Pete Rose must be the most beloved figure who actually isn’t easy to like. At age 81, he is a tragic figure, living in his own past glory and answering for the transgressions that changed his life.
We who were kids in the 70s remember him as one of the great players of one of the (then) great teams- the Cincinnati Reds. By the way, Cincinnati is Rose’s hometown, he grew up tough and showed genuine talent at a young age.
But mostly he was known for his hustle- the guy who ran full speed to first base after being walked. The story goes that some players for the Yankees gave him his nickname of Charlie Hustle as a derogatory slam, but Rose and his fans embraced the moniker and a future legend was elevated.
The new four-part documentary, Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose, is comprehensive, exhaustive- the camera follows him day and night, from lengthy, intimate interviews to his day-to-day life as a professional memorabilia Autographer and meet & greet host to starstruck fans of a certain age.
But mostly, the film addresses the elephant in the room like an old, familiar shoe. You’ve heard the story a million times, and you’ll hear it again, as Rose makes his case for, well…in case you don’t know:
In 1989, Major League Baseball imposed a lifetime ban from the sport of baseball after an MLB investigation revealed that he had bet on games during his tenure as the manager of the Reds. In a 60- year journey, that ban, making him ineligible for induction into the Hall of Fame, remains the headline.
Yes, he’s the all-time hits leader, even now, with the stats that should have opened Cooperstown’s doors long ago. Except for the ban. Here’s Pete, hat in hand, still pleading his case, long after the late Bart Giamatti’s ruling. Can he sway the current powers that be?
No matter your opinion of Rose, the doc is a fascinating, an almost Shakespearean look at a man who had it all and worked hard for everything he got, only to fall prey to his penchant for gambling.
Familiar faces from Al Michaels to his own son, and many others, have their own experiences with Rose woven into the narrative, and the director has gotten hold of extensive archival footage that looks as crisp as it did back in the day. It’s a slick production.
I recommend it to anyone who loves the game, or even just a good character study.
CHARLIE HUSTLE & THE MATTER OF PETE ROSE, directed and executive produced by Emmy®-winner Mark Monroe, debuts WEDNESDAY, JULY 24 on HBO with the first two episodes. Three and four air Thursday, July 25 at the same time. All four episodes will be available to stream Wednesday, July 24 on Max.
