Pete Rose’s Cause of Death Is Released: ‘Found by a Family Member’

Pete Rose’s cause of death was “Hypertensive and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease with a significant condition of Diabetes Mellitus,” according to an October 1 email from Melanie Rouse, Coroner for the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner, to Heavy.

“Peter Rose, 83, of Las Vegas died at his home on September 30th, 2024. His cause of death was determined as Hypertensive and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease with a significant condition of Diabetes Mellitus. The manner of death was natural,” the full statement read.

The Major League Baseball legend was found dead by a family member in his home, according to TMZ Sports.

According to TMZ, Rose, MLB’s all-time hit leader, died “earlier” on Monday, September 30 at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to ABC News, Rose “was not under the care of a doctor when he died, and the scene is being examined.”

Cincinnati.com reported that it was not publicly known that Rose was sick recently. However, in 2018, the baseball legend wrote in court papers in his divorce case from his second wife that he was “currently disabled and can barely walk or travel. His health is deteriorating,” TMZ reported at that time. According to TMZ, those papers said Rose had “a heart condition” and was “on blood thinners.”

Rose was divorced twice from wives Karolina and Carol Rose and was engaged to fiancee Kiana Kim, a Playboy model with whom he once starred in a reality television series about their blended families, according to Deadline.

The medical examiner’s office told ABC News that there are no signs of foul play.

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Pete Rose Appeared at a Meet & Greet With Fans in a Wheelchair the Day Before He Died

Rose appeared in a wheelchair the day before he died in a series of photos with fans and other baseball greats at an autograph show in Nashville.

Fans shared their own photos and described meeting Rose the day before his death in the comment thread of the Music City Sports Collectibles & Autograph Show’s Facebook post, which was the event Rose attended.

A man shared an autographed photo in which Rose wrote, “Thanks for being a Red.” He also shared a photo showing him with Rose at the event. “I’m so thankful I had the honor of meeting him, but so very saddened at the same time. It feels eerie that I was among the last few people who would ever get to take a picture with Pete,” he wrote.

TMZ reported that Rose was in a wheelchair at the Nashville meet-and-greet because “his back was aching. He appeared to be in good spirits.”

Rose’s agent, Ryan Fiterman of Fiterman Sports, also confirmed Rose’s death to TMZ, saying, “The family is asking for privacy at this time.” TMZ did not reveal which family member found Rose.

Rose’s last Instagram post came on August 14 and showed him giving a thumbs-up. “Honored to visit Cincinnati with my exclusive client, Pete Rose. It was great to proudly stand with him by his legendary headfirst slide statue in the hometown of the Hit King. #FitermanSports #PeteRose #Cincinnati,” he wrote.

Rose famously earned the nickname “Charlie Hustle.”

The Cincinnati Reds confirmed Rose’s death, writing on X, “The Cincinnati Reds extend their deepest condolences to the family, friends, and teammates of Reds Hall of Famer Pete Rose, who passed away earlier today at the age of 83.”

“Our hearts are deeply saddened by the news of Pete’s passing,” said Bob Castellini, Reds Principal Owner and Managing Partner.

The New York Times dubbed Rose “one of baseball’s greatest players and most confounding characters.” The Reds’ statement on Rose leaves out his banishment from baseball in 1989 for gambling on sports, and he was “subsequently declared ineligible for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame, which would otherwise have been a certainty,” The Times reported.

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The Owner of the Cincinnati Reds Called Pete Rose ‘1 of the Fiercest Competitors the Game Has Ever Seen’

The statement from Reds’ owner Castellini recounted Rose’s on-field accomplishments.

“He was one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen and every team he played for was better because of him. Pete was a red through and through. No one loved the game more than Pete and no one loved Pete more than Reds Country. We must never forget what he accomplished,” he wrote.

According to the statement Rose, “a 17-time All-Star, is the all-time MLB leader in hits (4.256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and singles (3,215.) He won three World Series (1975 & 76 with the Reds, 1980 with the Phillies), three batting titles (1968, ’69 & ’73), one National League Most Valuable Player Award (1973), two Gold Glove Awards (1969, ’70), NL Rookie of the Year Award (1963) and 1975 World Series MVP.”

In 1999, Rose “was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Rose was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2016 and his iconic #14 was retired the same year. His statue outside Great American Ball Park was dedicated in 2017,” the team’s statement says.

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