Pete Rose, baseball’s all-time hits leader, frequently participates in autograph signing events. Known for his witty inscriptions like “Hit King,” “4256 Hits 0 Steroids,” and “HOF” (referencing his Hall of Fame exclusion), he makes appearances in Nevada, Ohio, and various locations across the country.
In the latest autograph signing event, which took place at the Minnesota Card Show, from April 18 to 21, the MLB veteran took jabs at Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.
Long story short, Ohtani’s interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was implicated in a scandal earlier this season. It turned out Mizuhara had been stealing money from Ohtani to cover his own gambling debts. There was initial confusion because Ohtani relied on Mizuhara for translation. However, investigations cleared Ohtani of any wrongdoing – he apparently had no knowledge of the stolen funds.
This is where Pete Rose enters. Rose, famously banned from baseball in 1989 for gambling on the sport, took the opportunity to seemingly poke fun at Ohtani’s situation. While signing autographs, Rose wrote inscriptions on baseballs that many considered trolling.
These included:
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- “Sorry I bet on baseball”
- “Ohtani is sorry also”
- Most pointedly, “I wish I had an interpreter”
Photo Credits: TMZ Sports
Essentially, Rose was implying that Ohtani was somehow guilty in the situation with Mizuhara. He suggested that Ohtani, like Rose himself, had gambled and was using the interpreter as a scapegoat.
Rose seems to believe MLB is giving Ohtani a lighter touch than they gave him. However, there’s a key difference. Rose bet on baseball games while he was actively playing and managing, a far more serious offense than anything Ohtani was ever accused of.
Also, there’s no evidence Ohtani knew anything about Mizuhara’s gambling or the stolen money.
Pete Rose’s MLB Career
Pete Rose, nicknamed “Charlie Hustle” for his aggressive play, carved a legendary path through Major League Baseball.
A switch-hitter, he amassed a record-breaking 4,256 hits across his 24-year career, including 10 seasons with 200 hits or more. He played five positions, even winning Gold Gloves in the outfield.
Though overshadowed by his lifetime ban for gambling in 1989, Rose’s achievements on the field remain undeniable- three World Series rings, an MVP award and a lifetime batting average topping .300.
