Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 11/03/84 (WLS Mods); site fisher.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!princeton!astrovax!fisher!david From: david@fisher.UUCP (David Rubin) Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball Subject: Re: Pete Rose Message-ID: <645@fisher.UUCP> Date: Fri, 31-May-85 10:08:00 EDT Article-I.D.: fisher.645 Posted: Fri May 31 10:08:00 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 1-Jun-85 02:47:55 EDT References: <1080@ihuxn.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: Princeton University Department of Statistics Lines: 83 David Cheerson asks, "What do you think of Pete Rose?" In case you have not noticed, Pete is one of the few active players with a lifetime batting average over .300. He has led the NL in batting 3 times, hits 7 times, doubles 5 times, and runs scored 4 times. I do not recall anyone else ever being elected to the all-star game while being a regular at 5 different positions (2B, LF, RF, 3B, 1B). Pete owns the current major league records (as of the start of the 1985 season) for most singles lifetime 3082, most seasons 200 or more hits 10, highest fielding percentage lifetime for outfielders with 1000 or more games .991. Pete owns the NL record for most hits lifetime 4097, most doubles 726. Pete also owns or shares at least 29 other NL and major league records. Pete was named the NL rookie of the year by both The Sporting News (TSN) and the Baseball Writers Association of America (BWAA) in 1963. TSN named Pete the NL MVP in 1968. The BWAA voted Pete the same honor in 1973. Pete has been named to TSN's NL all-star team at all 5 positions he has started. Pete was named TSN's "PLAYER OF THE DECADE" for 1970 - 1979. While the above are individual stats, Pete has always been the ultimate team player. In 1967, Pete was moved from 2B to LF to make room for T. Helms. From 1967 until 1974 he was moved between LF and RF depending on the needs of the team. In 1975 Pete was asked to move into 3B to make room in the outfield for Ken Griffey. Sparky Anderson said publically that Pete was responsible for a smooth transition and was one of the most unselfish players in his memory. By moving to 3B, Sparky said that Pete Rose was greatly responsible for the Reds great teams in 1975 and 1976. Finally, in 1979 when he went to Philadelphia, Pete played 1B. One must remember that he was an all-star player at each position and was moved to a new position requiring different skills. Pete made all the moves with a spirit of teamwork. I doubt that an asshole, as David suggests Pete is, would have moved at all, let alone as often and as smoothly as Pete did. I believe that I have seen Pete play more games than David, and I cannot ever remember seeing him sliding headfirst into 1B. What I do remember is seeing him hustle to 1B after a walk, always taking the extra base, diving for balls in the field, in short, doing whatever was necessary to win. Even in the all-star game his hustle and desire to win for his team is exceptional. Who can forget his collision with Ray Fosse in the 1970 all-star game. While some players are making excuses not to play, Pete is risking injury to win. As for whether Pete is staying around merely to break Cobb's record of 4191 hits, Pete does want the record. However, he still has very good offensive skills. He is hitting over .290 (last week in May). If every player hitting less than .290 were to retire, there would not be many teams remaining. I believe that if Pete were hitting .220 or .230, he would retire and not embarress himself and the game he enjoys so much. Finally, the fans in Cincinnati love Pete Rose. His first game back with the Reds was against the Cubs, and was televised in Chicago. When he got a hit in his first AB in that game the crowd erupted and when the Cubs CF committed an error and let Pete dive into 3B the noise was deafening. "What do I think of Pete Rose?" I think he is the greatest. Warren P. Hentrich ihuxn!wph *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***