History of Pete Rose in Timeline
Pete Rose, nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", was a prominent MLB player and manager from 1963-1989. Best known for his time with the Cincinnati Reds' "Big Red Machine," he also played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos. Rose secured three World Series championships, one with the Phillies. As manager for the Reds, his career ended due to allegations of betting on baseball. He holds MLB records for hits (4,256), games played (3,562), and at-bats (14,053).
April 14, 1941: Peter Edward Rose Sr. Born
On April 14, 1941, Peter Edward Rose Sr., later nicknamed "Charlie Hustle," was born. He would become a prominent American professional baseball player and manager.
1960: Signs Professional Contract
In 1960, Pete Rose signed a professional baseball contract for $7,000 after graduating high school.
April 8, 1963: Major League Debut
On April 8, 1963, Pete Rose made his Major League debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Crosley Field.
1963: Rose Receives "Charlie Hustle" Nickname
During a 1963 spring training game against the New York Yankees, Whitey Ford gave Pete Rose the derisive nickname "Charlie Hustle" after he sprinted to first base after drawing a walk.
January 25, 1964: Marriage to Karolyn Englehardt
On January 25, 1964, Pete Rose married Karolyn Englehardt. They later had two children together.
April 23, 1964: Rose Scores Winning Run in No-Hitter Loss
On April 23, 1964, Pete Rose reached first base on an error and scored the winning run against the Houston Colt .45's, in a game where Ken Johnson lost a complete game no-hitter.
1968: League Leader in Batting Average
In 1968, Pete Rose led the league in batting average. He also finished in the top five vote-getters.
1969: League Leader in Batting Average
In 1969, Pete Rose again led the league in batting average and finished in the top five vote-getters.
1969: Birth of Pete Rose Jr.
In 1969, Pete Rose and Karolyn Englehardt welcomed their son, Pete Rose Jr.
1969: Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
In 1969, Pete Rose received the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award.
July 14, 1970: Rose Involved in Infamous All-Star Game Play
On July 14, 1970, at Riverfront Stadium, Pete Rose was involved in a controversial play during the All-Star Game, where he barreled over catcher Ray Fosse to score the winning run, resulting in a fractured shoulder for Fosse.
1970: Rose plays in the World Series
In 1970 Pete Rose played in the World Series, where throughout 6 World Series appearances he batted .321.
1973: Rose Wins NL MVP Award
In 1973, Pete Rose led the league with 230 hits and a .338 batting average, winning the NL MVP award and leading "the Big Red Machine" to the National League Championship Series.
1973: Named National League MVP
In 1973, Pete Rose was voted the National League's Most Valuable Player.
1975: Top Five MVP Vote-Getter
In 1975, Pete Rose finished in the top five vote-getters for the MVP award.
1975: Mention of 1975 World Series in WWE
The 1975 World Series between the Reds and the Red Sox was mentioned during Rose's WrestleMania XIV appearance, where he taunted the Boston crowd.
1976: Top Five MVP Vote-Getter
In 1976, Pete Rose finished in the top five vote-getters for the MVP award.
1976: Roberto Clemente Award
In 1976, Pete Rose was honored with the Roberto Clemente Award.
April 29, 1978: Rose Hits Three Home Runs in a Game
On April 29, 1978, Pete Rose had a career-defining performance, hitting three home runs off of three different pitchers in a game against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium, going 5-for-6.
June 14, 1978: Rose Begins Hitting Streak
On June 14, 1978, Pete Rose started a significant hitting streak, singling off Cubs pitcher Dave Roberts, leading to a run at Joe DiMaggio's record.
1978: Paternity Suit Filed
In 1978, Pete Rose was named in a paternity suit related to Morgan Erin Rubio.
1978: Reference in Billy Joel's "Zanzibar"
In 1978, Pete Rose was referenced in the lyrics of Billy Joel's song "Zanzibar", with Joel later joking in live performances that Rose will "never make the Hall of Fame."
1978: Rose Meets Tommy Gioiosa
In 1978, during spring training, Pete Rose met Tommy Gioiosa, who later became a companion and runner to Rose before bringing Rose to his gym in 1984. Gioiosa's gym was later found to be selling anabolic steroids.
1979: League Leader in On-Base Percentage
In 1979, Pete Rose led the league in on-base percentage.
1980: MLB Refusal to Participate in Phillies Anniversary Celebrations
In 1980, MLB refused to allow Pete Rose to participate in 1980 Phillies anniversary celebrations.
1980: Divorce from Karolyn Englehardt
In 1980, Pete Rose and Karolyn Englehardt divorced, ending their marriage.
April 13, 1984: Rose Gets 4,000th Career Hit
On April 13, 1984, the 21st anniversary of his first career hit, Pete Rose doubled off the Phillies' Jerry Koosman for his 4,000th career hit while playing for the Montreal Expos, becoming the second player in the 4,000 hit club.
August 15, 1984: Rose Traded Back to Reds and Named Player-Manager
On August 15, 1984, the Expos traded Pete Rose back to the Reds for infielder Tom Lawless, and Rose was immediately named player-manager, replacing Vern Rapp.
1984: Gioiosa Brings Rose to His Gym
In 1984 Tommy Gioiosa, who had first met and befriended Rose in 1978, brought Rose to his gym. Gioiosa's gym in suburban Cincinnati was later found to be selling anabolic steroids.
1984: Marriage to Carol J. Woliung
In 1984, Pete Rose married Carol J. Woliung, his second wife.
September 11, 1985: Rose Breaks Cobb's All-Time Hits Record
On September 11, 1985, Pete Rose surpassed Ty Cobb's all-time hits record with his 4,192nd hit against Eric Show of the San Diego Padres. Following this milestone, ABC's Wide World of Sports recognized Rose as its Athlete of the Year.
1985: Rose Begins Managing the Reds
In 1985 Pete Rose began his managerial career with the Cincinnati Reds. He managed for four full seasons, leading the Reds to four second-place finishes.
1985: Rose's Alleged Gambling Activities
In 1985, according to the Dowd Report, Pete Rose was allegedly involved in gambling activities. The report, which documented these activities in 1985 and 1986, compiled a day-by-day account of his alleged betting on baseball games in 1987.
1985: Allegations of Corked Bats During Record Chase
In 1985, during Pete Rose's pursuit of Ty Cobb's hit record, there were allegations that Rose used corked bats. Two sports memorabilia collectors had Rose's game-used bats x-rayed and found signs of corking. Rose had previously denied using corked bats.
1985: Andy Warhol's "Pete Rose" Screenprint
In 1985, pop artist Andy Warhol produced a limited edition screenprint of Pete Rose, released in an edition of 50, each signed and numbered.
August 17, 1986: Rose's Final Career At-Bat
On August 17, 1986, Pete Rose had his final career at-bat, striking out against Goose Gossage of the San Diego Padres. Rose finished his career with a total of 4,256 hits.
November 11, 1986: Rose Dropped from Reds Roster
On November 11, 1986, Pete Rose was dropped from the Cincinnati Reds' forty-man roster, unofficially marking his retirement as a player. He concluded his career holding numerous MLB and NL records.
1986: Rose Retires
In 1986, Pete Rose retired with a modern-day career fielding percentage of 99.14% as a right fielder and a National League modern-day career fielding percentage of 99.07% as a left fielder.
1986: Rose's Alleged Gambling Activities
In 1986, according to the Dowd Report, Pete Rose was allegedly involved in gambling activities. The report, which documented these activities in 1985 and 1986, compiled a day-by-day account of his alleged betting on baseball games in 1987.
April 26, 1987: Rose Allegedly Bet on Hockey and Basketball
On April 26, 1987, Pete Rose allegedly placed bets on hockey and basketball games but no baseball games, according to a notebook detailing his betting activity.
1987: Dowd Report Details Rose's Alleged Baseball Betting
In 1987, the Dowd Report documented Pete Rose's alleged betting on baseball games, citing bets on fifty-two Reds games. The report alleged Rose wagered a minimum of $10,000 a day.
April 30, 1988: Rose Shoves Umpire, Ejected from Game
On April 30, 1988, during a game against the New York Mets, Pete Rose was ejected after shoving umpire Dave Pallone twice during an argument over a call. Rose claimed Pallone initiated physical contact. Fans responded by throwing objects onto the field, leading to a brief suspension of play.
1988: Reds Post Second-Place Finish
In 1988, Pete Rose managed the Reds to another second-place finish in the NL West division. This was the fourth consecutive second-place finish for the team under Rose's management.
February 1989: Rose Questioned About Baseball Betting Allegations
In February 1989, Pete Rose was informally questioned by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth and A. Bartlett Giamatti about reports that he had bet on baseball. Rose denied the allegations, admitting only to betting on other sports.
March 21, 1989: Sports Illustrated Publishes Baseball Betting Allegations
On March 21, 1989, Sports Illustrated gave the public their first detailed report of the allegations that Rose had placed bets on baseball games in the cover story of the issue dated April 3, 1989.
April 3, 1989: Sports Illustrated Publishes Baseball Betting Allegations
On April 3, 1989, Sports Illustrated's issue with the cover story detailing the allegations that Rose had placed bets on baseball games was released to the public.
August 1989: Rose Penalized with Permanent Ineligibility
In August 1989, Pete Rose faced a significant challenge when he was penalized with permanent ineligibility from baseball amid accusations of gambling on baseball games while playing for and managing the Reds.
August 24, 1989: Rose's Tenure as Reds Manager Ends
On August 24, 1989, Pete Rose's time as manager of the Cincinnati Reds concluded. He maintained a career record of 426-388 as a manager.
September 1, 1989: Commissioner Giamatti Dies
On September 1, 1989, MLB Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti died of a heart attack, only eight days after announcing Pete Rose's suspension from baseball.
1989: Birth of Daughter Cara
In 1989, Pete Rose and Carol J. Woliung welcomed their daughter, Cara.
April 20, 1990: Rose Pleads Guilty to Filing False Income Tax Returns
On April 20, 1990, Pete Rose pleaded guilty to two charges of filing false income tax returns, not showing income he received from selling autographs and memorabilia and from horseracing winnings.
January 7, 1991: Rose Released from Prison
On January 7, 1991, Pete Rose was released from prison after serving five months for filing false income tax returns. He paid back taxes and interest and was required to perform community service.
February 4, 1991: Hall of Fame Excludes Ineligible Players
On February 4, 1991, the Hall of Fame formally voted to exclude individuals on the permanently ineligible list from being inducted by way of the Baseball Writers' Association of America vote.
1991: Hall of Fame Formally Bans Ineligible Players
In 1991, the Baseball Hall of Fame formally voted to ban those on the "permanently ineligible" list from induction.
1991: Rose Applies for Reinstatement Amid Astros Scandal
In 2020, Pete Rose petitioned the Hall of Fame to repeal their 1991 ban on players on the ineligible list.
1992: Rose Applies for Reinstatement
In 1992, Pete Rose first applied for reinstatement to baseball after his ban. Commissioner Fay Vincent never acted on his application.
1996: Paternity Lawsuit Settlement
In 1996, Pete Rose settled the paternity lawsuit with Morgan Erin Rubio, acknowledging her as his daughter.
1997: Pete Rose Jr. Makes MLB Debut
In 1997, Pete Rose's son, Pete Rose Jr., advanced to the major leagues and played an 11-game stint with the Reds.
September 1998: Rose Applies for Reinstatement
In September 1998, Pete Rose applied for reinstatement with Commissioner Bud Selig, after Fay Vincent never acted on his 1992 application. Selig also never acted on it.
1998: WrestleMania XIV Appearance
In 1998, Pete Rose appeared at WrestleMania XIV as a guest ring announcer and was Tombstone Piledriven by Kane.
1999: All-Century Team Introduction
In 1999, Pete Rose participated in the pre-game introduction of the All-Century team before Game Two of the World Series.
1999: Rose Selected to All-Century Team
In 1999, Pete Rose was selected as an outfielder on the Major League Baseball All-Century Team by fan vote.
2000: WrestleMania 2000 Appearance
In 2000, Pete Rose appeared at WrestleMania 2000, again being thwarted by Kane.
December 2002: Dowd Believes Rose Bet Against Reds
In December 2002, John Dowd stated in an interview that he believed Pete Rose likely bet against the Reds while managing them, despite the Dowd Report stating that no evidence was discovered that Rose bet against the Reds.
2002: Appearance During 2002 World Series
In 2002, Pete Rose appeared during the 2002 World Series in a Mastercard-sponsored event recalling "Baseball's Most Memorable Moments".
March 2003: Selig Acknowledges Considering Rose's Application
In March 2003, Commissioner Bud Selig acknowledged that he was considering Pete Rose's application for reinstatement, but ultimately took no action.
January 8, 2004: Admission to Betting on Baseball
On January 8, 2004, Pete Rose admitted publicly to betting on baseball games and other sports while playing for and managing the Reds in his autobiography.
2004: Rose Admits to Betting on Baseball
After years of public denial, in 2004, Pete Rose admitted that he bet on baseball and on the Reds.
2004: Swagger Violation Acknowledged
Even after Pete Rose's 2004 admission of gambling, Rose had described his violation of MLB rules with a "screw-you defiance".
2004: Inducted into WWE Hall of Fame
In 2004, Pete Rose was inducted into the "Celebrity Wing" of the WWE Hall of Fame.
2004: Criticism of Rose's Admission
In 2004, Pete Rose's admission of betting on baseball was met with criticism, with some seeing it as a publicity stunt and linking himself to the Hall of Fame.
March 2007: Confirms Betting on His Team
In March 2007, Pete Rose said he "bet on my team every night" during an interview on The Dan Patrick Show.
2009: Relationship with Kiana Kim
In 2009, Pete Rose began a relationship with Kiana Kim, a Playboy model.
March 22, 2010: Guest Host on WWE Raw
On March 22, 2010, Pete Rose was the guest host on WWE Raw, setting up a match between Shawn Michaels and Kane.
September 11, 2010: Apology for "Disrespecting Baseball"
On September 11, 2010, at a roast in Indiana, Pete Rose wept while acknowledging he had "disrespected baseball" and apologized to members of the Big Red Machine.
September 2010: Celebration of 25th Anniversary of 4,192nd Hit
In September 2010, MLB allowed Pete Rose to participate in a celebration at Great American Ball Park of the 25th anniversary of his 4,192nd hit.
2010: Inducted into the Shrine of the Eternals
In 2010, Pete Rose was inducted into the Baseball Reliquary's Shrine of the Eternals.
March 2011: Filing for Divorce from Carol J. Woliung
In March 2011, Pete Rose filed for divorce from his second wife, Carol J. Woliung, citing irreconcilable differences.
2011: Engagement to Kiana Kim
In 2011, Pete Rose and Kiana Kim became engaged.
August 27, 2012: Mentioned on WWE Television
On August 27, 2012, Pete Rose was briefly mentioned on WWE television during an anger management segment with Kane.
January 14, 2013: "Pete Rose: Hits & Mrs." Premieres on TLC
On January 14, 2013, the reality show "Pete Rose: Hits & Mrs.", featuring Pete Rose and Kiana Kim, premiered on TLC.
March 2014: Earned Over $1,000,000 Annually From Autograph Signings
As of March 2014, Pete Rose earned over $1,000,000 annually from paid public appearances and autograph signings.
June 16, 2014: Managed Bridgeport Bluefish for One Game
On June 16, 2014, Pete Rose returned to managing, serving as guest manager for the Bridgeport Bluefish in an independent league game.
April 16, 2015: Hired as Fox Sports Analyst
On April 16, 2015, it was announced that Pete Rose was hired by Fox Sports to serve as a guest studio color analyst for MLB coverage.
May 11, 2015: Fox Sports 1 Debut
On May 11, 2015, Pete Rose made his Fox Sports 1 debut as a studio analyst.
June 2015: ESPN Investigation Reveals Betting Records
In June 2015, ESPN concluded its investigation and determined that Pete Rose had bet on baseball while still a player-manager, revealing records of bets made by Rose.
2015: Manfred Rejects Rose's Reinstatement Request
In 2015, Commissioner Rob Manfred rejected Pete Rose's request for reinstatement, citing Rose's lack of candor about his gambling and continued betting on baseball.
2015: Participation in 2015 MLB All-Star Game Festivities
In 2015, Pete Rose participated in the festivities for the 2015 MLB All-Star Game, held in Cincinnati, taking the field alongside Reds teammates.
July 2016: Defamation Suit Against John M. Dowd
In July 2016, Pete Rose filed a defamation suit against John M. Dowd after Dowd alleged Rose committed statutory rape.
2016: Jersey Retired by the Reds
In 2016, Pete Rose had his jersey retired by the Reds, which had to be approved by MLB.
2016: Rose Inducted into Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame
In 2016, Pete Rose was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, despite remaining ineligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
August 2017: Let Go by Fox Sports
In August 2017, Pete Rose was let go by Fox Sports after details of his sexual relationship with a teenager in the 1970s were revealed.
December 15, 2017: Defamation Suit Dismissed
On December 15, 2017, a judge dismissed Pete Rose's defamation suit against John M. Dowd after both parties reached an agreement.
2020: Rose Applies for Reinstatement Amid Astros Scandal
In 2020, Pete Rose, along with his lawyers, applied for reinstatement, referencing the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal. He also petitioned the Hall of Fame to repeal their 1991 ban on players on the ineligible list.
2022: Rose Applies for Reinstatement
In 2022, Pete Rose again applied for reinstatement to MLB, stating that he thought about the Hall of Fame every day, however Commissioner Manfred quickly rejected the request.
March 2023: Manfred Dismisses Speculation About Rose's Reinstatement
In March 2023, Commissioner Manfred dismissed speculation about possible reinstatement of Pete Rose, despite MLB's partnerships with sportsbooks.
September 30, 2024: Peter Edward Rose Sr. Death
On September 30, 2024, Peter Edward Rose Sr. passed away after a long and storied life.
February 10, 2025: Reds Announce #14 Patches on Uniforms
On February 10, 2025, the Reds announced that they would add #14 patches to their uniforms throughout the entire season in Pete Rose's honor.
