Cincinnati Reds to Honor Pete Rose with Commemorative Patch in 2025 Season

(Photo courtesy of Cincinnati Reds’ verified X account @Reds)

Payton Malecha | Contributing Writer

The Cincinnati Reds made a big announcement this week, revealing that their uniforms
for the 2025 season will feature a special patch honoring the legendary Pete Rose. The
patch, which will showcase Rose’s iconic No. 14 inside a black circle, serves as a
tribute to the all-time hits’ leader and one of baseball’s most controversial figures.

Rose, known as “Charlie Hustle,” remains one of the most polarizing figures in MLB
history. He was banned from baseball for life because of gambling on games while
managing the Reds, preventing him from being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

However, his on-field accomplishments — 4,256 career hits, 17 All-Star appearances, and
three World Series rings — are impossible to ignore. The Reds organization has long
struggled with how to acknowledge his contributions while respecting Major League
Baseball’s stance on his banishment. This patch marks a significant step in their
recognition of his legacy.

Reactions from UD Reds Fans

To gauge the local response, this reporter interviewed three University of Dayton students who are lifelong Reds fans.

Carson Samuels, a freshman majoring in finance: “Pete Rose is Cincinnati baseball. Yeah, there’s controversy with his career outside of baseball, but no one played harder than him. It’s about time the Reds do something like this.”

Devin Grazzal, a freshman biology major, said, “I get why people have mixed feelings, but I love this. I grew up hearing stories about Rose’s hustle and fire. He deserves to be remembered for what he did on the field.”

Riley Cahill, sophomore business major, said, “I think it’s cool, but I wish MLB would just let him in the Hall of Fame. A jersey patch is nice, but his legacy deserves more than that.”

Other MLB Teams Wearing Commemorative Patches in 2025

Here are a few other teams honoring the legends connected to their baseball organizations this season:

● Los Angeles Dodgers – Honoring legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela with a
No. 34 patch throughout the season.
● Milwaukee Brewers – Players will wear a commemorative patch for longtime broadcaster
Bob Uecker, who passed away earlier this year.
● Oakland Athletics – Their team’s patch will celebrate their first season in Sacramento, California, while also honoring franchise great Rickey Henderson.

The 2025 MLB season will be filled with tributes, but none may be as talked about as
the Reds’ decision to honor Rose. Whether you’re a fan or a critic, it’s clear his impact on the game and Cincinnati is not likely to be forgotten anytime soon.

REPORTER’S NOTE: Peyton Malecha is a student in CMM 334 Sports Writing this spring. The right-handed pitcher for the Flyers wrote about Rose as part of a class assignment.