Key Takeaways
- Pete Edward Rose, a.k.a. Charlie Hustle, was born to a Christian Family on April 14, 1941, in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S..
- Rose had never been much religious, and his faith in god was questionable.
- Despite many of his failings as a person, we cannot neglect the FACT that he was an excellent player.
Pete Rose, a legendary switch hitter in Major League Baseball, earned a reputation for his relentless drive on the field. This culminated in three World Series championships, three batting titles, an MVP Award, two Gold Gloves, and the coveted Rookie of the Year Award.
Nicknamed “Charlie Hustle,” Rose was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 14, 1941. Throughout his career, he played five different positions—second baseman, left fielder, right fielder, third baseman, and first baseman—before transitioning to management after his playing days ended.
Rose passed away on September 30, 2024, at the age of 83, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Reflecting on his life, it’s often said, “Your life flashes before your eyes on your deathbed,” and indeed, Rose’s extraordinary journey from humble beginnings to baseball stardom is one to remember.
Growing up in a large Christian family, Rose struggled academically but found his calling in sports. His family stood behind him every step of the way, encouraging his decision to pursue a career in MLB.
Although never particularly religious, Rose’s life took a path that transcended his early beliefs.
Rose avoided vices like alcohol, drugs, and smoking, but he famously couldn’t resist the lure of gambling.
His post-playing career saw him manage the Cincinnati Reds, the team with which he had forged much of his legacy. However, this chapter would ultimately be marred by controversy due to his gambling activities.
Following an investigation in 1989, it was discovered that he had been placing bets on games in which he managed one of the teams, leading to a lifetime ban from sports.
When seen on TV, he was flashy, arrogant, and a known womanizer.
In 2017, a woman accused Rose of se*ual harassment when she was just a minor of 14 or 15 in the 1970s.
Vain should be the word to describe him, and has admitted to fathering at least one child out of marriage.
It also seems that taking a trip to prison was on his bucket list!
In 1990, he served five months after pleading guilty to two charges of filing false income tax returns.
Despite many of his failings as a person, we cannot neglect the FACT that he was an excellent player.
Brilliant enough to belong with the baseball’s all-time greats in the hall of fame!
“My Lord Jesus Christ is looking over me right now, and he’s telling me to spread his Gospel to everyone,” said Rose. “I no longer want to be reinstated into baseball for the glory. I want back in so I can use my high profile position to draw attention to the scriptures and tell everyone the good news of the Messiah. Furthermore, in the Bible it says that gambling is OK as long as you don’t bet on your own team. It’s on page 324.”
Via the brushback
Did Rose have a sudden change of heart? Did he really repent? Only Jesus knows!
“Boy, that’s a last resort, but desperate times call for desperate measures, I could just say I’ve overcome my problem and turned my life over to the Lord Jesus Christ and my mission is to give all glory to him. You know, getting into the Hall of Fame would be just one more way for me to glorify Him. I just hope it’s not too late. Maybe if I found the guy earlier I’d already be reinstated by now.”
Rose (In the BrushBack.com Volume 1 Issue 36)
"A Jesus makeover will be a hard sell for Rose, but it hasn’t stopped him from trying."
“He compares himself to the disciple Paul, who lived for years as a philanderer and a liar until he was struck by the awesome power of the Lord while riding through the desert. That’s me. I was in the desert wandering alone and afraid until I realized the power of Jesus’ love,” said Rose. “All of the gambling and lying about gambling were just manifestations of my loss and confusion, the loss and confusion that we all feel during this life. But now…but now…Man, this is hard. How do those born-again weirdoes do it?”
What should we call him…? It is difficult to describe his personality….. I’ll leave it for you to discern,
“Jesus Christ, I said I was thinking about converting. I haven’t joined the fucking seminary yet,” he said. “So lets take a deep breath and calm down boys, OK? I’ve already told Bud that I’m willing to find Jesus, but only if it helps me get back into baseball. Otherwise, what would be the point? I’m not sitting around in Bible study meetings with those freaks for nothing.”
Via the brushback
Christian by birth, but was he Christian by Faith…? It doesn’t seem so!
In Case You Didn’t Know
- He married Karolyn Englehardt on January 25, 1964, which ended in a divorce, after which he married his second wife, Carol Woliung, which also ended in a divorce, after which he was in a relationship with Kiana Kim, a playboy model 40 years his junior.
- He unofficially retired as a player on November 11, 1986, and dropped out from the Reds’ Forty-man roster.
- After retiring, he remained the Reds’ manager until August 24, 1989.
