Sculptor of Pete Rose statue talks about hit king's legacy

Spectrum News spoke to University of Cincinnati graduate Tom Tsuchiya about his tribute to Pete Rose, a bronze sculpture of the baseball legend diving headfirst into home plate.

Rose died Sept. 30. He was 83.

In the wake of Rose's death, fans wishing to pay respects to the late World Series champion have left baseballs, flowers and candles at the sculpture outside Great American Ball Park.

Tsuchiya, a lifelong Reds fan, was commissioned by the team to create several statues to Reds greats including Rose. The statue was dedicated in 2017.

Speaking in his Cincinnati art studio, Tsuchiya told Spectrum News that he wanted to capture Rose's aggression and enthusiasm for the game he loved.

“Headfirst slides are kind of dangerous,” Tsuchiya said.

While consulting with Rose on his statue design, Tsuchiya said he asked Rose why he took such a big risk?

Tsuchiya said Rose replied, “Because it gets you in the (news)papers!”

Rose is Major League Baseball's all-time hits leader at 4,256. He was banned from hall of fame consideration for betting on baseball as a coach but is considered one of the game's greatest players.

Tsuchiya is a graduate of UC's Department of Classics in the College of Arts and Sciences.

His work appears in many other places across Cincinnati and the nation. He sculpted the city's tribute to trailblazing UC graduate Marian Spencer, the first Black woman elected to Cincinnati City Council. Spencer, who died in 2019, was a civil rights pioneer who served as a member of UC's Board of Trustees.

Tsuchiya also has been commissioned to create artworks for both the National Football League and Major League Baseball.

This week one of his pieces titled Embrace No Evil was dedicated on Court Street for the annual Blink festival. 

Watch the Spectrum News story.

Featured image at top: UC alumnus Tom Tsuchiya talks about designing his sculpture of Pete Rose. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC