Pete Rose, a four-time Phillies All-Star and MLB's all-time hits leader, has become the 39th inductee into the Phillies Wall of Fame during an on-field ceremony before that night's 7:05 p.m. game against the New York Mets.
Many special guests will return to honor the former first baseman, including past Phillies Wall of Famers. A 14" x 20" cast bronze plaque of Rose will be added to the Toyota Phillies Wall of Fame display located in the Memory Lane section of Ashburn Alley.
"I am very honored to be inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame. My baseball years in Philadelphia were amazing, not just because we won it all in 1980 and came close in 1983, but also because the fans welcomed me from day one," said Rose. "The team's great ownership and talented roster attracted me to Philadelphia as a free agent. I knew we could experience great success."
As the 2017 inductee, Rose will be honored at the annual Alumni Luncheon on Friday, August 11, at noon in the Diamond Club. In addition, all fans in attendance at the 7:05 p.m. game on Friday will receive a Toyota Pete Rose bobble figurine. On Saturday, August 12, all fans attending the 7:05 p.m. game will receive a commemorative Toyota Pete Rose print. The weekend will culminate with Toyota Alumni Day pre-game festivities on Sunday, August 13 at 1:35 p.m.
One of the most popular figures in Phillies history, Rose signed with the team as a free agent in December 1978. He played for the Phillies from 1979-83 and made quite an impact. During those five seasons alone, the Phillies were in a Division Series (1981), two League Championship Series (1980, 1983), two World Series (1980, 1983) and won their first World Championship (1980).
Rose was a National League leader with the Phillies on more than one occasion: on-base percentage, .418 (1979); singles, 159 (1979) and 117 (1981); doubles, 42 (1980); hits, 140 (1981); games, 162 (1982), and most assists as a first baseman, 123 (1980). He was also an NL All-Star from 1979-82 and broke the NL hits record in a Phillies uniform on August 10, 1981. Some more notables from Rose's Phillies career: he batted .326 in the five postseason series, finished second in the NL batting race twice, .331 (1979) and .325 (1981), and was selected as the first baseman by the fans on the Centennial Team (1983).
Rose was selected to the Wall of Fame through fan voting on phillies.com. Tickets to all Toyota Phillies Alumni Weekend events are available at phillies.com, with the Alumni Luncheon honoring Rose on sale at phillies.com/alumniluncheon.
