By Edgar Kelley, The Inter-Mountain
ELKINS, W.Va. — When baseball legend Pete Rose passed away at the age of 83 last week, it brought back many memories for those who either loved baseball’s all-time hit king, or hated him.
Those who adored “Charlie Hustle” remember him as the hard-nosed player who won three World Series with the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies. Those who hated him are quick to recall his perceived arrogance on the field and the fact that he was banned from Major League Baseball for betting on games.
Jim Ebert, owner of the Elkins McDonald’s restaurant, has several fond personal memories of Rose, especially from when he met and had a photo taken with the 17-time All-Star in 1972, when Ebert was just eight years old.
“The photo I have of us was at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati when I was at a game with my parents, my brother and my sister,” Ebert told The Inter-Mountain. “The first people into the stadium were allowed to get their picture taken with Pete Rose, so my brother, my sister and I were all able to get our picture with him.”
Ebert said many fans were lined up waiting to take a photo with Rose, who was one of his idols while growing up.
