Reds honour Pete Rose with 14-hour visitation at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park
Thousands of devoted fans braved the steady rain on Sunday to gather at Great American Ball Park and pay their respects to Pete Rose, the legendary baseball player who passed away on September 30 at the age of 83.
The Cincinnati Reds organized a 14-hour visitation, a fitting tribute to Rose’s iconic jersey number, with the collaboration of Rose’s daughters, Fawn and Kara. The emotional event saw fans sharing hugs, stories, and tears with the family, showing the impact Rose had on the baseball community.
Rick Walls, the executive director of the Reds Hall of Fame, expressed the significance of the turnout, stating, “We wanted to do something like this. You could see from the turnout, it means a lot to the people here. It’s a moving experience.”
Rose, affectionately known as “Charlie Hustle,” was the driving force behind the Cincinnati Reds’ “Big Red Machine” teams that clinched consecutive World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. A 17-time All-Star, Rose played a pivotal role in three World Series victories and earned accolades such as the National League MVP in 1973 and World Series MVP in 1975. His legacy includes holding the major league records for games played and plate appearances, but his most celebrated achievement was surpassing Ty Cobb’s hit record with 4,256 hits.
Despite being banned from Major League Baseball in 1989 for gambling on the sport, fans showed unwavering support for Rose. They arrived as early as 4 a.m. to pay their respects, walking past an urn containing his ashes and a display of his memorabilia, while a video highlighting his remarkable career played on the stadium’s screens. Flowers and mementos were left at the Rose statue near the ballpark entrance as a tribute to the baseball icon.
Longtime Reds fan Bob Augspurger reflected on Rose’s passing, saying, “He was a guy you thought was going to live forever. When I heard the news, obviously it was sad. Baseball lost its greatest ambassador.”
In a statement, Fawn Rose expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support from Cincinnati, the baseball community, and fans worldwide as they mourned the loss of their beloved father, grandfather, and brother.
The Reds have announced plans to honor Rose on “Pete Rose Day” during their game against the Chicago White Sox on May 14. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:14 p.m., a nod to Rose’s iconic jersey number, in a gesture of remembrance for the baseball legend.
