In a statement to The Epoch Times on Oct. 1, a spokesperson for the Clark County, Nevada, office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner said Rose died Sept. 30 from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
The heart condition stems from long-term high blood pressure that leads to atherosclerosis, or increased plaque buildup and hardening of artery walls. He also had a “significant condition” of diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disease that develops when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin or any at all, or when the body does not respond to the effects of insulin properly. Rose died at his home in Las Vegas.
He was seen in public just one day prior at a Fiterman Sports Group meet-and-greet in Nashville, participating in a photo-op with former teammates. He played in the major leagues from 1963 to 1986 and spent almost all of his career with the Cincinnati Reds before serving as a manager for the team. He was MLB’s hits king, an All-Star 17 times, a two-time Gold Glove winner, and won three World Series titles.
“He was one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen, and every team he played for was better because of him. Pete was a 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 accomplished.” Despite his success, Rose was faced with scandal after a full inquiry was launched into allegations he had broken baseball’s cardinal rule by placing wagers on game.