Pete Rose aka “Charlie Hustle” the all-time MLB base hits
leader by far who gave pitchers the fitsAt 83 finally faced a pitcher whose overpowering pitches try
as he might could not come close to being able to hit
A “Closer” by the Angels head manager was summoned to the
mound
With a repertoire of pitches like hypertensive, atherosclerotic
cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus only strikeouts hitters found
A player who played with only one speed
The call of all out energy he would heed
An addictive personality gambling was his siren song
When he became manager of the Reds he continued to gamble on games
though he must have known it was wrong
Crossed the line when he gambled on the Reds to win but not to lose
Finally forced to after years of denial an admission of gambling chose
Banned from baseball but received the lifeline to petition for reinstatement
Which he tried again and again but always into the rejection trash the
petitions went
Rose’s legacy as a head first slide statue as his trademark
Can been seen at the front of the Great American Ball Park
Had he only in Gambling Anonymous enrolled
To curb the gambling addiction that took its toll
He would be today in MLB’s Hall of Fame
Instead of having his illustrious career declaimed
© 10/1/2024 Michael P. Ridley aka The Alaskanpoet
Rose head first slide at Great American Ball Park
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