The Pete Rose That is Never Mentioned More Than a Player
by Shawn Arguedas (Cincinnati, OH)
All I have heard for the past 15 years is that Pete Rose bet on baseball. I would like someone to take notice that Pete Rose was more than just Charlie Hustle on the field. Pete was someone that cared about baseball so much that he helped a little leaguer out of his love for the game. I should know because that little leaguer was me. I was at the local batting cage named "The Ball Game" in the early to mid-eighties trying to perfect my swing. I wanted to be like the players of the Big Red Machine that I grew up watching. I was failing horribly at my task though. I was the worst hitter that I think I've ever known. Anyway, I knew that Pete was in the building because I went back and watched him do some drills with Pete Jr. After I sat and watched in awe and jealousy (after all, who wouldn't want their dad, Pete Rose helping them with their game?), I went to my cage to start trying to hit the ball. I probably went through a couple of dollars and was about to give up for the day. While hitting my last round I felt someone looking over my shoulder. I thought it was my step father looking over me trying to irritate me. I looked back to tell him to leave me alone, and that is when time stopped. I couldn't believe it, there was Pete Rose in the cage with me. He proceeded to adjust my stance and give me some pointers that were great for some other player that may have had talent. Even though we both had to know that I was a horrible hitter he gave me words of encouragement that to this day convince me that this man is truly the best. How many players in today's game would take time out from their day to help a kid in a batting cage? So what if he lied? So what if he bet? He gave his soul to the game and for that brief moment in the eighties, he gave the game to me.
BALLPLAYERS | TEAMS | CHRONOLOGY | TODAY | BOOKS | NEWSLETTER | ERRATA | FAQ
