Rose died from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, People magazine reported.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls. This buildup is called plaque. The plaque can cause arteries to narrow, blocking blood flow. The plaque also can burst, leading to a blood clot.”
The Cleveland Clinic said, “Hypertensive heart disease is a long-term condition that develops over many years in people who have high blood pressure. It’s a group of medical problems ― like heart failure and conduction arrhythmias ― that can happen when your high blood pressure (hypertension) is unmanaged.”
His death has been ruled natural causes, the Clark County coroner Melanie Rouse told People magazine.
Rose was 83 years old.
He died at his Las Vegas home on Sept. 30, found by a family member, ABC News reported.
Days before his death, Rose attended an autograph show in Nashville with Tony Perez, George Foster and Dave Concepcion.
Cincinnati Reds principal owner Bob Castellini remembered Rose, releasing a statement which read, “Our hearts are deeply saddened by the news of Pete’s passing. He was one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen, and every team he played for was better because of him. Pete was a Red through and through. No one loved the game more than Pete and no one loved Pete more than Reds Country. We must never forget what he accomplished.”
A switch-hitter, Rose, was the National League MVP in 1973 and World Series MVP two years later.
He was a record-holder for the number of games played at 3,562, plate appearances at 15,890 and hits at 4,256 beating Ty Cobb’s 4,191. His teammates Perez, Bench and Joe Morgan were all inducted into the Hall of Fame. But Rose as the lead-off of the team, was not honored with a Hall of Fame induction, despite all of the accolades and records.
Four years after being declared by then baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth that Rose had “reserved a prominent spot in Cooperstown” a “full inquiry into serious allegations” about Rose was opened. He was accused of betting on baseball, including games that involved the Reds.
Rose denied the charges against him.
But the 1989 investigation found. that the “accumulated testimony of witnesses, together with the documentary evidence and telephone records reveal extensive betting activity by Pete Rose in connection with professional baseball and, in particular, Cincinnati Reds games, during the 1985, 1986, and 1987 baseball seasons,” the AP reported.
Baseball’s Rule 21 states, “Any player, umpire or club or league official or employee who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.’’
A. Bartlett Giamatti, who succeeded Ueberroth, said in August 1989, “One of the game’s greatest players has engaged in a variety of acts which have stained the game, and he must now live with the consequences of those acts.” He said that Rose agreed to a lifetime ban from the game. The Hall of Fame said that decision left Rose ineligible for the honor of being memorized.
Rose for a long time said he never bet on baseball and frequently said he would be reinstated.
But in 2004, Rose admitted that he would be in casinos for promotion, not gambling, adding that he had “messed up.”
In a 2019 memoir called “Play Hungry,” Rose said, “There are legal ways, and there are illegal ways, and betting on baseball the way I did was against the rules of baseball.”
Despite not being inducted into the Hall of Fame, he is still a presence in Cooperstown. His bat from 1978 and the cleats he wore in 1985 when he broke the record for hits are among the items in the museum.
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Remembering Pete Rose 1963 Tommy Harper, outfield, and Pete Rose, second base, Cincinnati Red's rookie All-Stars at Waldorf rookie ceremonies. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Remembering Pete Rose Pete Rose of Cincinnati Reds during spring training, April 1964. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Remembering Pete Rose 1965 Cincinnati Reds infielder Pete Rose leaps over Mack Jones of the Milwaukee Braves, snagging a high pickoff attempt by Reds pitcher Jim O'Toole. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Remembering Pete Rose 7/27/1965-Los Angeles, CA- Cincinnati Reds' second baseman Pete Rose leaps high in the air to grab a high throw from catcher John Edwards, as Dodger Wes Parker slides into second with a stolen base during the second inning. Umpire Ed Vargo looks. Dodgers took the game, 9-7, and widened their first place lead. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Remembering Pete Rose 7/14/1970-Cincinnati, OH- On a single hit by Chicago Cubs' Jim Hickman, Cincinnati Reds' Pete Rose scores the winning run in the 12th inning, sliding and colliding with Cleveland Indians' catcher Ray Fosse. The run gave the National league All-Stars a 5-4 victory. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Remembering Pete Rose Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds collides into Cleveland Indians' catcher Ray Fosse and scores the winning run from second base on Chicago Cubs' Jim Hickman's single to center in the 12th inning of the All-Star Classic. The 5 to 4 win on July 14, 1970 in Cincinnati gave the National League All-Stars the hard earned victory. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Remembering Pete Rose 7/30/72-Cincinnati, Ohio- Pete Rose of the Reds dives into home plate past the glove of Giants' catcher Dave Rader, July 30th, in first game of double-header. Rose flew home from third on a single by Bobby Telas as Giants' left-fielder Ken Henderson threw wide to the plate without a relay. Reds took both ends of the double-header, 4-0, and 6-1. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Remembering Pete Rose 1972 Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench (L-R) will be the key to the Reds well-balanced attack when they meet the Pirates in the first game of the National League playoffs at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh 10/7. Rose failed by 2 to reach the 200 mark in hits but he led the league in that department. Morgan proved to be invaluable with his all-around play while Bench led the League with 40 homers. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Remembering Pete Rose American baseball player Pete Rose, of the Cincinnati Reds, crouches on the field before a game at Shea Stadium in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, New York, New York, July 24, 1978. The game, against the New York Mets, resulted in Rose increasing his hitting streak to 37 consecutive games (the streak eventually lasted 44 games). (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images) (Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)
Remembering Pete Rose Manager Pete Rose #14 of the Cincinnati Reds makes a call to the bullpen at Riverfront Stadium during the 1980s in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images) (Focus On Sport/Focus on Sport via Getty Images)
Remembering Pete Rose 9/11/1985- Peter Rose hit breaks Ty Cobb record. PH.: Sue Ogrocki (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Remembering Pete Rose Cincinnati Red batter Pete Rose connects for hit #4,192 to break Ty Cobb's record for career hits on September 11, 1985. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Remembering Pete Rose 3/22/1989-Plant City, FL-Cincinnati Reds' manager Pete Rose reacts to a reporters question 3/22 in the dugout prior to their contest against the Cards. Rose is under scrutiny by the baseball commissioners office for gambling. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Remembering Pete Rose LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 15: Former Major League Baseball player and manager Pete Rose speaks during a news conference at Pete Rose Bar & Grill to respond to his lifetime ban from MLB for gambling being upheld on December 15, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on Monday announced that he was rejecting Rose's application for reinstatement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)