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Sports world and more react to Pete Rose’s death: ‘It’s a tough one right now’

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Sports world and more react to Pete Rose’s death: ‘It’s a tough one right now’

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Pete Rose, the Cincinnati native who became baseball’s all-time hits leader and one of the most divisive figures in the sport’s history, died Monday. His agent, Ryan Fiterman, confirmed the news. Rose was 83.

After reaching the pinnacle of the sport he loved, Rose was banned from baseball in 1989 for gambling while serving as manager of his hometown Reds.

That came just four years after Rose broke Ty Cobb’s hit record, a mark that still stands.

The news garnered reactions from across the country Monday, including posts from the Reds and Philadelphia Phillies.

“Our hearts are deeply saddened by the news of Pete’s passing,” Reds owner Bob Castellini said in a statement. “He was one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen, and every team he played for was better because of him. Pete was a Red through and through. No one loved the game more than Pete and no one loved Pete more than Reds Country. We must never forget what he accomplished.”

“The Phillies are saddened to learn of Pete Rose’s passing,” the Phillies’ statement reads. “He will always be remembered for his grit and hustle, and for paying an integral role in bringing the team its first World Series championship.”

Sports world and more react to Pete Rose’s death

“There has never been another player like Pete Rose in my lifetime,” ESPN anchor Mike Greenberg posted to X. “This is the way I will remember him, playing the game harder than anyone else ever did. Few athletes will leave behind more complicated legacies. Today isn’t the day for that. Today, let’s just say thanks to Charlie Hustle, for playing the way we always dreamt we would if given the chance.”

“RIP Pete Rose,” former MLB All-Star José Canseco wrote. “Another player that should be in the HOF.”

Eduardo Pérez, son of Reds great Tony Pérez, announced the news on ESPN.

“It’s hard. … Just to be able to have lost Pete Rose today is a big hit for a lot of baseball families,” he said on-air, adding that he confirmed the news with Pete Rose Jr. “It’s a tough one right now.”

ESPN 1530 radio host Mo Egger and former Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman both paid tribute to the polarizing local figure on X.

“Pete Rose means a lot to a lot of people in this city. You may understand why. You may not understand why,” he wrote. “But he does. For better or worse. Whatever the second half of his life came to represent – and it’s made his legacy deeply complex – Pete is identified more than anyone with a period of time in Cincinnati that still means a bunch to a whole lot of people here. And a part of a lot of people’s youth just passed.”

“Perfect? Of course not,” Brennaman posted. “No one is, although many are quick to judge. God Bless you Peter Edward. You (will be) so very much missed. You’re in a (better) place! Your friend, TB”

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he and his wife, Fran DeWine, “are deeply saddened to learn of Pete Rose’s passing.”

“In 1963, our parish priest Father Bertke took my dad and me to the Reds’ Opening Day game,” DeWine said in a statement. “It happened to be Pete Rose’s first game for the Reds. Fran and our family had the joy of watching Pete play for the Reds hundreds of times over the years.  No one ever worked harder or hustled more than Pete Rose. No one ever got more out of his natural talent than Pete Rose. It was a true joy to watch him play baseball. Fran and I extended our sincerest condolences to Pete’s children and family.”

(This story will be updated.)

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