Tomorrow celebrates the 25th anniversary of him breaking Ty Cobb's 57 year old all-time hits record.

Most of you were probably too young to recall....but this was the first huge record breaker that I can vividly remember. Probably a much larger deal to those fans between the ages of 40-70.

Reds will honor Pete before tomorrow's game. It will be well done by the Reds ownership no doubt.

Some of Pete's historical numbers of greatness and longevity:

Games played.....3562 Take that in for a moment. If a player played 150 games a year for 23 seasons...they'd still be short of Pete. He had 8 seasons where he played in every game and 17 seasons missing 6 or fewer games.

At bats.....14053 That's a silly number. That's 625 AB a year for just 22 years.

Runs scored...2165 10X over 100 and led the league 4X

Doubles....746 7X over 40 and led the league 5X That's 35 a year for 21+ years to catch him.

Triples....135 Ho Hum

HITS.....4256 That's right get 202 hits a year for 21 years....and you're still short. Over 200 10X, led the league 7X

Lost 50 games in 1981 due to strike and at age 41 he was leading the league in hits

3X batting champ

Reached base 5929 times in his career.

His longevity of hitting is like that of Nolan Ryan's power pitching and Rickey Henderson's speed and leading off ability.

They called him Charlie Hustle......the guy has those career stats and he WAS best known for his hustle during the game.

I am old enough to remember him and The Big Red Machine in the 1970's. He was the greatest player of our generation and very near the top of all time.
But he broke the rules which will rob future generations of knowing more of his greatness.

......and that is sad

Any true baseball fan should be well aware of how he played on the field.

I still think Saturday at the stadium will be minutes of constant chill bumps....much like 1985

You remember the all century team celebration and the reception he got and it wasn't even in Cincinnati. That field was covered with the best of the very best and all-time greats....Pete got the best cheer by far.

hopefully some day he goes into the hall......

especially after so many other players at this point have got caught lying as well....its not like he bet on his team or bet on his team to lose

Ironman92;478431 wrote:You remember the all century team celebration and the reception he got and it wasn't even in Cincinnati. That field was covered with the best of the very best and all-time greats....Pete got the best cheer by far.

Yep. I also remember the dickhead that interviewed him.

FUCK Jim Gray.

Gblock;478475 wrote:hopefully some day he goes into the hall......

especially after so many other players at this point have got caught lying as well....its not like he bet on his team or bet on his team to lose

Yep. He deserves to be in. Remember watching him when I was a kid. Great ball player.

karen lotz;478496 wrote:FUCK Jim Gray.

Lebron James did.

remember the moment vividly...

truly a tragic case in that, the same stubborn and strong-willed work ethic that propelled him on the field misfired when the betting and investigation surfaced. In hindsight, a cooperative and recalcitrant Rose during the Giammati and Vincent years would have seen him already back in the good graces of baseball, and the forefront of fans. Unfortunately, he viewed it (wrongly) as another game or contest, and he miscalculated.

Will probably never get in HOF (for right or wrong) because of the way he handled the investigation, the years of denial, then the admitted lying years later after the public, and baseball, had already moved on. Truly one of my heroes growing up...still admire his baseball prowess, but he has been clearly humbled by his own hand.

Again, tragic is the only word.

A great one, nonetheless...I remember when they painted the ring where the ball landed on the old Riverfront Stadium turf...

and I do think Jim Gray is the hugest jerk.

That moment also makes 99% of all baseball fans to KNOW Jim Gray is 100% asshole.

Here is the sad story of Eric Show...the infamous pitcher....also the guy Andre Dawson tried to kill after being beaned.

It's a lengthy story.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=5543839

Pete's hits record and Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's record the 2 greatest baseball records I have seen in my lifetime. The Big Red Machine generation.

Hit # 4,000

......as a player for the Montreal Expos

I have seen numerous posters refer to the Jim Gray interview. What exactly happened?

like_that;479812 wrote:I have seen numerous posters refer to the Jim Gray interview. What exactly happened?

This was on the field after Rose was recognized as part of the All Century Team.

[video=youtube;h4fmEbgKeh0][/video]

It was awesome to see Pete on the field today. Gave me goosebumps.

If he goes to the hall, I don't see it happening while he's alive.

Pic of Pete and his sons and grandson.

Pete is a very polarizing figure. He is definitely a kind of guy you either love or hate. Fay Vincent (former MLB commissioner) and Bud Selig blame Pete for their mentor's death. Pete has always said that there was a deal in place for him to be reinstated after a one year ban. Unfortunately for him, Bart Giamatti died before he could lift the ban. Pete will be in the hall someday, but it won't be in the near future.

What Hall?
I can't see having a HOF if Pete is not in it.
The gambling had nothing to do with his play.
If they were to kick everyone out who had done something illegal or unethical the current hall would be alot smaller.
They have a hard on for Pete plain and simple.

ernest_t_bass;480294 wrote:If he goes to the hall, I don't see it happening while he's alive.

I agree.

Sonofanump;480816 wrote:I agree.

Yeah, I do as well. I hope it happens while I'm still alive though.

He might not ever get in, but this was definitely a step in the right direction from MLB. Considering they won't let him have anything to do with the League.

Had to have been awesome to be there Justin..jealous