### Baseball Great Pete Rose Dies at 83, Cause of Death Revealed

CINCINNATI (WKRC/AP) - The legendary Pete Rose, widely known as "Charlie Hustle" and a Cincinnati Reds icon, has passed away at the age of 83. Rose died at his home in Las Vegas on September 30. The Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner, led by Coroner Melanie Rouse, determined that Rose succumbed to Hypertensive and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, with Diabetes Mellitus listed as a significant condition. His death was classified as natural.

For fans from the 1960s and '70s, Pete Rose was the epitome of baseball excitement. Sporting the No. 14 jersey, Rose brought a fierce intensity to the game that was unmatched. Known for his gritty play, he was a throwback to an earlier era of baseball, memorable for scenes of him sprinting to first base even after a walk and diving headfirst into bases. His dynamic presence on the field helped define the game during the dawn of artificial surfaces, divisional play, and free agency.

Rose was a cornerstone of the Cincinnati Reds' championship teams of the 1970s. He was a 17-time All-Star and played pivotal roles in three World Series victories. In 1973, Rose was named the National League MVP, and two years later, he was crowned World Series MVP. Among his numerous records are pinnacle achievements such as holding the major league record for games played (3,562) and plate appearances (15,890). Rose’s impressive career was often highlighted by his remarkable ability to hit, with the legendary milestone of 4,256 hits, surpassing even Ty Cobb's record of 4,191.

Despite his on-field brilliance, Rose's career was marred by scandal. In 1989, Major League Baseball conducted an investigation that uncovered evidence of Rose's extensive gambling activities, including bets on baseball games involving the Cincinnati Reds. As a result, then-Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti announced Rose’s lifetime ban from baseball, a decision solidified in 1991 which barred him from the Hall of Fame.

Pete Rose's baseball journey began in Cincinnati, where he was molded by his sports-loving father, Harry Francis Rose. Graduating from high school in 1960, Rose quickly ascended the ranks of professional baseball, earning the nickname "Charlie Hustle" for his relentless work ethic and competitive spirit. Even after his ban, Rose maintained a passionate connection to the game and was later inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2016.

Although Rose's personal controversies kept him out of Cooperstown, his legacy in baseball remains indelible. His incredible career achievements and the memorabilia displayed in the Baseball Hall of Fame—like his MVP-season helmet, the 1978 bat used during his 44-game hitting streak, and the cleats worn on the day he became the record-holding hits king—continue to celebrate a complex and unforgettable iconoclastic figure in the sport of baseball.