A construction worker waits for the arrival of Pete Rose at Great American Ballpark. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Pete Rose toured the new Riverfront Stadium in 1969, then christened the stadium with its first hit the next year.

        History, in one way, repeated itself Friday.

        Mr. Rose took a brief tour of the new Great American Ball Park, signed autographs for construction workers, then recorded the first “hit” by slapping a Todd Portune lob into a pile of steel in front of a Port-o-let in the construction site infield.

        Mr. Portune, a Hamilton County commissioner, orchestrated Mr. Rose's visit. After the tour, he escorted baseball's all-time hits leader to the Santa Maria Sedamsville Family Center, then to a Knothole baseball game.

Rose hits a ball pitched by Todd Portune. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        Calling Cincinnati the “baseball capital of the world,” Mr. Rose said the new stadium is a fitting home for his former team. He also said he is confident he'll be reinstated to the game, which banned him in 1989 for his involvement in gambling.

        “I can't wait to attend my first game here, which I'll have to pay to get in,” Mr. Rose said with a smile.

        Mr. Rose joked, then sounded bitter, when asked if he's heard from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig about possible reinstatement.

Pete Rose is applauded by construction workers while holding a proclamation presented to him Friday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        “He's in a bad mood. His team (Milwaukee) is 21 games under .500 and he's got other things to worry about,” Mr. Rose said.

        “The problem with baseball is that in 1989 I died, unless they need me,” he said. “When they need me, they bring me back to life and they're very cordial and return my phone calls.”

        Mr. Rose also said he's pleased he'll be memorialized at the new park with a rose garden at the spot hit 4,192 landed in 1985, breaking Ty Cobb's career record.

Rose signed baseball and hard hats at GAB Friday. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        The biggest round of applause from ballpark workers was for Mr. Portune and the county commissioners, who passed a proclamation that said Mr. Rose's career should qualify him for the baseball Hall of Fame.

        “I can't even spell proclamation,” Mr. Rose said.

       E-mail dklepal@enquirer.com

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