Hall is still absent, but Rose is certain that he is still the Hit King.
The queue wound its way along Morrie Silver Way, the sidewalk, and across the stadium plaza.
More than 200 fans paid $50 on Thursday night to have Pete Rose, the “Hit King” of Major League Baseball, sign a baseball or picture.
delighted spectators.
“I collect autographed baseballs, and it’s hard to pass up the opportunity to get an autograph from the all-time hit leader,” said Victor resident and Rochester Red Wings season seat holder Jim Fenwick. “He’s still the best hitter there ever was.”
Rose wasn’t allowed to engage with Red Wings players or manager Mike Quade, but they were nevertheless pleased to be at the field together.
Rose, who was permanently barred from baseball in 1989 for placing bets on his Cincinnati Reds, is kept at a base length away from modern players. Due to the Red Wings’ MLB affiliation as the Minnesota Twins’ Triple-A affiliate, he required special clearance from the commissioner’s office in order to make an appearance at Frontier Field.
Before the game, Rose was permitted to conduct an on-field interview behind home plate. He gave it a ceremonial whiff. Prior to the gates opening, he signed autographs in the concourse and for those who paid $125, he also posed for pictures with guests in the suite level.
However, he was unable to approach the dugout or enter the clubhouse. Rose exiting the field and the crew walking down the tunnel to it made it unpleasant enough that he and the umpires shared the same hallway.
“Having him here was definitely cool,” stated Wings outfielder Adam Brett Walker, who went 3-for-4 at the plate in a 6-1 victory over the Syracuse Chiefs, including his 19th home run. “We didn’t get to interact with him but he’s Pete Rose; it’s awesome.”
Growing up outside of Chicago, Quade was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cubs, but he also “idolized” Rose.
“There were very few guys that got more out of less than he did,” Quade stated. And he had a lot of talent. However, he wasn’t a power-hungry or a perennial Gold Glove type. He thrashed you every day because that’s all he wanted to do.”
Rose acknowledges that during his 24 seasons on the diamond, he wasn’t the most talented player. “Everybody had more talent than me.”
He’s really proud of what he accomplished, though, and his 4,256 hits record has an exclamation mark next to it.
With pride, Rose declared, “I hold the record for records.” “I have the records for games with two hits, three hits, and four hits. I hold the record for games with five hits.”
