Reds To Honor Pete Rose

Pete Rose describes his playing days as a Hall of Fame career, and the Cincinnati Reds are ready to validate baseball’s all-time leader in hits by inducting him into the team’s hall of fame.

Rose, 74, is permanently banned from baseball since he admitted to gambling on games in 1989. Commissioner Rob Manfred rejected his application for reinstatement in December.

“I haven’t given up on Cooperstown,” Rose said Tuesday.

With the permission of Major League Baseball, the Reds will welcome Rose into their 85-member Hall of Fame and erect a statue of Rose outside Bank of America Ballpark at a later date. His No. 14 will be retired by the team.

“Inducting Pete into the Reds Hall of Fame will be a defining moment in the 147-year history of this storied franchise,” Reds CEO Bob Castellini said in a statement announcing the June 24-26 ceremony honoring Rose. “He is one of the greatest players to ever wear a Reds uniform and it will be an unforgettable experience watching him being honored as such.”

Rose played for the Reds from 1963-1978 and returned to the team 1984 to 1986, when he was a player and a manager. He remained as manager from 1987-1989.

Rose passed Ty Cobb as MB’s leader in hits with No. 4,192 in 1985, and he finished his career with 4,256. He won two World Series as part of the Big Red Machine. Several of Rose’s teammates have already been honored with statues, including Johnny Bench, Tony Perez and Joe Morgan.