Pete Rose

Our team goals include respecting the game. Hustling is a way to show respect for the game. Playing hard (giving it your best effort) regardless of the score (whether winning or losing) is something our team strives to accomplish.

Putting aside his gambling issues (which took place after his playing years), Pete Rose was respected by many for always giving it his best effort on the field. Even when he drew a walk, Rose would sprint to first base. His extraordinary effort earned him the nickname "Charlie Hustle".

During the course of his long career, Pete Rose set many career records which still stand today. He is the all-time hit leader with 4,256. Pete Rose played in 17 All-Star games--in which many of those selections were based upon votes from his peers (other Major League players).

Pete Rose only knew how to play the game one way...and that was all out. It didn't matter to him whether the game was a Spring Training scrimmage or the seventh game of the World Series.

In an All-Star game (which is mostly considered to be just a showcase today), the National League trailed the American League by a score of 4-1 in the ninth inning. But, the National League scored three runs to take the game into extra innings.

In the bottom of the 12th inning, Pete Rose stood on second base as the Cubs' Jim Hickman stepped to the plate with two outs. Jim Hickman singled to centerfield. Pete Rose sprinted around third base on his way to score the winning run, but catcher Ray Fosse was about to receive the throw and positioned himself up the third base line.

Rose knew that his only chance to score was to collide with Fosse--and hopefully dislodge the ball. Although this is not a legal play at the Pony level, it is legal at the professional level of play. Rose drove into Fosse and separated him from the ball just before it arrived in his glove. Fosse fell backward and Rose fell over the catcher onto home plate to score the winning run.

Pete Rose missed a few games due to an injured knee, but unfortunately Ray Fosse was never the same after the collision.

Today, many people consider the All-Star game to be an exhibition of sorts. Yet, Pete Rose only knew how to play baseball one way--and that was with maximum effort.