The legendary Pete Rose, aka baseball’s “Charlie Hustle,” died on September 30, 2024 at his Las Vegas home, following a period of declining health. A switch hitter, he racked up 4,256 hits during his 24 seasons playing baseball, more than any player in history. He also holds the record for games played, 3,562, most of them with the Cincinnati Reds. He was passionate about the game, once saying, “I’d walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball.”
Unfortunately, there is something else Rose was zealous about: gambling. In 1989, betting on games landed him on the Major League’s ineligible list, banning him from the game for the rest of his life and preventing his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Heated debate continues to this day over whether he should be admitted to the Hall of Fame, with many arguing that his historic achievements on the field should be judged on their own merits.
No Will?
Rose left behind a daughter and son, Fawn and Pete, from his first marriage; a son and daughter, Tyler and Cara, from his second marriage; and Morgan, a daughter he acknowledged who was born out of wedlock. He was not married when he died.
The Rose estate situation is shaping up to be as complicated and controversial as his life. According to Nevada court records, Rose died without a will. However, his son Tyler contends that his father had mentioned the existence of an estate plan. That plan purportedly names Tyler and his half-brother Pete as the sole beneficiaries.
Tyler and his half-sister Fawn are now facing off for control of the estate. Fawn’s petition to be named co-administrator, along with a Nevada resident, Amber Fiechtner, was approved by the Nevada court in January 2025, but Tyler has objected. He claims that Fawn and their father had no contact for many years. In contrast, he and Rose had a closer relationship. Tyler argues that his greater familiarity with his father’s business dealings and assets makes him a better choice than Fawn to administer the estate.
Accusations are flowing both ways. Fawn claims Tyler removed items from their deceased father’s condo, including a Gucci bag containing $25,000 cash. Rose’s assets have yet to be located and inventoried, but at this point Fawn and Tyler disagree over their ultimate value. Tyler claims that Fawn has drastically underestimated the value of the estate.
Valuable Commercial Rights
There is yet another complication to this saga: Rose’s longtime sports agent, Mike Maguire, has submitted to the court a licensing agreement that he and Rose signed in 2023. The agreement gives Maguire control over all endorsement deals and licensing agreements following Rose’s death. Those commercial rights are extremely valuable, especially in light of the fact that Rose was posthumously removed from the ineligible list this past May. That opens up the possibility that he could be inducted into the Hall of Fame as soon as December 2027, when the Classic Baseball Era Committee is scheduled to meet.
Under the terms of the Maguire-Rose agreement, profits from any posthumous endorsements and licensing deals involving Pete Rose’s name, image and likeness are to be shared equally by Tyler, Tyler’s half-brother Pete, and Rose’s longtime assistant, Dawn Plancarte. Rose’s daughters, Fawn, Cara and Morgan, are excluded as beneficiaries. Maguire would get 5% commission on any deals, and 5% for expenses. There are several hand-written amendments to that agreement, and Plancarte was a witness to the document. It is now up to the court to determine if the agreement is legally valid.
Maguire claims that the agreement is exempt from any probate proceedings, and has already been talking to various parties about licensing deals. Fawn filed a petition in June 2025 to stop Maguire from doing so, saying his actions are creating confusion and damaging the estate. The court denied her petition.
It’s a safe bet to say that Rose’s estate will not be settled quickly, and we will likely see additional legal wrangling. The greatest hitter of all time was unquestionably a superstar at the ball park, but when it comes to estate planning, his record falls short indeed.
Hit a home run for your loved ones: Consult a competent estate planning/elder law attorney. Your attorney will help you create a thoughtful, comprehensive estate plan that can reduce the chances of family conflict when you pass on, and ensure your assets end up with the people you want to get them. To schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys, call us at (561) 625-1100.
