//This Day in Sports History: Pete Rose Reaches His 3,000th Hit

This Day in Sports History: Pete Rose Reaches His 3,000th Hit

Pete Rose joined MLB’s elite 3,000 hit club on May 5, 1978.

MLB’s 3,000 hit club is an elite group comprised of only 32 players in baseball’s long and storied history. Pete Rose, one of MLB’s most famous–or perhaps notorious–figures, joined the club on May 5, 1978.

Leading off for the Reds, Rose entered the night with 2,998 hits and decided he would take more pitches than usual and wait for the right one from Montreal Expos starter Steve Rogers. In the third inning, he stepped up to the plate with Cesar Geronimo on second and one out. Rose hit the first pitch straight down in front of home plate and took off for first base. Rogers struggled to glove the ball near the mound after it bounced high, allowing Rose to safely reach first and record his 2,999th hit.

Rose returned to the plate in the fifth inning as the message board