Pete Rose certainly is not the most beloved sports figure out there, but in his hometown of Cincinnati, he just might be.
The 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held Tuesday at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park, and before Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax tossed out the ceremonial first pitch, the league announced its 30 “Franchise Four” groupings — a team-by-team Mount Rushmore, if you will.
The Reds’ contingent was the last to be announced, and all four honorees emerged from the dugout to be recognized: Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Barry Larkin and, finally, Rose.
In addition to being a key cog in the Big Red Machine, the all-time big league hit leader also grew up in Cincinnati, and the hometown crowd ushered him onto the field with a standing ovation.
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Thumbnail photo via Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports Images
