Hustling Facts About Pete Rose, Baseball's Scandalous Star
Nicknamed “Charlie Hustle” and the “Hit King,” Pete Rose made history with an unparalleled passion for the baseball and an aggressive style of play that took him all the way to the top of the record books.
Unfortunately for him, the story didn’t end there. As legendary and unique as he was on the field, constant scandal and controversy have marked his life off the field.
And, of course, for more than a quarter of a century, this cultural icon has been at the core of one of the sport’s darkest episodes.
With the good, the bad, and the ugly all included, here are 50 hustling facts about Pete Rose.
1. Like Father, Like Son
Pete Rose was born in Cincinnati in 1941, the firstborn son of a very ambitious young man named Harry. Harry was a former amateur athlete, sports commentator, and banker.
Always competitive, he dreamed of seeing his offspring develop the same intense drive for success that he always had. And when we say “intense drive,” we aren’t exaggerating. Harry once broke his hip in the middle of a football game...
and still kept running until he finished a tackle!
2. On the Edge of His Seat
Harry Rose’s all-out attitude was so extreme that it sometimes carried over into his life off the field.
For example, while explaining how to properly carry out a football tackle during an appearance on a sports show one week, Harry pounced with full force onto a wooden chair to visually demonstrate what he was trying to explain.
He tackled the chair so hard, it shattered to pieces—leaving the host (and probably a few viewers) in a state of utter shock. That’s the man young Pete Rose idolized. It’s no surprise that Rose would one day epitomize the concept of an athlete who will do anything to win.
3. Never Lose Focus
Rose always grew up with the clear understanding that his dad expected him to give everything he had to become a great baseball player. He couldn’t even go to the movies. Harry didn't want anything to distract from his son’s athletic work ethic; he insisted that Pete use that time to hone his baseball skills instead.
4. In Good Company
As a child, Rose was a member of the Order of DeMolay, a Boy Scouts-esque youth wing of the famous, centuries-old fraternal organization known as the Freemasons.
We know how much conspiracy theorists love claiming that this organization secretly runs the world and determines who becomes successful, so here’s some fun fuel for their argument: Some of Rose’s frat brothers in this group included names like animation legend Walt Disney, President Bill Clinton, Hollywood legend John Wayne, and pop-culture icon Mel Blanc (the voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and many others).
