Pete Rose died last week. Pete was one of my heroes and I mourn baseball’s loss, and my personal loss. As you probably have gathered from my other posts and writings, I’m a baseball fanatic and somewhat knowledgeable about the game I love. And as such, I feel comfortable asserting that no other player in modern times so dominated baseball and, at the risk of hyperbole, I might asset that no other player ever so dominated any sport. Pete’s unprecedented number of base hits, games played, at-bats, and singles are records which, to this day, have not come close to being matched. He won 3 World Championships, 3 batting titles, was an All-Star 17 times – remarkably playing in 5 different positions; two in the outfield and 3 in the infield. No other baseball player can claim a package of accomplishments like Pete Rose’s package.
And he made a terrible, terrible mistake. He gambled on games during his playing and during his manager days, including games in which his own team was playing. For that terrible mistake, Pete was permanently banned from baseball and prohibited from entering the Hall of Fame.
I coached youth baseball for many years. I did my best to teach my young players, including my own kids, the life lessons which can be learned on the baseball field. So, what lessons should we teach kids from Pete Rose’s baseball life?
- Hustle – on the field and off. Pete’s nickname, Charlie Hustle, reflected his love, respect, and commitment to his work.
- Failures are necessary parts of success – Pete also holds the all-time record for number of outs made as a batter.
- Appreciate what you have – the drive for more and better material things often requires compromises for the sake of money. Had the adulation of Pete’s fans, me included, and his generous salary been enough, Pete would be in the Hall of Fame.
- Acknowledge your mistakes – after many years denying the gambling accusations, Pete did finally admit the truth. Although he died with the heartbreak of scandal and the unimaginable pain of being refused the HOF which he so richly deserved, he also died with a clear conscience.
- Everyone has flaws – focus on people’s good qualities and achievements. I don’t think of Pete Rose as a gambler, or as a failure for not being awarded the highest honor in his field. I think of his superstardom and the fact that no one will ever do what he did on the baseball field. Pete remains one of my heroes.
- Don’t fall into the trap that doomed Pete – we now recognize gambling as a disease. Sports broadcasts are polluted by advertisements for online betting, with addiction a proven result for too many people Make bets with your friends – for bragging rights, for Cracker Jacks, for the right to pick tonight’s movie, or for who gets to sit “shotgun” on the way to your game. Do not bet for money.
R.I.P Pete Rose
