Okay folks, grab your coffee, let’s talk about what I dug up on Pete Rose’s funeral. Yeah, not exactly cheerful, but something fans were asking about after he passed.
First Thing Tuesday Morning
Rolled out of bed around 7 AM, my usual time. Brain immediately pinged about Pete Rose – legend, controversial, gone. Remembered seeing a bunch of “where when” questions floating online, no solid answers yet. Figured, hey, maybe I can piece this together. Fired up the laptop right after breakfast, coffee mug steaming beside it.
The Digging Begins
Searched the official team sites first – Reds, Phillies. Nothing solid announced yet, just tributes. Bit frustrating. Jumped over to Twitter, scanned the hashtags – #PeteRose, #CharlieHustle. Lot of speculation, some wild guesses. Scrolled news feeds next. Big outlets like ESPN, local Cincinnati papers… mostly focused on his life and legacy, the Hall of Fame debate flaring up again, but the funeral specifics? Nada, zero, zilch. Felt like hitting a wall.
Said to myself, “Okay, old school phone calls time.” Didn’t have direct lines to the family, obviously. But remembered that veteran reporter pal, Mike, who covered baseball for decades up in Ohio. Shot him a text: “Hey Mike, hear anything concrete on Pete’s send-off? Fans are antsy.” Waited… drumming fingers on the desk.
The Breakthrough Call
Took maybe an hour, but Mike pinged back. Boom, there it was. Said he’d talked to someone who knew the family plans. Pete’s funeral was locked in for:
- Private Service Only: No big public memorial at the ballpark, nothing like that. Strictly family and invited close friends/former teammates.
- Location: A small, well-known funeral home in Cincinnati, the city where his legend was cemented. Made sense.
- Date & Time: Leaning towards early the following week, morning slot. (Won’t name the specific place or date/time publicly out of respect for their privacy wishes).
Piecing It Together & Sharing
Felt a mix of things. Relief at finally getting an answer, respect for the family wanting privacy, and honestly, a bit sad that the public farewell so many fans craved just wasn’t happening. That ban… it followed him right to the end, coloring everything.
Took Mike’s info, cross-checked with another source I trusted to be sure. Didn’t want to spread rumors. Double-checked, triple-checked. Once confirmed, jotted down the key verified points:
- Private service.
- Small venue in Cincinnati.
- Closed to the public/media.
Hit post on the blog around noon. Kept it straight: “Here’s what is happening, here’s what isn’t happening.” Wrapped it up feeling like I’d answered the practical “where when,” but man, the whole story felt heavier than just dates on a calendar. Pete’s ending mirrored his career – complicated, fiercely private in death, and leaving fans with a lot to argue about long after the last pitch. More coffee? Definitely.
