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HOBBY HERO: Pete Rose a Hall of Famer to autograph, memorabilia collectors
Pete Rose, one of the most iconic names in the sports collectibles hobby, died at his Las Vegas home on Sept. 30, less than 24 hours after appearing at a sports memorabilia convention in Nashville. He was 83.
Rose may have signed more autographs than any former athlete from any sport. Hobby insiders say he likely appeared at the annual National Sports Collectors Convention more than any other signer. He signed on multiple days—as he often did—at the 2024 National in Cleveland in July.
“Pete was one of the first to do the [show] circuit,” said Jeff Rosenberg, president of Houston-based TRISTAR Productions, Inc., which has run the autograph pavilion at The National since 2006. “In the 1980s, you started seeing him at shows and he was one of the first to figure out this was a business, a good opportunity to make a nice income.
“He was always great with the fans, telling stories, taking pictures, adding almost any requested inscription.”
“He’s signed everything under the sun and would write almost anything asked,” Texas-based collector Scott Nash said. “No autograph collection is complete without a Pete Rose, or 20.”
During his 24-year playing career, highlighted by 19 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Rose set a major league record with 4,256 career hits in 3,562 games from 1963-86. A 17-time All-Star and three-time World Series winner, his career also included time with the Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos.
Other Rose accolades included: 1963 NL Rookie of the Year; 1973 NL MVP; two-time Gold Glove Award winner (1969-70); Silver Slugger Award (1981); Roberto Clemente Award (1976); three-time NL batting champion (1968, ’69, ’73); and MLB All-Century Team
Rose was the Reds manager from 1984-89 before he was banned from baseball in 1989 for violating the league’s betting policy. The ban has kept Rose out of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
HOBBY HALL OF FAMER
But no one will deny he is a first-ballot Hobby Hall of Famer.
Ryan Fiterman, president/CEO of Houston-based Fiterman Sports Group, was Rose’s agent and himself a fixture in the hobby. Fiterman shared his thoughts about Rose on Facebook:
“For over a decade, Pete Rose has been an irreplaceable part of the Fiterman Sports family. From being at the grand opening of our stores to my children only knowing him as Uncle Pete, he brought more than just his legendary status. He brought heart, humor and a unique connection to every moment he shared with us. The same passion and hustle he gave on the field, he poured into every moment off the field.
“Pete wasn’t just a Hall of Famer in the sports world, but in our lives as well. If you knew Pete, you knew he had the best stories, and he always had everyone laughing, no matter to whom he was talking. His unique ability to connect with people left a lasting impact on all of us. Whether it was a big signing event or a simple phone call, Pete made everyone feel special.”
Brian Schwartz, president/CEO of Schwartz Sports Memorabilia, Inc., said Rose “probably signed more autographs than any other [former athlete] ever.”
Rose appeared at more card shows than any other autograph guest.
“He was long entrenched, very entrenched in the hobby, and it was like everyone in the hobby knew him,” Schwartz said. “He liked being Pete Rose and would always tell stories. He became a larger-than-life character and added some wacky inscriptions” to his autograph.
For instance, he’d write: “I’m Sorry, I Bet On Baseball.” He also added “HOF ??” to autographs.
He even added such wacky inscriptions as, “I’m Sorry I Shot JFK,” and “I’m Sorry I Broke Up The Beatles.”
“He signed everything,” said George Johnson, who ran the popular Chicago Sun-Times shows and had Rose signing at shows in the Chicago area and Minnesota.
“Pete brought a presence when he walked in a room. I have all great memories [of Rose signings]. He always sold a lot of tickets at every signing.
“I think he signed the most [autographs ever], even more than Bob Feller and Bobby Hull. People loved to watch him play baseball. He played the game hard. So, everyone wanted his autograph.”
Rosenberg calls Rose’s 1963 Topps rookie card one of his most prized collectibles.
“People just wanted his autograph, and he was so gracious to fans,” he said. “Those eight letters were signed beautifully. He cared about his autograph.
“He made it a great experience.”
After signing all his autographs at the 2024 National, Rose walked over to Rosenberg, shook his hand, and thanked him for “putting on a great show.”
“That’s something I’ll never forget,” Rosenberg said.
NATIONAL TREASURE
Kansas-based collector Karen Murphy said Rose’s passing is “the loss of a national treasure.” Amid her sadness, Murphy savors the baseball stories she heard from Rose over the years.
“One thing Pete told me was, ‘I’m the Hit King now and I’ll be the Hit King when I’m gone.’ [That was a] very powerful, true statement.”
Murphy said one of her favorite Rose collectibles is the Cincinnati newspaper, signed and framed, from the day after he broke Ty Cobb’s hit record.
“He was like your grandpa, telling stories of the good old days,” Murphy said. “He did a lot of shows, and his lines were always filled with fans and collectors. He loved his fans. His smile was genuine; he loved talking baseball. Pete wore plaid shirts a lot at signings. On the collar of those shirts was stitched ‘ALL TIME HIT KING.’ … Yes, he is and always will be.”
In addition to shows, Rose was a regular signer at the Field of Dreams store inside Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. For years, he would sign there 15 to 20 days a month.
Rosenberg recalls leaving Vegas signings with Rose and walking to a nearby delicatessen for a sandwich, and then to a sports book.
Sports were his passion. All sports. He knew the players, teams and statistics.
“I remember one time Pete was in Kansas City during March Madness,” Murphy said. “We had a TV set up with some folding chairs for people to watch the games. I was sitting watching a game when a guy sat next to me. It was Pete. We sat side by side talking basketball. I’m like, ‘I’m sitting here watching basketball with the hit king, Pete Rose.’
“I never forgot that special moment.”
Memories were plentiful around Rose.
“I think the fact he basically was the only member of his own club—a first-ballot Hall of Famer who was banned from the game he played like no other—added to his appeal,” said longtime Virgina-based collector Mike Breeden said. “People always turned out to see him, even though they likely had met him [previously].
“He understood the business [of sports memorabilia] well, and used that to his advantage. For example, once he admitted to betting on baseball, he began signing the ‘I’m Sorry I Bet On Baseball’ inscription. Of course he charged more for that one. Pete was a bit of an opportunist, but there’s nothing wrong with that.”
One thing Breeden did get from Rose was a unique inscription—“Charlie Hustle”—added to an autograph on a book about 20 years ago.
“He didn’t want to do it, but finally did,” Breeden said. “He ended up doing that inscription in recent years, but for a while, I had something that was unique.”
Rose appeared at about 50 shows for TRISTAR, either regional shows or The National.
“In the sports collectibles industry, he was a titan,” said Tristar Vice President Bobby Mintz. “There was always demand for his autograph because he was popular. He was very, very popular; people liked him.”
Rose was popular among both collectors and fellow athletes and celebrities. He was asked for photos or an autograph at every show by fellow autograph guests, including at The National this year in Cleveland.
Rose was the center of attention during a backstage gathering at this year’s National, along with Reggie Jackson, Sammy Sosa, Pedro Martinez, Carlos Baerga and others.
“I have nothing but fond memories of every Rose signing appearance,” said Mintz, who had Rose sign two baseballs, one for each of his sons, with a special “HOF ??” inscription. “The sports collectibles industry was, and is, better because of Pete Rose.”
“He was loved by fans. Wherever he went, there was a crowd,” added longtime hobbyist Lisa Stellato.
“He was a great signer and always had time for fans. [Fellow] athletes loved him as well and always would seek him out in the back to swap stories,” Texas-based collector Chad King said.
From appearances on home shopping TV shows decades ago to appearing at dealer appreciation night at this year’s National, Rose was everywhere. He signed in both Cooperstown and Cincinnati countless times.
“You could make the argument that Pete Rose launched the sports collectibles industry in the mid-1980s. He was a pioneer,” Mintz said.
Rose made his card debut with his 1963 Topps #537 rookie card, followed by another legendary card, his 1964 edition (#125).
“Pete was not a Hall of Famer according to Major League Baseball, but he was according to collectors,” said longtime hobbyist Kit Young, who noted that Rose attended the hobby’s long-running Kit Young Hawaii Trade Conference three times.
Young sold 15 Rose cards within a day after his death due to collector demand. Young said Rose’s rookie card was his No. 1 seller at the 2024 National. He sold five almost immediately after the show opened.
“Pete’s cards have always been collectible. They weren’t tough to get, other than the rookie or his 1964, which is his most popular [card],” Young said.
Two of the toughest Rose cards to score in mint condition are his 1970 and 1972 Topps cards. “Great sellers, undervalued,” Young said.
“His rookie card has always been in demand,” Breeden said. “It’s an iconic card that belongs in any serious collector’s stable. In recent years there was a significant premium to add his signature to it. But people wanted to have it signed, so many were willing to pay the up charge.”
