Pete Rose.

Pete Rose. Pete Rose, born in 1941, American baseball player and manager, who set the major league record for career hits (4,256). Rose's career was tarnished by a gambling scandal while he was a major league manager, resulting in his lifetime banishment from baseball. Throughout Rose's 24-year playing career he established a reputation for pushing his natural talents beyond their limits. His aggressive base running more than compensated for his lack of speed and earned him the nickname Charlie Hustle. Rose was known for his enthusiasm and effort, including his trademark headfirst slides. Peter Edward Rose was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. A switch-hitter who played both infield and outfield, Rose was signed by the hometown Cincinnati Reds and became the National League (NL) rookie of the year in 1963. He won consecutive NL batting titles in 1968 (.335) and 1969 (.348) and was named NL most valuable player (MVP) in 1973 with a league-leading .338 average. Rose helped the Reds win consecutive World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. In 1978 he had a 44-game hitting streak (consecutive games with at least one hit), which tied the NL record. Rose remained with Cincinnati through 1978, then signed to play with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1979. His veteran leadership helped bring the Philadelphia franchise its first World Series championship in 1980. In 1984 Rose moved to the Montréal Expos but in late season returned to the Reds, where he finished the year as playermanager. In 1985 fans and media throughout the country followed Rose as he approached and then passed the all-time record of 4,191 hits set by Hall of Famer Ty Cobb. Rose retired as a player in 1986 but continued to manage the Cincinnati club until 1989. His career numbers include major league records in games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053), and base hits (4,256). In 1989 an investigation was launched concerning allegations that Rose bet on baseball games, including those involving the Reds while he was Cincinnati manager. The findings resulted in a lifetime suspension from baseball. Rose insisted that his gambling activities had never involved baseball, but he agreed not to challenge the baseball commissioner's ruling in court. His personal problems continued, and in 1990 he pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion and served five months in federal prison. In 2003 Rose admitted betting on baseball games as a manager in his autobiography My Prison Without Bars. In a controversial decision, the National Baseball Hall of Fame voted in 1991 to deny the consideration of anyone banned from Major League Baseball. The focus of the decision was Rose, who had been expected to easily win election in 1992, his first year of eligibility. Although some players and fans felt that Rose's accomplishments on the field should be recognized regardless of his off-field actions, the Hall of Fame has not removed the ban. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.