A construction worker waits for the arrival of Pete Rose at Great American Ballpark. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Pete Rose toured the new Riverfront Stadium in 1969, then christened the stadium with its first hit the next year.

        History, in one way, repeated itself Friday.

        Mr. Rose took a brief tour of the new Great American Ball Park, signed autographs for construction workers, then recorded the first “hit” by slapping a Todd Portune lob into a pile of steel in front of a Port-o-let in the construction site infield.

        Mr. Portune, a Hamilton County commissioner, orchestrated Mr. Rose's visit. After the tour, he escorted baseball's all-time hits leader to the Santa Maria Sedamsville Family Center, then to a Knothole baseball game.

Rose hits a ball pitched by Todd Portune. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        Calling Cincinnati the “baseball capital of the world,” Mr. Rose said the new stadium is a fitting home for his former team. He also said he is confident he'll be reinstated to the game, which banned him in 1989 for his involvement in gambling.

        “I can't wait to attend my first game here, which I'll have to pay to get in,” Mr. Rose said with a smile.

        Mr. Rose joked, then sounded bitter, when asked if he's heard from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig about possible reinstatement.

Pete Rose is applauded by construction workers while holding a proclamation presented to him Friday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        “He's in a bad mood. His team (Milwaukee) is 21 games under .500 and he's got other things to worry about,” Mr. Rose said.

        “The problem with baseball is that in 1989 I died, unless they need me,” he said. “When they need me, they bring me back to life and they're very cordial and return my phone calls.”

        Mr. Rose also said he's pleased he'll be memorialized at the new park with a rose garden at the spot hit 4,192 landed in 1985, breaking Ty Cobb's career record.

Rose signed baseball and hard hats at GAB Friday. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        The biggest round of applause from ballpark workers was for Mr. Portune and the county commissioners, who passed a proclamation that said Mr. Rose's career should qualify him for the baseball Hall of Fame.

        “I can't even spell proclamation,” Mr. Rose said.

       E-mail dklepal@enquirer.com

Reds 4, Pirates 3 Reds box, runs If crowds grow, so do Reds Pete Rose is a hit at ballpark site visit Boone shuts 'em up with his bat Griffey's hamstring improving, so DL out for now Newest Red throws from left side with upside No DH Interleague roundup Notes from Friday's games Lousiville 2, Norfolk 1

Ky: Colonels state champs
All-Stars: Kentucky 31, Tennessee 14
DAUGHERTY: Chalk up another Woods win
Flesch pleased with himself
It's not supposed to be this hard
Long Bethpage gets even longer in the rain
Tiger a mismatch on rainy Black Course
Sorenstam leads Evian Masters
U.S. team joins Korea, Japan, Belgium in second round
World Cup TV schedule
Speedway officials hope for big crowd
Polesitting Riggs happy as a father
Unser sheds weight, image
Da Matta shows rivals ad for Newman's new flick
Hewitt, Henman in semis
Jarrett continues surge by winning Michigan pole
Georgia Tech's Bakker too much for S. Carolina
Red Wings got it from Day 1
Broadnax, Team Cincinnati set for Hoop-It-Up tourney
Coming up this week

• Return to Reds front page...