“That’s what this is for? I thought I was being named manager today,” Rose said, drawing his first of many laughs Tuesday morning at Great American Ball Park.
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Rose said he was elated to find out he would become the 86th member inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame the weekend of June 24-26.
“This is an honor that just can’t believe how you feel,” said Rose, a Cincinnati native who remains ineligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown because he is Major League Baseball’s banned list for betting on the game.
Prior to Tuesday, Rose had been ineligible for the Reds Hall of Fame as well, but the board of directors changed its bylaws.
“He is the most prolific hitter ever,” Reds Hall Fame executive director Rick Walls said. “His records, accomplishments stand for themselves. With the support of Bob Castellini and the Reds, the board of directors unanimously voted on this decision.”
Rose, who turns 75 in April, will be the lone inductee in June, at which time he also will have his No. 14 retired. Reds president and CEO Bob Castellini also announced that a statue of Rose will be erected outside GABP sometime in the near future.
Asked what he would like that statue to depict, Rose drew a huge roar of laughter when he said, “I sure as hell don’t want it to be standing at Turfway (Park race track) in the $2 window.”
“Probably a head-first (slide) statue,” he added after taking on a serious tone. “Because I was known for that. But any statue, as long as it’s got that ‘C’ on it.”
While Rose will be the only member of the Class of 2016 to go into the Reds Hall of Fame, on Friday night of induction weekend he will be joined on the field by his teammates from the 1976 team for a pregame celebration of the 40-year anniversary of their World Championship season.
The induction ceremony will take place prior to Saturday’s 4:10 p.m. game, and Rose’s number will be retired prior to Sunday’s 1:10 series finale against the San Diego Padres, the team the Reds were facing when Rose delivered the signature moment of his career — hit No. 4,192 to break Ty Cobb’s record.
A little more than a month ago, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred upheld Rose’s lifetime ban. But as he did during the All-Star festivities in July when he allowed Rose to be on the field for the Franchise Four ceremony, Manfred made an exception to allow for MLB’s career hits leader to go into the Reds Hall of Fame.
Reds president and CEO Bob Castellini called Tuesday “one of the greatest days in the history of the franchise.”
“This is historic,” Castellini said. “Not a day has gone by since taking ownership of this franchise (in 2006) have we lost sight of Pete Rose. His hustle, his style of play and passion for the game are simply unforgettable, not only to our fans in the stands, but to any player privileged to to wear the same uniform as the Big Red Machine.
“Commissioner Manfred and Major League Baseball understand the importance of Pete Rose to our city and to our team, and we thank the commissioner and MLB for their support of the Reds induction of Pete Rose into our Hall of Fame,” Castellini added. “Pete, this is a proud moment for your Reds family and for your hometown. It’s our chance to thank you for pouring your heart into every game.”
Rose also expressed gratitude toward Manfred.
“I want to thank the commissioner for allowing the Reds to do this and giving me this opportunity,” he said. “Regardless of what you have read or what you may believe in, I got along with the commissioner. He was a great guy. He didn’t rule the way I want him to rule, but that’s life. For him to go out of his way to let us do this, pat him on the back.”
Manfred’s ruling last month makes it unlikely Rose will ever be enshrined in Cooperstown during his lifetime, but Rose said he hasn’t lost hope.
“I haven’t given up on Cooperstown,” he said. “I’m not the type that’s going to give up on anything. But this is fine. I’m happy. I’m not going to sit here and say (the Reds Hall of Fame) is the second best thing, because it’s not. It’s not. Maybe it would be if I wasn’t from Cincinnati, but because I’m from Cincinnati, this is the first big thing.”
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