Pete Rose’s cause of death revealed

Pete Rose’s cause of death was revealed on Tuesday by the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner. 

Corner Melanie Rouse determined that Rose died of natural causes stemming from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a statement. 

Diabetes was also cited as a contributing factor, according to the coroner’s findings. 

Rose died on Monday at his home in Las Vegas. He was 83.

There hadn’t been any reports that Rose had been seriously ill before his death, but the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that court filings in 2018 connected to his divorce indicated that Rose was “in poor health and disabled.”

Rose’s lawyer also said that the baseball great had struggled to walk, had been on blood thinners and underwent three heart procedures in five years, according to the outlet. 

Rose had spent the day before his death enjoying time with fellow members of the Reds World Series teams from 1975 and 1976. 

A photo from the Facebook page of the Music City Sports Collectables and Autograph Show, showed Rose in a wheelchair along with former teammates Dave Concepcion, George Foster, Tony Perez and Ken Griffey Sr.

Rose was MLB’s hits king (4,256) and was a 17-time MLB All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, in addition to winning three World Series titles.

Rose was banned from baseball in 1989 for betting on baseball, which made him ineligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. 

The baseball legend spent years denying the allegations before ultimately coming clean in 2004, while insisting that he never bet against the Reds. 

“Major League Baseball extends its deepest condolences to Pete Rose’s family, his friends across the game, and the fans of his hometown of Cincinnati, Philadelphia and beyond who admired his greatness, grit and determination on the field of play. May he rest in peace,” the league said in a statement on Rose’s passing.