Valley native Ron Robinson reflects on playing baseball for the late great Pete Rose

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) — Baseball has lost its hit king.

But for Woodlakes alum and MLB veteran pitcher Ron Robinson – he's lost a friend. On Monday, the legendary Pete Rose died at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 83.

“I mean, he was a father image to me,” Robinson said.

A former first-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in the 1980 MLB Draft, Robinson played for Rose.

“I was in the big leagues for three days and Pete Rose became player-manager,” Robinson said.

After four years in the Reds' minor league system, Robinson finally got the call to the show. He was eager to meet the man who was named NL Rookie of the Year in 1963, when Robinson was just a year old.

“I was staying at a hotel in downtown Cincinnati and I made sure I got up early and went to the clubhouse very early to meet Pete and I was the first one,” Robinson said.

With three World Series titles, 17 All-Star appearances, an MVP, more hits, plate appearances and games played than anyone in major league history, Rose's reputation spoke for itself.

RELATED: Pete Rose, MLB's all-time hits leader, dies at 83

“He was the Elvis Presley of baseball,” Robinson said.

But Robinson says more than anything else: Rose loved to win.

“You grow up with the idea of ​​playing against guys like that and then it was great to play for him. He was intense, he wanted to win at all costs,” Robinson said.

But this relentlessly competitive nature would get Rose into trouble.

“‘What do you think about this football game? You know your dad is a coach, what do you think?' Robinson, whose father Leo is best known as the legendary Woodlake High School football coach (290 career wins), said. “I think everyone knew he was that kind of guy.”
In 1989, Rose was banned from baseball for betting on the Reds team he managed.

He denied the allegations for 15 years.

But in 2004, he admitted to playing as Cincinnati's captain, justifying the move by saying he only bet on the Reds winning.

“I think there are a lot of worse guys in the Hall of Fame,” Robinson said.

The numbers are undeniable, but players like Rose who are on the MLB Permanently Ineligible List are ineligible for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“You can have a drug problem, they will forgive you. You have a gambling problem, they won’t forgive you.”

In 2020, ESPN reported that the rule applies even to people after their death.

After Pete's death, the Hall of Fame continues to exist without one of the greatest of all time in it.

“Everyone deserves a second chance and he didn’t get it in baseball,” Robinson said.

Last week, the Reds faithful stopped by the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati to pay their tribute.

They donated roses to the man they called “Charlie Hustle.”

“Do you think we'll ever see another athlete like him?” I asked.

“No, you will never see anyone this intense. Pete played for pride, not money. He played to win,” Robinson said.

Robinson has been closely connected to the Reds organization and fan base for years.

He says if the ball club decides to hold a memorial, it will be as big as they choose to honor it.

“I think it will be as big as Babe Ruth. “He’s a hometown hero and I can imagine it will be the greatest thing to happen in Cincinnati in a long time when it’s opened to the public,” Robinson said.

Whether or not Rose ever finds herself in Cooperstown is still up for debate.

But Rose's influence on Robinson is not like that.

“I love him. He was a good person to me,” Robinson said.

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