Cincinnati to Dedicate Boldface Park Baseball Field to Pete Rose

Pete Rose’s childhood ball field will soon feature his name.

The City of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Reds, the Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC) and the Sedamsville Civic Association will hold a special dedication ceremony of the Pete Rose Field at Boldface Park in Sedamsville on Wednesday, May 14 at noon.

Rose, a legendary former infielder and outfielder for the Reds and member of “The Big Red Machine” era of the team, passed away on Sept. 30 last year at the age of 83. Organizers say the dedication at Boldface will honor the hometown hero’s legacy and celebrate Cincinnati’s deep roots in baseball. It’s also part of an ongoing effort to revitalize the park and to bring more high-quality and accessible recreation spaces to Cincinnati’s West Side.

“This is where he grew up playing ball. This is where his father played ball. This community loves Pete Rose, and we are very honored to have CRC and the Reds organization here to honor Pete Rose in the park where he started his baseball career,” said Cindy Bastin, president of the Sedamsville Civic Association.

The dedication will feature remarks from city leaders, community representatives and the Rose family. A permanent commemorative plaque will also be unveiled.

“A few years ago, [Bastin] told us that Pete Rose learned to play baseball on Boldface Park’s field, and she wanted to honor him,” said Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney. “While we were hoping that Pete Rose would be here for this celebration of his legacy, we are grateful that his family and his Sedamsville family are present, and we know that the spirit of Charlie Hustle will always be a part of Sedamsville and all of Cincinnati.”

And starting at 3 p.m. that day, the Sedamsville Civic Association will host a community celebration with a cookout, cornhole, games, giveaways and the Cincinnati Rod Stockings.

Boldface Park, 3048 River Road, Sedamsville.