Semi-Pro Was All-Star to a Kid Named Rose

Pete Rose saw a lot of great athletes when he was growing up, but his only idol was a fellow who played semi-pro football in Cincinnati until he was 43 years old. He was Harry (Pete) Rose, Pete’s father.

“He’s the only hero I ever had,” Rose told Steve Lowe of the Akron Beacon Journal. “I just admired the way he approached his job, the way he approached sports, the enthusiasm he had.

“I never saw my mom and dad argue. I never saw my dad drink or smoke. There ain’t a lot of people who can say that.

“He never would have gone through a divorce like I did. I think the only difference in my father and me is that he had more class.”

Trivia Time: Who hit the first grand-slam home run in All-Star history? (Answer below.)

15 Years Ago Today: On July 14, 1970, Pete Rose, running on Jim Hickman’s 12th-inning single, bowled over Cleveland catcher Ray Fosse at home plate and gave the National League a 5-4 win over the American League at Cincinnati.

Add Fosse: He told Dave Nightingale of The Sporting News that he didn’t see Rose again until 1983.

“I was working for Oakland then, and I noticed Pete was going to be playing for Philadelphia at Candlestick Park, so I went over to renew acquaintances,” Fosse said. “I got him to autograph a ball for me, and it’s in my trophy case right now.”

The inscription says: “To Ray. Thanks for making me famous. Pete Rose.”

Texas Rangers Manager Bobby Valentine, who played for Tom Lasorda in the minor leagues and in winter ball, told Dave Anderson of the New York Times that the two still keep in touch.

“We’ve talked on the phone maybe three times every two weeks. We go through games together,” Valentine said. “He’s called me a lot more than I’ve called him. He’s got a better credit card than I do.”

Said Cleveland outfielder Brett Butler after the Indians got three straight hits off Dan Quisenberry to beat Kansas City in 11 innings: “Quisenberry’s not Superman. And even if he is, there are times when the Clark Kents of the world succeed.”

Looks-can-be-deceiving dept.: Said Lon Hinkle Friday after shooting 64-68--132 for the halfway lead in the $500,000 Anheuser-Busch tournament at Williamsburg, Va.: “It looks like I may be able to play this golf course.”

Saturday, the course struck back. Hinkle shot a 76 and dropped six shots off the lead.

St. Louis pitcher Joaquin Andujar, miffed at National League Manager Dick Williams, says he will boycott Tuesday’s All-Star game and make his next start against the Dodgers Thursday at Dodger Stadium.

In the meantime, he said: “I’m going to work out every day and barbecue with my family. I’ll barbecue quail or anything.”

Williams said he was sorry about Andujar’s decision but added, “I really think the game will go on without him.”

Trivia Answer: Fred Lynn of the Angels in 1983, on the 50th anniversary of the first All-Star game at Comiskey Park. His grand slam off San Francisco’s Atlee Hammaker helped the American League rout the National League, 13-3.

Quotebook

New York Mets pitcher Ron Darling, on the pitch Houston’s Alan Ashby hit for a home run Friday night: “It was a split-finger fastball that didn’t split.”