Baseball legend Pete Rose passed away at his Las Vegas home on Monday at the age of 83. The Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner confirmed on Tuesday that Rose’s death was due to natural causes, specifically hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Diabetes was also noted as a contributing factor to his death.
Despite no prior reports of serious illness, court documents from Rose’s 2018 divorce proceedings suggested that he was in poor health and disabled. His attorney also revealed that Rose had difficulty walking, was on blood thinners, and had undergone three heart procedures within a five-year span.
The day before his death, Rose spent time with his former teammates from the Cincinnati Reds’ 1975 and 1976 World Series teams. A photograph from the Music City Sports Collectables and Autograph Show’s Facebook page showed Rose in a wheelchair alongside former teammates Dave Concepcion, George Foster, Tony Perez, and Ken Griffey Sr.
Rose, known as MLB’s hits king with 4,256 hits, was a 17-time MLB All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner. He also won three World Series titles. However, his illustrious career was marred by a betting scandal that led to his ban from baseball in 1989, making him ineligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
For years, Rose denied the betting allegations but finally admitted to them in 2004. He maintained, however, that he never bet against the Reds. Following his death, Major League Baseball extended its deepest condolences to Rose’s family, friends, and fans, praising his “greatness, grit, and determination on the field of play.”