Hustle

Pete Rose had a professional baseball career unlike most others, marked by both extraordinary success and a dramatic downfall. He made his major-league debut in 1963 as a second baseman with the Cincinnati Reds and was later nicknamed "Charlie Hustle" for his energetic and determined style of play. Over the course of his career, Rose participated in eighteen All-Star games, won three World Series championships, broke Ty Cobb's record for career hits, and was named Sportsman of the Year in 1975 by both Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News. In 1984, after six years with other teams, Rose returned to the Reds, signing as both a player and manager at age 43. He continued playing until 1986 and served as manager until 1989. That same year, a long-hidden issue came to light: Rose had struggled with a gambling addiction for years, accumulating significant debt to bookies through horse racing bets. In an attempt to recover his losses, he had been betting on baseball.