CINCINNATI -- On the heels of his induction into the Reds' Hall of Fame this past summer, all-time hits leader Pete Rose will receive another honor next year. The Reds announced on Thursday that a statue of Rose will be unveiled and dedicated outside of Great American Ball Park on June 17, before the Reds play the Dodgers.
Local artist Tom Tsuchiya was again commissioned as sculptor of a Reds statue. Tsuchiya created the three previous statues of honor for Big Red Machine members Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Tony Perez. He also sculpted the four original statues on Crosley Terrace of Joe Nuxhall, Frank Robinson, Ernie Lombardi and Ted Kluszewski.
In the latest sculpture, Rose will be shown making one of his trademark headfirst slides.
"All of us independently arrived at the headfirst slide depiction," Tsuchiya said. "The pose symbolizes his aggressive style of play, and the sculpture captures Pete at the moment he touches down."
The Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will embark on a fundraising campaign that will offer fans multiple levels of giving to support the statue.
The dedication ceremony will take place ahead of the 4:10 p.m. ET game vs. the Dodgers. Fans attending the game will receive a Rose statue replica.
This past June, the Reds received permission from Commissioner Rob Manfred to honor Rose over a weekend. Besides his taking part in the 40th anniversary of the 1976 World Series championship team, Rose was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame and had his No. 14 retired.