CINCINNATI — Thousands of fans streamed into Great American Ball Park despite steady rain Sunday to pay their respects to Pete Rose, Major League Baseball’s career hits leader, who died Sept. 30 at the age of 83.
The 14-hour visitation, in honor of Rose’s jersey number, was arranged by the Cincinnati Reds with cooperation from Rose’s daughters, Fawn and Kara, who exchanged hugs, stories and even some tears with fans.
“We wanted to do something like this,” said Rick Walls, executive director of the Reds Hall of Fame. “You could see from the turnout, it means a lot to the people here. It’s a moving experience.”
Rose, known as Charlie Hustle for his unbridled passion for the game, was the engine behind Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine clubs that won back-to-back World Series titles in 1975-76.
A 17-time MLB All-Star, the switch-hitting Rose played on three World Series winners, winning his third with the 1980 Philadelphia Phillies. He was the National League MVP in 1973 and the World Series MVP two years later. He holds MLB records for games played (3,562) and plate appearances (15,890), but no milestone approached his 4,256 hits, which surpassed his hero Ty Cobb’s 4,191.