4,256.
That should give you an idea of my favorite player of all time. That is, if you’re a baseball fan.
That’s how many hits Peter Edward Rose had over his 24-year playing career. Of course, he’s know by today’s generation much more for being on the permanent ban list for betting on baseball and for being the guy so many have tried to get into the Hall of Fame.
Pete Rose got into one Hall of Fame … will he ever get into the big one?
He’s been turned down several times to be rinstated to baseball. The latest, by current commissioner Rob Manfred, did leave some light for the Hall though as Manfred said the Hall is not the MLB and doesn’t necessarily have to follow the ban list. That’s always been my thought, too, as the Hall of Fame is supposed to be a museum that shows the history of the game and it should be all aspects.
What Rose did on the field as a player is nearly unmatched. How about these Major League records:
- Most career winning games played – 1,972
- Most career games played – 3,562
- Only player to play at least 500 games at five different positions – 1B (939), LF (671), 3B (634), 2B (628), RF (595)
- Most career at bats – 14,053
- Most career singles – 3,215
- Most career hits – 4,256
- Most career outs – 10,328
- Most career runs by a switch hitter – 2,165
- Most career doubles by a switch hitter – 746
- Most career walks by a switch hitter – 1,566
- Most career total bases by a switch hitter – 5,752
- Most seasons of 200 or more hits – 10 (shared)
- Most consecutive seasons of 100 or more hits – 23
- Most consecutive seasons with 600 or more at bats – 13 (1968–1980) (shared)
- Most seasons with 600 at bats – 17
- Most seasons with 150 or more games played – 17
- Most seasons with 100 or more games played – 23
In the National League, he also has record:
- Most years played – 24
- Most consecutive years played – 24
- Most career runs – 2,165
- Most career doubles – 746
- Most career games with 5 or more hits – 10
- Modern (post-1900) NL record for longest consecutive-game hitting streak NL – 44
- Modern record for most consecutive hitting streaks of 20 or more games – 7
That’s impressive, no matter how you look at it.
And how about a few more tidbits:
- 17-time All-Star
- 3-time World Series champion
- NL MVP (1973)
- World Series MVP (1975)
- NL Rookie of the Year (1963)
- 2-time Gold Glove Award
- Silver Slugger Award
- Roberto Clemente Award
- 3-time NL batting champion
- Cincinnati Reds No. 14 retired
- Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame
- Major League Baseball All-Century Team
No matter how you look at it, Pete Rose was an amazing player. When I was a kid and he came to the Phillies (and proceeded to help them win their first World Series title in 1980), I loved Pete Rose and how he played the game. I used his number (14) any chance I could when I played and he was always the player I looked up to most.
He may not have the best morals at times and he may have done wrong (as he has admitted), but he’s still one of the greatest of all time and he was the one who I cheered the most as a kid. Without a doubt, to this day, he’s my favorite all-time player, though there are others who are close on the list.
If you want more information on the season-long Can of Corn Challenge, please visit this page. I am co-hosting this challenge with Kasey at Kasey at the Bat, so go visit her, too! The more the merrier, so please feel free to visit all the others and join up! Also, feel free to grab the button below!
Can of Corn 2016 – Dates
- March 17: Your favorite baseballism (saying, quote, jargon etc.)
- April 14: Best baseball memory
- May 12: Favorite ballpark (minor or major)
- June 16: The best promotion you’ve ever been to
- July 14: Dream baseball road trip
- August 18: A current rule you’d change
- September 15: Favorite player of all time
- October 20: Favorite tradition/superstitions
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