A Friendship Forged in Baseball: Dr. Kremchek’s Personal Memories of Pete Rose

October 1, 2024

Long before Dr. Tim Kremchek earned his place as a pioneering sports medicine physician, tending to the arms and legs of Major League Baseball players, he was just another wide-eyed kid in Cincinnati, enamored with the game—and like so many others, he idolized Pete Rose.

“There was nobody like Pete Rose,” Dr. Kremchek reflected on Monday evening after hearing of Rose’s passing at the age of 83. “He loved the very same things I loved. He loved Cincinnati. He loved baseball. He loved winning. Even with all the other greats on the Big Red Machine, Pete Rose put Cincinnati baseball on the map.”

For a generation of kids growing up in the 1960s and ’70s, Rose wasn’t just a baseball player—he was a living symbol of Cincinnati grit and determination. Hailing from the Queen City, Rose played the game with a raw passion that was impossible to ignore. The all-time hits leader captivated fans with his relentless pursuit of victory, a style that left an indelible mark on baseball and the hearts of Cincinnatians.

“I was a huge baseball fan growing up,” Kremchek recalled. “I remember seeing Pete play at Crosley Field in 1968. When the Reds moved to Riverfront Stadium, he’d sign autographs under the stadium after games. He was always within reach of the fans.”

Kremchek’s voice is nostalgic as he discusses Rose. He remembers a simpler time when baseball and the lives of young boys in Cincinnati were tightly woven together, thanks to Pete Rose’s aura. It wasn’t just his records but his accessibility and love for the game that made him a hero in a city that adored him.

Years later, life would bring Kremchek and Rose together again—not as fan and idol, but as friends. When Kremchek became the Reds’ team physician in 1997, the two struck up a friendship that extended far beyond the stadium walls.

“He was a friend and became a patient,” Kremchek said. “I loved the guy. He’d come into the office and hang around, telling stories for hours. My colleagues and patients loved it!”

It turns out those stories were legendary. Kremchek fondly remembers one brunch not long ago when Rose treated him and his son, Teddy, to two hours of baseball lore.

“Teddy loved it,” Kremchek smiled. “We talked baseball the whole time. The stories were amazing.”

One of Kremchek’s favorite stories was about Hall of Fame Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale, a towering six-foot-six competitor known for his fierce demeanor. Rose’s tale was quintessential Pete—always finding a way to push the envelope.

“Pete said that when he was coming in from the outfield, he’d sometimes give the opposing pitcher a little nudge on the mound,” Kremchek chuckled. “Just a bump to get under their skin.”

Apparently, Drysdale wasn’t amused. According to Rose, the next time he came up to bat, Drysdale threw four fastballs straight at his head.

“Drysdale didn’t care that he walked Pete,” Kremchek said, laughing. “He just wanted to send a message.”

But as much as Rose was beloved for his audacity on the field, Kremchek is quick to acknowledge his friend’s flaws.

“Pete certainly had his shortcomings and made mistakes,” he said quietly. “But he made the fans happy. He helped the Reds win two World Series. I hate that people still tear him down. He wasn’t the most sophisticated guy in the world, but he loved Cincinnati. That’s how I’m going to remember him.”

For Kremchek and countless others, Pete Rose will always be more than just a baseball legend—he’ll be a symbol of a golden era in Cincinnati when the world revolved around the crack of the bat and the crowd’s cheers. It was a time when kids like Tim Kremchek lined up for autographs, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man they all wanted to be.