Rosey Hopes for Bristol Fans

The announcement Monday that Pete Rose Jr. will manage the Bristol White Sox in 2011 excited me far less than when Bobby Thigpen was named skipper of the Appalachian League team a few years back.

However, folks in the self-proclaimed birthplace of country music are buzzing over the move. The reason for the excitement is obvious. They’re all hoping that Pete senior will make an appearance at the ballpark. The Bristol Sox general manager said so.
“I think it’s going to add a lot of excitement to the fans this summer with a name like that obviously,” Bristol general manager Mahlon Luttrell told the Bristol Herald Courier. “Hopefully, if all permitting, his dad will attend the ballpark a few times this summer.”

That’s cool. I go to a few Bristol Sox games each summer and, at best, the ballpark lacks enthusiasm. That’s being kind. So maybe – and I hope this proves to be true – the addition and Pete Jr. and the hope that his pop will attend a few Bristol Sox games will bring a much-needed infusion of excitement to Boyce Cox Field.

Will the possibility of seeing the all-time hits king hanging out at Bristol Sox games prompt to me to make a few more visits to the ballpark? You bet it will.