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I remember hearing Fosse’s distinctive voice broadcasting A’s games when I was in college. I didn’t know a thing about his playing career at the time.

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Oct 2Liked by Michael Weinreb

I like the way legendary Pirates manager and all-around awesome, "aw, shucks" man Chuck Tanner described how competitive baseball (and sports in general) was in the 70s: "I'll go out and have a steak dinner with you after the game, but when we're on that field I want to beat you."

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All of Rose’s records and accomplishments are acknowledged in Cooperstown, as they should be, but he should never have a plaque.

Baker Mayfield never shared a locker room with Tom Brady so he should have kept his mouth shut. I’m quite sure that none of the players on the Buccaneers had a problem with Brady’s intensity when they were being fitted for rings.

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Im a “born in Cincinnati” guy who, like nearly all Cincinnatians, loved Pete Rose, warts and all. That said, this Rose fan will not now and never has defended Rose and the gambling situation or his ban from baseball. He did that to himself. Obviously, his character left a lit to be desired. However, the Ray Fosse incident has really nothing to do with any of that. Rose was a flat out competitor and, I believe, would have bowled over his own mother if she was blocking the plate. Like Chuck Tanner said, Rose would have gone out for a steak dinner with Fosse after any game but during it, he was out to win. That is what made Pete…PETE and it is what “would” have gotten him a first ballot induction into the HOF. Will he get in eventually? I would certainly hope so. Pete was not the best athlete. He wasn’t exceptionally fast, didn’t gave the best arm, didn’t have a ton of power.

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He was simply a ball player, maybe the perfect ball player. Honor him for that one fact. LONG LIVE THE HIT KING!

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