Pete Rose, 1941-2024

*Photo credit AFP

The sports world was dealt a blow on Monday with the passing of Major League Baseball legend Pete Rose. He was 83. NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo also passed away on Monday.

Rose is MLB’s all-time hit leader, with 4,256. Over 24 seasons, he was a 17-time all-star and his lifetime batting average was .303. Rose led the league in hits seven times, and batting average three times, including a career-best .348 in 1969. He was National League MVP in 1973, and World Series MVP in 1975.

He was a two-time World Series champion with the Cincinnati Reds (1975-1976), part of the “Big Red Machine”, with Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, and Tony Perez. He also won the World Series in 1980 with the Philadelphia Phillies.

From 1963-1978, Rose played for the Reds before suiting up for the Phillies from 1979-1983. After spending one season (1984) in Montreal with the Expos, he returned to Cincinnati from 1984-1986. He also managed the Reds from 1984-1989.

Rose deserves to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame, of which he has been exiled from since it was discovered that he placed bets as manager.

RIP to one of the greatest players in history.