On August 23, 1989, one of the most iconic moments in baseball history occurred during a game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The game was in the first inning when Reds manager Pete Rose, who was also a player, stepped up to the plate to face Dodgers pitcher Rick Leach.
Rose, who was 48 years old at the time, had been chasing Ty Cobb's all-time hits record of 4,191 for months. With the count at 2-1, Leach threw a fastball that Rose connected with, sending it into left-center field for a single. This hit was Rose's 4,192nd, breaking Cobb's record that had stood for over 50 years.
The stadium erupted in cheers as Rose stood on first base, acknowledging the crowd. The game was stopped for a ceremony honoring Rose's achievement, with his teammates and family joining him on the field. Rose, visibly emotional, thanked the fans and his teammates for their support throughout his career.
Pete Rose finished his career with 4,256 hits, a record that still stands today. However, his legacy was tarnished when he was banned from baseball in 1989 for betting on games while managing the Reds. Despite this controversy, Rose's on-field accomplishments, particularly his breaking of Ty Cobb's hits record on that August 23 game, remain a significant part of baseball history.
