Pete Rose was the greatest ball player I ever saw. I remember my Dad pointing him out to me when he was a rookie with Cincinnati. We were watching a Phillies game on 16-inch black-and-white TV. The Reds were at bat. Rose walked. "Look at how he runs down to first base," my father said. He sprinted. I never saw anything like it, not then and not since. "Charley Hustle." He was rough, and he never quit, never limped, never slumped (well...). When he came to the Phillies, it was the happiest day of my baseball life. Sure, Rose was an ass, but that ass should be in the Hall of Fame.

As a brit I have always been fascinated by baseball. The passion for the game comes across very quickly in this account. Perhaps more white space is needed in the formatting but its a fascinating tale. For what it's worth I am now on Pete's side too.