Breaking News: Pete Rose, the Ex-Phillies World Series Champion, has Passed Away at 83.
Pete Rose, a key player in the Phillies’ 1980 World Series victory, passed away on Monday at 83, as confirmed by ABC News.
Rose, one of baseball’s all-time greats, was a 17-time All-Star, three-time batting champion, and holds the record for the most career hits with 4,256. His standout season came in 1973 when he won the MVP after hitting .338 and amassing 230 hits in 160 games. Rose spent his first 16 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds before joining the Phillies in 1979 with a four-year, $3.2 million contract.
During his five years with the Phillies, Rose was a four-time All-Star, won a Silver Slugger, and helped secure the 1980 World Series title. He contributed to three division-winning teams and helped lead the Phillies to another World Series in 1983. Over 745 games with the Phillies, Rose had a .291 batting average, eight home runs, and 255 RBIs. His time with the team ended after a career-low season in 1983 when he was released.
After leaving the Phillies, Rose played his final three seasons with the Montreal Expos and returned to the Reds, setting the MLB record for career hits in 1985 by surpassing Ty Cobb’s mark. He also served as the Reds’ player-manager, becoming the last player-coach in MLB history. Rose retired in 1986 and continued managing until 1989, when he was permanently banned from baseball due to gambling allegations. As a result, he was never inducted into the Hall of Fame, despite efforts to have him reinstated.
In 2016, Rose was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame, though a similar honor from the Phillies in 2017 was canceled due to further controversies. He made a final appearance in Philadelphia in 2022 during a celebration of the 1980 championship team.
In addition to holding the all-time hits record, Rose also has records for most games played, singles, times on base, and runs scored by a switch hitter. At the time of his retirement, he held the best fielding percentage for a right fielder at 99.14 percent. During his time with the Phillies, he mostly played first base. Alongside Mike Schmidt, Rose formed one of baseball’s most notable duos.
Though his legacy was marred by off-field issues, Pete Rose remains one of the greatest players in baseball history, and his contributions to the sport and the Phillies will endure.
