By Stephen J. Nesbitt and C. Trent Rosecrans

Thirty-eight years ago, Pete Rose called a Triple-A shortstop named Barry Larkin – born in Cincinnati like him – to call him up to the big leagues. Larkin hurriedly left for home, but his flight from Denver was diverted once, then twice, then three times. The Reds rookie arrived at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati a half hour before first pitch. Rose, a player-manager at the time, noticed Larkin had no bags.

“What size shoe are you wearing?” Rose asked.

Larkin looked at Rose’s shoe stash, “Whatever size they are.”

That’s why, in the first at-bat of his Hall of Fame career, Larkin wore Rose’s spikes and swung Rose’s bat as he drove in a run. The shoes were a little snug, but Larkin tried to hold on to them.

“I wanted to take them home afterward,” Larkin recalled, “but he asked for them back.”

Larkin told that story during his Hall of Fame induction in 2012. Then-MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, who had upheld the decision to ban Rose from baseball for life, was sitting nearby. Larkin retold the story late Monday night during a phone call to bring back a smile after hearing the news that Rose had died at age 83. They had seen each other in Cooperstown in July, and again in Cleveland a few weeks later. Rose was in a good mood.

“I’m shocked,” Larkin said. “I don’t know what to say.”

He called Rose an “inspiration” and “a big part of my baseball life.”

“He was the guy who gave me the first chance,” Larkin said. “He was my mentor, my coach, my manager. He was involved on the field, but also off the field.”

Similar tributes poured in from across the sport as former players, executives and officials remembered Major League Baseball’s hit king.

Major League Baseball extends its deepest condolences to Pete Rose’s family, his friends in the sport and the fans of his hometown Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Montreal and beyond who admired his greatness, grit and determination on the field of play. May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/GAP4NHBAOF

— MLB (@MLB) October 1, 2024

“Our hearts are deeply saddened by the news of Pete’s passing,” Reds owner Bob Castellini said in a statement. “He was one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen, and every team he played for got better because of him. Pete was Red through and through. No one loved the game more than Pete and no one loved Pete more than Reds Country. We must never forget what he achieved.”

In addition to his record of 4,256 hits, Rose was a 17-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion, two with Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine” and one with the Philadelphia Phillies. Rose won the NL MVP in 1973, three batting titles, two Gold Gloves, a Rookie of the Year award and a World Series MVP. His number 14 was retired by the Reds in 2016, the same year Rose was inducted into the club’s hall of fame.

The Phillies said in a statement: “The Phillies are saddened by the passing of Pete Rose. He will always be remembered for his perseverance and commitment, and for playing an integral role in bringing the team its first World Series championship.”

Nolan Ryan’s son Reid said: ‘He could get my dad freaking out, telling stories and reliving the good old days. Pete’s fights with my dad were “must see TV.” Nobody played harder than Pete.”

Rose hit .273 in 84 at-bats against Nolan Ryan, though he had a .417 on-base percentage by walking (13) almost as often as he struck out (17). Rose told his side of that struggle in the 2022 documentary “Facing Nolan.”

“My life is better because I know Pete Rose,” wrote Reid Ryan.

Alex Rodriguez, who worked with Rose at Fox, wrote on X: Absolutely heartbroken to hear the devastating news of Pete Rose’s passing. 💔He always brought a smile to my face. … He was truly original and 1 of 1. No one loved baseball more than Pete, and I will miss him terribly.”

“Pete Rose’s 24-year playing career left an indelible mark on baseball history,” the MLBPA said in a statement. “With his 4,256 career hits and 17 All-Star appearances at an unprecedented five positions, Rose was a crucial cog in the Big Red Machine teams of the 1970s. A National League MVP and Rookie of the Year award added to his legacy. The Players Association extends our deepest condolences to his family, friends and many fans, especially those in his beloved hometown of Cincinnati.”

The Baseball Hall of Fame, where Rose was barred from induction for gambling on his team, also released a statement: “The Hall of Fame remembers Pete Rose, MLB’s all-time and games played leader, who passed away on Monday. “Charlie Hustle won three batting titles, earned 17 All-Star Game selections and won three World Series championships.”

Rose’s death has led many to speculate whether Rose will be posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame. A lifelong ban ends, you could say, in death. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has said he believes it should be the Hall of Fame’s decision whether to induct Rose.

When reached by phone Monday evening, former Commissioner Fay Vincent, who was deputy commissioner when Bart Giamatti banned Rose, said he believes Rose will one day be in the Hall of Fame. Gambling “is legal now, where it used to be illegal in this country, and I think that makes a big difference,” Vincent said. “Do I think he belongs in the Hall of Fame? I don’t think anyone who participates in the corruption of the game in the same way he does belongs in the Hall of Fame. I think there should be a moral dimension to awards.”

Wade Boggs, a Hall of Fame third baseman and fellow member of the 3,000-hit club, wrote on X that he grew up wanting to be Rose. Boggs called Rose an “idol” and a “friend.”

“Words cannot describe how I feel right now,” Boggs wrote, adding, “You will be dearly missed my friend.”

Rose spent the last day of his life at an autograph event in Nashville, Tennessee, with former Big Red Machine teammates Dave Concepcion, George Foster, Ken Griffey Sr. and Tony Perez. David Glaskin, who emceed the event, told Newsweek: “I will remember him as one of the greatest baseball players ever and one of the nicest guys I had the pleasure of meeting. And I’m so happy he was able to see his teammates one last time.”

(Photo of Pete Rose before the 2022 Phillies game against the Washington Nationals: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)