Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Pete Rose, who passed away on September 30, leaves behind a legacy that ignites memories of one of the most intense baseball rivalries of the 1970s — the Cincinnati Reds versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. For Dodgers fans, Rose was not just a formidable opponent but the beating heart of the “Big Red Machine,” a team that stood in the way of the Dodgers’ World Series aspirations year after year. Throughout the 1970s, the Dodgers and Reds clashed for National League supremacy, with Rose at the center of Cincinnati’s dominance.
Rose’s competitive spirit and fiery personality were legendary, often creating sparks between the two teams. His aggressive style of play, particularly his headfirst slides, was a hallmark of his approach to the game. He wasn’t content with being just good; he wanted to win at all costs, and that made him both admired and loathed by Dodgers fans. While many across baseball respected his relentless work ethic, for those in Los Angeles, Rose was often seen as the enemy, embodying the grit and tenacity that powered Cincinnati’s success.
The Rivalry Begins
The rivalry between the Reds and Dodgers didn’t start with Rose, but it certainly reached new heights during his career. In the early 1970s, both teams were among the best in the National League. The Dodgers, under manager Walter Alston and later Tommy Lasorda, boasted a young and talented team that included players like Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, and Bill Russell. The Reds, with Rose as their catalyst, were known as the “Big Red Machine,” a nickname that described their dominant offense featuring Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and Tony Pérez.
The Reds and Dodgers frequently found themselves in heated competition for the NL West crown. Between 1972 and 1979, either Cincinnati or Los Angeles won the division every year except for 1973. These battles often felt personal, especially to fans, as the two teams traded punches in memorable series that would shape both franchises’ histories.
Key Moments of the 1970s Showdowns
Several moments from this rivalry stand out, with Pete Rose often at the center of the action. In 1973, a major flashpoint occurred in a game between the Dodgers and Reds when tensions between the two teams boiled over. After a hard slide by Rose into Dodgers’ second baseman Bill Russell, a bench-clearing brawl ensued. Rose’s reputation as an aggressive player often made him the focal point of such confrontations, and this moment further solidified his status as a villain in the eyes of Dodgers fans.
Perhaps the most defining moment of the rivalry came in 1976, when the Reds swept the Dodgers in the NL Championship Series. Rose batted an impressive .429 during the series, and his leadership helped guide Cincinnati to back-to-back World Series titles. For Dodgers fans, that series was a painful reminder of how the Big Red Machine, powered by Rose, stood in the way of their championship hopes. Rose’s ability to rise to the occasion during critical moments only deepened the disdain that many in Los Angeles held for him. All things considered though, the Dodgers did a decent job of keeping the fiery Rose in check. In his career, Rose played 344 games against the Dodgers, and put up so-so numbers: .287 batting average with an OPS of .727 with 20 home runs and 113 RBI over 24 seasons. Those numbers are considerably lower than his lifetime stats: .303 AVG with an OPS of .784.
The Contrast in Styles: Rose vs. Garvey
One of the fascinating aspects of this rivalry was the contrast between Pete Rose and Dodgers’ first baseman Steve Garvey. Garvey, with his clean-cut image and disciplined approach, was often viewed as the all-American hero by Dodgers fans. Rose, on the other hand, was the scrappy, gritty player who would do anything to win. The two represented different philosophies on how to play the game, and their teams followed suit. While the Dodgers prided themselves on pitching and defense, the Reds were known for their relentless offense, led by Rose’s aggressive, hard-nosed play.
Garvey and Rose frequently found themselves compared, with both men serving as the emotional and competitive leaders of their respective teams. Though they played different positions, their rivalry became symbolic of the larger battle between the two clubs. Dodgers fans took pride in Garvey’s consistent professionalism, while Rose’s confrontational style made him a figure of both admiration and hostility.
Rose’s Later Years and Dodgers Connections
Although Rose spent most of his career with the Reds, he did have brief stints with other teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos, before returning to Cincinnati as a player-manager. During these later years, the Dodgers and Reds’ rivalry cooled somewhat, with the two teams no longer clashing for division titles. However, Rose’s presence on the field continued to stir emotions in Dodgers fans, even as his playing days wound down.
It’s worth noting that Rose’s post-playing career has been marked by controversy, primarily due to his lifetime ban from baseball for gambling. For many fans of the game, including those in Los Angeles, this overshadowed his remarkable achievements on the field. However, for those who followed the Dodgers-Reds rivalry closely during the 1970s, Rose will always be remembered as one of the most formidable foes the Dodgers ever faced. During the heyday of the “Big Red Machine,” Rose and the Reds won the National League Pennant four times, winning two World Series. The Dodgers, on the other hand, only made it to the series in 1974 and 1977, losing both times: first to the Oakland Athletics in ’74 and then to the hated Yankees in 1977. It would not be until the Reds had faded that the Dodgers would finally win a World Series crown, in the weird, strike-interrupted 1981 season.
A Complicated Legacy
Pete Rose’s legacy in baseball is undeniably complicated. On the one hand, he is Major League Baseball’s all-time leader in hits, a record that may never be broken. His career numbers are staggering, and his influence on the game is undeniable. Yet his ban from baseball, which has kept him out of the Hall of Fame, remains a point of contention among baseball fans and analysts alike.
For Dodgers fans, Rose’s legacy is even more complicated. While many in Los Angeles would never have considered themselves fans of Rose, his competitive spirit and the way he played the game resonated with a generation of baseball lovers. He was, after all, the ultimate competitor, someone who never took a day off and played the game with the same intensity, whether it was April or October.
In many ways, Pete Rose was the perfect antagonist for Dodgers fans. He represented everything that stood in the way of their team’s success during the 1970s. But even as they booed him from the stands at Dodger Stadium, there was an underlying respect for the way he played the game. Rose may have been the enemy, but he was also one of the best to ever play.
Final Thoughts
As Dodgers fans reflect on the life and career of Pete Rose, there is no denying the impact he had on their beloved team. The battles between the Dodgers and Reds in the 1970s were some of the most intense and memorable in baseball history, and Rose was right in the middle of it all. Though he wore the uniform of the rival Reds, his influence on the game and the rivalry will never be forgotten.
Pete Rose may have passed away, but the memories of those fierce Dodgers-Reds showdowns, and the emotions they stirred, will live on in the hearts of fans forever.
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