On Saturday, the Reds unveiled a statue of franchise Hall of Famer, all-time MLB hits leader, and Cincy native Pete Rose.

Rose himself was on hand to make the big reveal ... 

And here's a closer look at bronzed Pete Rose forever diving hellbent into the bag (third base, presumably) ... 

Personally, I love it when baseball statues get beyond the batting stance or the pitching windup, and this is one of the best examples of that flourish. Speaking of which, Carol Motsinger of the Cincinnati Enquirer undertook an excellent deep dive into sculptor Tom Tsuchiya's conception and execution of the work of art you see above. 

Oh, and speaking of which, the gates to Great American Ball Park opened not long after the statue dedication and just prior to an on-field ceremony. Lucky attendees got this for their troubles ... 

Excelsior! General distaste for head-first slides notwithstanding, of course. 

In fitting conclusion, please take note of this winning detail from the day's events ... 

Pete Rose, people.