Cincinnati’s Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati will host “Pete Rose, Roasting a Legend” on June 11. Reds Hall of Famers and former Rose teammates Ken Griffey Sr. and George Foster are among those expected to tee off on the “Hit King” during the celebrity roast.
Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman will serve as the evening’s master of ceremonies.
Pete Rose’s lifetime ban from baseball
Rose is known for one of baseball’s all-time controversies. The “Hit King” was banned from baseball for life for betting on games while he was the player/manager of the Cincinnati Reds in 1989,
Despite several appeals to the Hall of Fame and to multiple baseball commissioners, Rose remains on the list today.
In 2004, Rose finally admitted to betting on baseball, including on the Reds, while he played and managed the team. He detailed this period of his life in a book titled, “My Prison Without Bars.”
Rose maintains that he never bet against the Reds, saying in a 2007 TV interview: “I bet on my team to win every night because I love my team, I believe in my team,” Rose said. “I did everything in my power every night to win that game.”
Hall of Fame-worthy career for the “Hit King”
His numbers, of course, support his entry.
Rose played a total of 26 seasons and was a stalwart of one of MLB’s all-time great teams, the Big Red Machine of the 1970s. The Reds won back–to–back titles in 1975-76.
Rose won three World Series titles, a National League MVP award, and two gold gloves. He also made 17 All–Star game appearances and won the Rookie of the Year award in 1963.
In 1985, Rose broke Ty Cobb‘s all-time record of 4,191 hits. The “Hit King” finished his Major League Baseball career with 4,256 hits, a record that is unlikely to be broken as baseball continues to move toward a more power-hitting focus.
Rose, who turned 81 on April 14, currently holds the following career records:
- Hits: 4,256
- Games played: 3,562
- At–bats: 14,053
- Singles: 3,315
- Most total bases by a switch hitter: 5,752
- Only major leaguer to play 500 games at five positions
Rose had stints with the Philadelphia Phillies (1979-1983), winning a World Series Title there in 1980, and the Montreal Expos in 1984. Rose was also MLB’s most recent player-manager, as he managed the Cincinnati Reds from 1984-1986 while remaining on the roster.
Tickets and memorabilia
Ticket prices for the roast at Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati range from $90 and up for general admission and $2,000 for VIP tables. Limited quantity memorabilia packages will also be available, ranging in price from $199 to $299. All packages include an autographed 8×10 photo of Rose and an autographed piece, depending on the package.
Hard Rock Casino’s Base Hit Package includes an autographed baseball for $199. The Home Run Package costs $249 and comes with an autographed bat. For $299, the Grand Slam Package includes an autographed Pete Rose jersey.
VIP tickets include a center–stage table with eight seats, 24 drink tickets with cocktail service, eight pieces of baseball swag and baseball snacks.
Star-studded roasters
Brennaman, who will help roast Rose in addition to his emcee duties, worked on the Reds radio team from 1974 until 2019. A winner of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters, he helped call games during many an MLB milestone.
These include Pete Rose’s record-breaking not No.1 4,192; Hank Aaron’s record-tying 714th career home run; Tom Seaver’s only no-hitter; Tom Browning’s perfect game, Reds World Series wins in 1975, 1976, and 1990, and two no-hitters by Homer Bailey.
Drafted by the Reds, Griffey Senior debuted for the team in August of 1973, contributing to the 1975 and 1976 World Series teams with respective .305 and .336 (career-high) batting averages those years.
Fellow hall-of-famer Foster was traded to the Reds in 1971. He was a five-time All–Star, leading the National League in home runs in 1977 and 1978. Foster, the 1977 MVP, led the league RBIs in 1976, 1977, and 1978.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit HardRockCasinoCincinnati.com.
Edited by: Ayla Fry