We were in Vegas on our way to Bryce and Zion and I saw that Pete Rose was signing autographs at some casino in town. He was my Dad's and my favorite because of the way he played the game. I wanted to get a pic with him and send it to my Dad for Father's Day. So I convinced my family to go the next day. I spent the night before preparing what I wanted to talk to him about, specific plays etc.
We got there just before they closed, and you could tell he was getting tired of signing. I was the last person they let sit with him. He didn't look up at first.
- I brought up the way he ran out Walks. ("One in a million times they drop the ball and I'm on second, maybe third.") He started getting fired up.
- I brought up the play where he caught the foul ball in the World Series after it popped out of Boone's glove. I said he would've backed up that play even if it was a spring training game ("because, that's how you play the game")
- Astros Series... play at the plate. Took the catcher out like you could then. (" only time I went through a "stop sign" from the 3rd base coach)
- then he started telling me stories. It was the best! They said they had to close the store, but then I said, see my son over there? His name is Kyle. I wanted to name him Pete Rose Kuhlman, but my wife wouldn't let me. He stared down Kim, then laughed.
I know he wasn't perfect off the field... who is? If you have an opinion on that, don't post it on my page.
No one PLAYED the game harder.
~ Jerry Kuhlman, Facebook post, September 30, 2024
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