.

“I’ve never met a man like him in baseball in my life. No one was a better ambassador for the game than Pete Rose,” he tells WVXU.

Rose was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2016 and the team retired his number 14 that same year. The 17-time All-Star remains the MLB’s all-time leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and singles (3,215). He won two World Series with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and a third with the Phillies in 1980.

From the archives: Pete Rose talks about the movie “Babe Ruth” on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” in 1991

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine issued a statement following news of Rose’s death, recalling a visit to the Reds’ inaugural parade in 1963.

“…Our priest, Father Bertke, took my father and me to the Reds’ opening game. It happened to be Pete Rose’s first game for the Reds,” he recalled. “Fran and our family have had the pleasure of watching Pete play for the Reds hundreds of times over the years. No one has ever worked harder or demanded more than Pete Rose. No one has ever made more use of his natural talent than Pete Rose. That’s it.” It’s a real joy to watch him play baseball…”

Rose’s storied career remains marred by the gambling allegations that led to his expulsion from the MLB Hall of Fame. In his 2004 autobiography, My Prison Without Bars, he admitted betting on games, including the Reds. He also served five months in federal prison for tax evasion in 1990-91.

Rose was also accused in an affidavit by an unidentified woman of having sex with her in 1973 when she was 14 years old. In court documents, Rose acknowledged the incident occurred but claimed the girl was 16, the age of consent in Ohio. By the time the story broke, the statute of limitations had expired, so no charges were filed.

This is breaking news and will be updated.