Finally Pete Rose To Be Inducted In Hall Of Fame As 11-Year Ol Predicts

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In the winter of 1964 a poem was read to a group the Ballplayers Of Yesterday.

It was a group of former baseball players that would meet for an annual banquet.  Former Cincinnati Reds public relations director Hank Zureick read the poem written by an 11-year old, who used the tune of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to work out the rhythm of the poem.

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Pete Rose had just completed his rookie season with the Reds.

Pete Rose the rookie Redleg
Swung a very lively bat
He was proud of the Red C
Stiched upon his baseball cap

All of the other Redlegs
Used to laugh and call him names (like Charlie Hustle)
They didn't want young Pete Rose
To take over for Blasingame



Then one sunny Tampa day
Hutch came out to say
Pete Rose with your hustling play
You will start on Opening Day

And how the Reds fans loved him
As he hustled every game
Pete Rose the rookie Redleg
You'll go in the Hall of Fame

That prophecy will come true on the weekend of June 24-26 when the Reds play the San Diego Padres, one of 10 teams that didn't exist when Rose started his 20-year playing career.

It will not be the National Hall of Fame in Cooperstown New York but the Cincinnati Reds own shrine adjacent to Great American Ball Park.  Rose's number 14 which has been used by just one player, his son Pete Rose Jr., since Rose left the Reds.  Now and forever that number will be officially retired.

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Rose is technically ineligible for the National Hall of Fame because of a lifetime suspension for betting on baseball. His latest appeal was upheld by first-year baseball commissioner Rob Manfred but he opened the door for Rose to participate in Cincinnati ceremonial events.  He will no longer be required to buy a ticket to attend games.