100 Greatest Phillies: 54 – Pete Rose
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sun, February 01, 2009 02:23 PM | Comments: 75
100 Greatest Phillies, Posts
Pete Rose
First Baseman
1979-1983
Career w/Phillies: .290 AVG / 8 HR / 255 RBI / 51 SB
By now the story is well known: Pete Rose was ripped from Cincinnati after 16 seasons, signing as a free agent with the Phillies to be the final piece in a championship puzzle. And he delivered. After a trying 1979 season that underwhelmed everyone, the Phillies rebounded in ’80, led by Rose, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton and Co. to take the pennant and World Series trophy. Rose’s contribution can’t go overlooked — he hit .331 in 1979, .282 in 1980 and .325 in the strike-shortened 1981. That season he broke the National League all time hit record. Aside from his Philadelphia accomplishments, Rose remains baseball’s all time hit king. He’s first in games and at bats, sixth in runs, seventh in total bases, a 17-time all star (four times with the Phils) and one-time MVP. Plus he had the most wicked head-first slide in the game’s history. Maybe the most incredible stat? In his five seasons as a Phillie, he struck out 151 times.
Comment: If Philadelphia can appreciate anyone, it’s Pete Rose. All-out hustle. Never-say-die attitude. Gambler. Drinker. Pariah. Crazy guy. Heck, if only he was a Phillie his entire career. As it stands, Rose had a heck of a Phillies career, and he can never be forgotten for his role in bringing the Phils their first championship.
Posts: 0 Fran
151 strikeouts in 5 seasons is close to amazing. Only about 30 a season
Posted: 02:27 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
I would think this guy would be in our top 30.
That K stat is incredible btw.
Posted: 02:34 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Justin
Pete Rose and Joe Jackson both deserve to be in the Hall, and it would be an amazing class if those 2 can go in the same year.
Posted: 02:36 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 clktwr14
Forget about the top 30 this man should be in the Hall of Fame, Hey Alan “Bud” Selig, get your head out off your ass and let the All-Time Hit King into the Hall.
Posted: 02:37 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
Thought it was a good ‘bet’ he’d be higher, guess the ‘gamble’ didn’t pay off….
Posted: 02:48 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Jason B.
Hall of Famer without question!!! When will he be forgiven? If Roger Clemens makes the hall before Rose does, it will expose a truth we all have known for years. Hypocrisy rules our beloved sport. Also, those uniforms…. WOW. Friggin Awesome.
Posted: 03:10 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Georgie
Tim, it always ticks me off when people question your picks and their positions, so now I guess I’ll have to be ticked off at myself. I would def put him higher, not my favorite player, by far, I like the more laid back type myself, but he was such a sparkplug for that championship team, very clutch, ALWAYS hustled. But it really depends on who is on the remainder of the list though, maybe he does belong here.
BTW, just the fact that you put this list together is amazing, I wouldn’t know where to start. Can’t wait for the top ten, plus that means it’s almost time for baseball-yeaaaa!!!!
Posted: 03:14 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Brett
Pete Rose is my all time favorite Phillie. One of the best ball players of all time, and I look forward to the day when he is forgiven, if that day ever comes.
Posted: 03:38 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike
like i said this guy knows nothing about the phillies. pete rose is one of the greatest player of all time. to list him 54 is crazy. he should be in the top 10 of phillies. im done with this site…
Posted: 03:40 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian D
Hey Mike, get over yourself. I’m not the most astute Phils fan, but I can rattle off at least 25-30 former Phils that I believe meant more to THIS organization, not the game of baseball as a whole. Now if someone made a list of All Time Reds and had him listed at #54 then I would tell them to put the crack pipe down. As far as Rose being in HOF, he deserves to be, but didn’t he agree to the ban???
Posted: 04:49 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 IRONPIGPEN
Nice uni for Pete
Posted: 04:59 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 IRONPIGPEN
Off the field is one story…
On the field, he kicked ass. Especially for Philadelphia. His hustle, his leadership. I will always see him in Phillies pinstripes diving head first into third. Or spiking the ball after the third out of an inning running to the dugout.
Off the field is a different story…
Pete Rose the player was AWESOME! Charlie Hustle. Today’s players DO NOT hustle like Rose. AT ALL.
Posted: 05:02 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
54 is WAAAAAAAAAAAY low on the list for Pete Rose! He’s probably in my top ten!
Posted: 05:12 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 ryan
Charlie Hustle should be much higher on this list. I know his best years were in Cincy, but without him the Phillies don’t even sniff the playoffs in 1980. And without him Lefty and Schmidt and Bull and Maddox etc… would just be more guys who were good players but couldn’t get it done.
Posted: 05:22 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 T Marty
My All Time favourite Phillie. i remember when i was in 2nd grade and the Phillies snatched him from the Reds, and i donned my Super Pete t-shirt. Nobody played as hard as Pete. it’s insane that he’s not in the HOF. The fact that a player could have 200 hits a year for 20 years and still not reach Pete is a testament to the player he was.
Posted: 05:44 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 mde77
Pete Rose at 54. Now i’m convinced this guy is just posting this to get attention… Just posting names he’s heard of, in random order, which explains the Jay Johnstone #76. I for one, am morbidly curious to see the 53 players who are considered greater Phillies than Rose. There might be 25 at the most.
Posted: 06:29 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
This is way off…hes in the top 20 at the very least. This is one of the very best players ever to play the game, and his seasons in Philadelphia were no different. That he was black-balled from the hall of fame is a disgrace…gambling aside. To put him at 54 is a disgrace. Sorry, Tim. I cant be on board with you this time. Even if he was top 30 I wouldnt be that irked. This is THE guy that get this team over the hump. They had Carlton and Schmidt and others, but they couldnt come through with clutch hits in the postseason until this guy showed up in town…
Posted: 07:36 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Gregger
In defense of Tim, I think a lot of us see the name Pete Rose and think of his whole career. This is only as a phillie for this countdown though. If you look at his numbers as a phillie, they are not amazing because he didnt play here that long. Take away the name Pete Rose and only look at his numbers and you’ll see where Tim is coming from. For instance, someone like Bobby Abreu isnt anywhere close to Rose as a player but had better numbers as a phillie so will be higher on this list. That being said, I was at some of the 1980 playoff games and will always love Pete Rose. He made life right after coming close so many times.
Posted: 07:48 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Woodman
Let’s see…. PETE ROSE #54….. Randy Wolf #58…… Oh, yeah.
Posted: 07:59 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Joe O'Phillie
IRONPIGPEN Says:
“Pete Rose the player was AWESOME! Charlie Hustle. Today’s players DO NOT hustle like Rose. AT ALL.”
Seriously? Chase Utley?
Pete was one of my favorites as a kid. i am curious to see who is ranked above him. Tim, you may be right, but prepare yourself for second guessing with pick 53. Some people are way off base here with their criticisms.
Posted: 08:20 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 J cole
little surprised he came in above the top 50. I didn’t know how many greats there are in phils’ history…
Posted: 08:32 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 clktwr14
Joe O’Phillie, that is what I was just about to say, Chase Utley is a similar player to Pete PH**KING Rose, but also Shane Victorino, has the same intensity as Pete did for the Game, Pete was the motor for the 80 Phillies Shane was the motor for 08 Phillies.
Posted: 08:33 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Jason B.
AS far as his Phillies resume… Pete Rose is in the appropriate spot I think. He played 4 years for the Phils. He only had a 290 average. Sure, Pete was what got us over the top to win a championship, but it was not his offense that made the difference. It was his ATTITUDE. He brought a winning attitude to the team. I understand why people think he should be ranked higher, but looking at his number AS A PHILLIE, #54 sounds about right.
Posted: 08:34 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Robert K.
Pete was the player you loved to hate, until he was on your team. What about the Bob Boone, Pete Rose play at the dugout against the Royals? It is a crime that he is not in the Hall of Fame. When this list started, I stated that it’s tough to rank players without criteria. Pete is the all-time ML hits leader and he played for the Phillies. He should be in the top 10 greatest Phillies.
Posted: 08:54 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Georgie
Oh, I swear my heart stopped when that Boone/Rose play happened, it was like everything went into slow motion for those few moments, I’ll never forget that.
Posted: 09:02 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Bob B.
Per Bob Boone, the Boone-Rose play should never have happened. Rose was late getting there. It was his play. Boone kept looking for Rose…which let to the drop. Thankfully, Pete did get there in time to make one of the greatest plays in Phillies history.
Regardless, lets see who will be named #53 thru #1 before hurling insults.
Posted: 09:25 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 mde77
Ugh. This means he’ll have that steroid ridden, NY Mut, Lenny Dykstra higher than Pete Rose. I think im gonna be sick.
Posted: 09:43 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Malcolm
This is going to start to get interesting real quick. We have a lot of great players coming up.
Posted: 10:39 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Phillies Phan SC
I also thought he would be in the Top 10, although, he is know more as a Red on a national basis. Still though #54? I wait to see who is higher!
Posted: 10:57 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Jh
im diggin the jersey hes wearing in the pic
Posted: 11:10 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Bruce
As a few pointed out, there is a need for clarification on a criteria for determining “greatest Phillies” in franchise’ history. Statistics alone? Ignore the intangibles? And what of honors and awards for on field achievements? Perhaps I missed Tim’s stated criteria at the beginning of his selections. I think at least a few of us here would like to see his explanation for greatness once again. To see Pete Rose listed as 54th greatest is mind boggling especially when there were so many, many lean years of mediocrity with the team. FIFTYFOURTH?! And to Jason B… yes..ATTITUDE and INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP are great attributes to go along with his clutch hitting and fielding. And as Tim pointed out, “… 17-time all star (four times with the Phils) and one-time MVP”. That’s FOUR times he was named an “ALL STAR” with the Phillies in honoring his achievements.
I too will be curious to see Tim’s selection of 53 players he considers having achieved more for the team than Pete Rose.
Remember Tim, it’s QUALITY not quantity that matters when considering statistics and number of years.
Posted: 11:26 PM on February 1, 2009
Posts: 0 Evan
Pete Rose was a one of a kind player. His gambling addiction shouldn’t keep him out of Cooperstown.
As for him being 54 on the list, he did contribute to a World Series team but he wasn’t the star he was on the Reds. Maybe he should be higher up, but I don’t think he cracks to the top 30.
Posted: 12:08 AM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 christopher
while pete wasn’t the star he was on the reds, he was the big missing piece of the puzzle that set the phillies in motion to win the world series. i’m glad tim is doing this countdown, i’ve found it to be very interesting, but i’ve disagreed with a lot of picks/placements and maybe none as strongly as this one. rose should be top 20 easily.
Posted: 12:30 AM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Phil
rose is #1 for the reds but #54 for the phils makes sense. hes not a phillie hes a red. just like thome is an indian. rose helped us win a world series but hes still a red.
Posted: 02:18 AM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Chapps
I always thought Rose was nothing more then a hired gun. Yeah he was a great player but the majority of those years happened somewhere else, he did play a key role in the Phillies winning in 80, but that doesn’t change the fact that he had most of his best years some where else.
Posted: 06:46 AM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 GreysFan
Hmmm. I don’t post much here, but I have been waiting for this Pete rose controversy. Certainly he is a HOF caliber player for his career, but his gambling clearly threatened the integrity of the game far beyond other kinds of bad behavior. For me, his intensity is unquestioned but I always thought it was more often about Pete Rose than the team. His gambling as a player and manager, his off field attitude, his padding of his own stats as a player-manager all indicate this. Although a terrific hitter and hustler, he was an evn better self promoter. Lets not forget that he never hit for power, had very little speed, and was an average defensive player.
As for his time on the Phillies: he certainly made a contribution and belongs on this list, but he had just a good year in 1980 and I question the idea that they would not have won without him. I know Schmidt has promoted his role on that team for years, but I would point to Schmidt himself, Trillo, Carlton, McGraw before I would even begin to consider Rose as a key element. I agree with Bob B. re the World Series play and if we are talking about intensity on this team—what about Dallas Greene (someone I’d probably dislike personally about as much as Pete)?
Posted: 07:20 AM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Joe O'Phillie
Rose might have only been the 7th best on the 1980 team behind Schmidt, Carlton, Lusinski, Bowa, Maddox and Boone so no way is he a top 10 in Phils history.
For the record, I hope that he gets in the hall of fame along with McGuire and Shoeless Joe Jackson as an effort of reconciliation.
Posted: 08:52 AM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Nationals#1
if you want to see pete rose higher, you should make your own blog, write your own list and put him up there. tim could rank pete rose #101, it’s his list. although i don’t necessarily agree, there’s no need to attack anyone here. debating is cool but saying things like “this guy knows nothing about the phillies” (really?) come on.
Posted: 10:30 AM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Joe Green
Way too low – I would have had him in the top 10 at least. Phillies don’t win 1980 World Series without him. It was his leadership that took a bunch of guys who couldn’t reach the ultimate goal before he arrived and had them reach the pinacle of baseball.
I was at the closing ceremonies at the Vet, his absence was very dissapointing to me.
Posted: 10:31 AM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Joe Green
As for the HOF for Pete – unquestionably. Baseball is so hypocritical, no gambling, yet look at the outfield walls of many ballparks and you’ll see ads for casinos and state lotteries. Makes no sense to me.
Posted: 10:35 AM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
Nationals #1: “if you want to see pete rose higher, you should make your own blog, write your own list and put him up there. tim could rank pete rose #101, it’s his list. although i don’t necessarily agree, there’s no need to attack anyone here. debating is cool but saying things like “this guy knows nothing about the phillies” (really?) come on.”
Amen. When someone with a complaint posts their well-thought out top 100, then I’ll listen.
The truth is that Pete was going to be ranked higher, but his maroon pajamas in that picture dropped him down to 54.
Posted: 10:43 AM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Nationals#1
is that the “saturday night special” uniform that everyone hated? it’s funny how many people seem to like it now
Posted: 10:55 AM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 bdunf
Would have thought Rose would have been higher. Used to be a huge defender of his but he created all his own problems.
As far as being in the HOF a no brainer, while agreeing to the ban there was no rule that banned players couldn’t be in the HOF at the time. That rule was put in after the fact.
Posted: 11:42 AM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 MikeB
Pete Rose was an exciting ballplayer. He should be in the Hall of Fame for all that he accomplished and gave to the game, his hustle, determination and hard work. Pete, when he started out, did not have the great natural ability and skills to play baseball in the Major Leagues but he made himself into a great ballplayer thru determination and hard work. He was a leader. I see alot of Charlie Hustle in Chase Utley when I watch Chase play.
Posted: 11:51 AM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Mazinman
I find myself somewhere in the middle of the two sides of this debate. While I do think that Rose should be rated higher I do not think he is in the top ten based on the fact that he only played a small part of his career here. Just the fact that he participated in getting us a world championship alone puts him above most who will follow in this list.
I also tend to think a lot of Pete Rose when I see Chase Utley play which is strange. They seem to be opposites off the field but attack the game with the same intensity.
Well, let the “this player is better than Pete Rose!?” debates begin from this point on.
Posted: 12:07 PM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Phil
i just read on mlbtr that amaro is in contract negotiations for howard…lets see how that ends up. speaking of howard where will he rank on this list? how about utley, rollins, and hamels?
Posted: 12:13 PM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
Top 3 have to be Schmidt, Carlton and Grover Cleveland Alexander, right?
Utley, Rollins and Howard top 10-15?
Posted: 12:16 PM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Phil
I’d say that would be my top 3 in that order, Griffin. Close 4 being Richie Ashburn.
Off the top of my head Phillies deserving a higher spot than Rose:
Utley
Rollins
Howard
Hamels
Rolen
Burrell
Lieberthal
Daulton
Dykstra
Kruk
Schilling
Alexander
Schmidt
Carlton
McGraw
Luzinski
Maddox
Bowa
Samuel
Boone
Ashburn
Roberts
Klein
Ennis
Bunning
Delahanty
Williams
Hamner
Owens
Short
Simmons
Allen
Jones
Thompson
Callison
Cravath
Taylor
Magee
Hamilton
Vukovich
Abreu
I’m sure I’m missing others, but I guarantee you that all of them will rank higher than Pete Rose.
Posted: 12:34 PM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
Those unifroms are SUPER-UGLY in my opinion
Posted: 12:42 PM on February 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Brett
Phil- Hamner was already listed a long time ago.
Posted: 12:48 PM on February 2, 2009