As baseball's Hit King, Pete Rose shattered records that were thought to be unbreakable. And during the 1970s, he was the leader of the Big Red Machine, the Cincinnati Reds team that dominated the game. It was a career that was far from inevitable, however, and here Rose tells how he was sidelined for not being a "natural," but succeeded through hard work and perseverance. Told with wry humor, here is Rose's account of trying to hit a Bob Gibson fastball and a Gaylord Perry spitball, and reveals what happened in that infamous collision at home plate during the 1970 All-Star Game. Here too is a candid confession that he let down the fans, his teammates, and the memory of his dad by betting on the game he loved.