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A quarter century later, there are no easy answers to the Pete Problem

Three decades after he became the alltime hit king, Pete Rose sticks to a heavy schedule of appearances and autograph sessions that earn him more than $1 million a year.

Three decades after he became the alltime hit king, Pete Rose sticks to a heavy schedule of appearances and autograph sessions that earn him more than $1 million a year.

By 1968, when he won his first batting title and finished second in the MVP voting at age 27, Charlie Hustle was already one of the game's brightest stars.

By 1968, when he won his first batting title and finished second in the MVP voting at age 27, Charlie Hustle was already one of the game's brightest stars.

Rose told the room that he finally understood what it meant to "reconfigure" his life. He said, "I disrespected baseball." He looked at Perez -- calling him, "like a brother to me" -- and apologized directly, and also apologized to the other teammates from the Big Red Machine. "I'm a hardheaded guy," Rose choked out. "But I'm a lot better guy standing here tonight. .... I guarantee everyone in this room I will never disrespect you again." As he fought to get his composure, he added, "I love the fans, I love the game of baseball, and I love Cincinnati baseball."

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To purchase a copy of Pete Rose: An American Dilemma, go here.