Sept. 11, 1985 – Pete Rose hits a single to become MLB all-time hit leader with 4,192

Pete Rose was a folk hero in Cincinnati, a homegrown talent known as “Charlie Hustle” for his relentless work ethic.

There are a few active players with a shot at 3,000 hits, but you have to go down past No. 150 all-time to find a player under age 35 who is climbing the list in Derek Jeter. Alex Rodriguez (age 31 in 2007) isn’t far behind, but both of the current Yankees stars would basically have to double their hit total to pass Rose, who was a part-time player at age 45 when he passed Ty Cobb (4,191 hits) in 1985.

Aug. 24, 1989 – Pete Rose is banned from baseball for life for betting on games

The Major League baseball rule Pete Rose violated is: “Rule 21 MISCONDUCT, (d) BETTING ON BALL GAMES, Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.”

Rose voluntarily accepted a permanent place on baseball’s ineligible list. Rose accepted that there was a factual reason for the ban; in return, Major League Baseball agreed to make no formal finding with regard to the gambling allegations. According to baseball’s rules, Rose could apply for reinstatement in one year but Bart Giamatti said, “There is absolutely no deal for reinstatement. That is exactly what we did not agree to in terms of a fixed number of years.” Rose, with a 412–373 record, was replaced as Reds manager by Tommy Helms. Rose began therapy with a psychiatrist for treatment of a gambling addiction.

Did You Know: Rose’s ban has prevented the Reds from formally retiring his No. 14 jersey.

July 25, 1990 – Rosanne barr butchered the US National Anthem

Rosanne barr botched the National Anthem, sardonically gestured spitting and grabbing a hypothetical cup.

Barr’s off-key rendition of the National Anthem was at Jack Murphy Stadium between games of a double header San Diego Padres against the Cincinnati Reds. The Padres were in the middle of a disastrous season, but had just beaten the Reds by a score of 2-1 in the first game.

A few weeks earlier Tom Werner and his ownership group had purchased the Padres. Werner was also an Executive Producer of the hit television show Roseanne. With it being “Working Women’s Night” at the ballpark, having Roseanne sing the Anthem must have seemed like a perfect match for Werner’s interests. She was booed and never asked to sing at a game again.

Feb. 21, 1986 – Rollie Fingers loses a chance to continue his career with the Cincinnati Reds when he refuses to shave his trademark handlebar mustache to comply with the club’s policy

“I’m not about to shave it off just to play baseball.” – Rollie Fingers

During his 18-year baseball career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics (1968–76), San Diego Padres (1977–80) and Milwaukee Brewers (1981–85). He became only the second reliever to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. Fingers is also one of only a few MLB players to have his number retired by more than one club (Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers).

Feb. 10, 2000 – The Mariners traded Ken Griffey Jr. to the Reds

Ken Griffey Jr. spent the first 11 years of his career with the Seattle Mariners. In 2000 the Mariners traded Griffey to the Cincinnati Reds due to Griffey’s impending free agency. The Mariners received four players in return, Mike Cameron, Jake Meyer, Antonio Perez and Brett Tomko. Griffey would spend nine years in Cincinnati, but only two of those were not marred by injury. Six times Griffey had topped 40 home runs in Seattle, but he did so only once in Cincy.

Griffey played 22 years in Major League Baseball (MLB) for three teams (1989–2010). He spent most of his career with the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds, along with a short stint with the Chicago White Sox. A 13-time All-Star, Griffey was one of the most prolific home run hitters in baseball history; his 630 home runs rank as the sixth-most in MLB history. Griffey was also an exceptional defender and won 10 Gold Glove Awards in center field. He is tied for the record of most consecutive games with a home run (8 games, tied with Don Mattingly and Dale Long).

Although popular with fans and a fan favorite around the league, Griffey was unable to shake reports of petulant demeanor throughout his major league baseball career. Griffey signed lucrative deals with companies of international prominence like Nike and Nintendo (owners of the Mariners); his popularity reflected well upon MLB and is credited by some with helping restore its image after the 1994 labor dispute. He currently works in the Mariners’ front office as a special consultant. Griffey is one of only 29 players in baseball history to date to have appeared in Major League games in four different calendar decades. On January 22, 2013, the Mariners announced Griffey would be the seventh person inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame. He is the son of former MLB player Ken Griffey, Sr.