American Notes BASEBALL

He may not be a role model anymore, but Pete Rose has found what may be a model role. This week the onetime Cincinnati Reds star, who is barred from baseball for gambling, will begin filming The Babe Ruth Story, an NBC made- for-TV movie. Rose will play Ty Cobb, the volatile Detroit outfielder who reigned as baseball's best hitter every year but one (1916) between 1907 and 1919. Talk about typecasting! Rose broke Cobb's long-standing record for most hits (4,191) in 1985 and went on to collect 4,256 before retiring in 1986; like Cobb, he had a reputation as a hell raiser on the field and off. While Rose never sharpened his spikes to tear up infielders, both enjoyed good fistfights with opponents. For good measure, Cobb was also accused of gambling. If Rose's movie career takes off, maybe next time he can play yet another celebrated baseball reprobate: Pete Rose.