By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor
Pete Rose wasn’t the only person getting roasted at UC Health Stadium Thursday night.
Temperatures soared into the 90s for a pregame Meet n’ Greet and the celebrity roast of Major League Baseball’s all-time hits leader at the home of the Florence Freedom.
Fans who shelled out $118 for the VIP meet ‘n greet package, however, which included a seat on the field for the roast, seemed oblivious to the heat despite the variety of perspiration-drenched shirts that paid homage to the Hit King.
Jeff Pichotta, 46, of Rabbit Hash, brought his son Jefferson to see the player he called “an inspiration.”
“He just outhustled everybody,” Pichotta said. “He was as blue-collar as the West Side of Cincinnati he came from.”
Rose did not disappoint, offering an introduction that included encouragement for the Florence Freedom players locked in a battle for the final Frontier League playoff spot.
“We need to win the game tonight to get into the playoffs,” Rose said. “When you are in the dugout and you are on the field, you can really feel the fans; take it from me, I played 3,500 games in the big leagues. You gotta cheer them on.”
Rose also had some words of encouragement for fans of his former team, saying despite a disappointing 2015 season, the Reds are not that far away from being a contender again.
“Phillips is a good player, Votto is a great player, Frazier is a tremendous player; Bruce, I don’t know what happened to him the last three years,” Rose said. “I guess what I’m saying in a roundabout way is I don’t think the Reds are going to have to make many household changes to be competitive again.”
Rose also took questions from the audience during the Meet ‘n Greet.
He was asked by Bob Fisher of Cincinnati why athletes are better conditioned today, but rarely approach the 600 at bats he achieved 17 times in his career or 200 innings that were common among starting pitchers in his day.
“My first 16 years with the Reds, from ‘63 to ’78, I had a one year contract,” Rose said. “I got paid in ’68 for what I did in ’67; I got paid in ‘74 for what I did in ’73. It’s like Sparky said one time, and its 100 percent true, ‘Give me 25 players that go to spring training every year on the last year of their contract and I’ll go to the World Series every year.”
Rose recounted a humorous story about his meeting with Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred, whom he described as a real fan of the game, at the All Star Game in Cincinnati.
While waiting to be introduced as a member of the 2015 Franchise Four with Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench, the former Reds second baseman called the commissioner by his first name.
“I said, did you just call the Commissioner of Baseball Rob?” Rose said. “Bench stands up and says, ‘Pete, me and Joe can call him Rob, you gotta call him Mr. Commissioner.’”
Rose also showed of his remarkable memory for statistics, rattling on his lifetime numbers against pitchers such as Sandy Koufax, Juan Marichal and Bob Gibson.
He seemed especially proud that his lifetime batting average of .303 was just one point higher than the .302 he hit against the 19 Hall-of-Fame pitchers he faced during his career.
The Roast featured Reds broadcaster Chris Welsh, Reds Live host Jeff Piecoro and radio hosts Mo Egger and Andy Furman.
The Roast Master was Jon Warden, a former major league pitcher who won a World Series Ring in his only major league season, with the Detroit Tigers in 1968.
Warden took his best shot at Rose in reference to Rose’s relationship with his much-younger fiancé, Kiana Kim.
“Pete had to go to the hospital for the birth of his next wife,” Warden said.
Furman appeared ready to heap praise upon the Hit King before delivering his zinger.
“They call it a roast and this guy has been screwed, blued, and tattooed for years, Furman said. “I think it’s time we give back and say how much we love this guy tonight.”
Furman then introduced L. J. W. Hollingsworth, warden at the U.S. Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois where Rose served five months in 1991 for filing false tax returns.
Piecoro started his segment by describing one of the most beloved men in the history of the region.
“A man whose star power hasn’t dwindled one ounce even decades after he played his final game; a man who we all know isn’t perfect, but gave every ounce of himself whenever he put on a uniform,” Piecoro said. “But sadly, Johnny Bench couldn’t be here tonight, so we got Pete Rose instead. Actually, that’s a lie; Johnny could have been here, he didn’t want to.”
Rose got even with his roasters a little during his segment of the roast but took it pretty easy on them, considering the barbs they tossed his way.
Rose was not asked by fans, and avoided speaking directly about the potential for reinstatement to Major League Baseball.
He did, however, delivered some heartfelt words that suggested he has done some things in recent years that might bolster his case to return to the game he loves.
“I’ve made mistakes in the past, but I haven’t made any in the last 25 years. I’ve worked hard to get my reputation back and get my good standing back with the fans and it’s working,” Rose said. “I don’t knock the game of baseball. I don’t talk about steroids, I don’t talk about gambling. I talk about the positive things.”
Freedom General Manager Josh Anderson said the team had Rose in for an event last year and it was really memorable.
“The way that he bonds with our fans and the way he shows his appreciation, it was truly a special night and we knew we wanted him back,” Anderson said. “This opportunity came through and gave us a chance to send off the regular season on a high note.”
Rose was the ceremonial lead-off hitter for the Freedom in the bottom of the first inning and coached first and third base during the contest.
He also joined Anderson, Florence Mayor Diane Whalen and City Council members in announcing that the Freedom would host 2016 Frontier League All-Star Game.
The Freedom defeated the Windy City ThunderBolts 3-1 to reduce the magic number for making the playoffs to three, and controls its own destiny with just a weekend road series remaining in the regular season.
Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com