Just like Arod, McGwire, Canseco and others, Pete Rose has fallen out of the good graces of collectors. Like those other guys, it's for good reason. I certainly can't blame anyone who dislikes any of them. And somehow, they are all on the list of players who I have a LOT of cards of. Probably because they are (relatively) cheap, and I have fond memories of them from before I knew all the bad stuff!
One early memory of Rose that I have is his levitation! Check this out, it looks like he took off from a mile away!
And this one might even be better. I can see a GIF of this where Pete hovers down the line like superman, avoids the tag, backs up while still in midair and finally slaps the plate. The shadow is cool here too. Reminds me of Peter Pan and his shadow.
Anyway, here are the 5 Pete Rose cards I picked out as the favorites in my collection:
1984 Fleer Update #U-102 - This one just HAD to make the list. I love cards of players on teams that they look out of place with. Check. I love Expos cards. Check. I love bunting cards. Check. And I love tough to find sets, like this update set. Last Check.
Happy to have this card in my collection and wish I had more from this set. The 1984 Fleer Update Gooden is one of my white whales.
1973 Topps #130 - Pretty beat up, but I include this card because Pete looks so awkward! He looks like he just popped a foul ball back. He also looks like he has to pee. Funny!
1970 Kellogg's 3-D Super Stars #2 - I like this because it is my earliest Kellogg's card. In reasonable condition for an old Kellogg's too!
1971 Topps #100 - 1971 Topps is popular with a lot of us, and I'm no exception. I do wish they had cropped this a little differently, losing Pete's elbow seems a strange choice when there is room on the other side of the card.
1964 Topps #125 - my all time favorite Rose card! I wanted it for years before finding a smoking deal on this copy a decade ago. Young Pete, still with 4000 hits and a gambling scandal ahead of him. I can't imagine he thought everything would turn out for him like it has.
Obviously I would love a Rose RC, and I am missing 7 for his complete Topps run. Would be very nice to get all those, but that's unlikely as other things would get grabbed first. But overall, I am happy with my Rose collection.
Any awesome Rose's that would make your list that I should try to acquire?
Pete Rose - the first ballplayer I recall noticing. I was probably 9 or 10. Loved his moppy hair. Gambling was wrong but based on his playing career, he belongs in the Hall. I think it will happen, posthumously. Adding the Kelloggs to my small Petey collection would be enough for me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, they will let him die without his wish, then put him in.
DeleteI don't know...they still haven't put Joe Jackson in there.
DeleteI liked Pete Rose when I was a kid, which is weird since he famously had the fight with Bud Harrelson and I'm a Mets fan. But I had his book Charlie Hustle which was supposedly his diary of the 1974 season (but ghostwritten) and I quite liked it.
Yeah, gotta vote for the 1964. I'd rank the Expos card second though. You have him as a 2B, 1B, and OF. Do you have him as a 3B?
ReplyDeleteI do have several of him at 3b! Didn't even think about that.
DeleteMy favorite Rose cards are from '75 and '76. He was a big part of my childhood. Didn't like him them, but as with everyone who played in the '70s, I have a special affection for their cards. Key Rose cards for me other than those two are the '79 Burger King card showing him for the first time with the Phillies and the '69 card, which I traded away as a teenager and have never gotten back.
ReplyDeleteI have the 1980 Burger King card, but no the 79. I also have the 69. Like I said, I have a decent amount of Rose.
DeleteLove that '84 Fleer Update Rose, and the '71 is nice, too. Nice collection!
ReplyDeleteNice grouping of Rose cards there. I guess I'm soft, but I wish MLB would just induct the poor guy while he's still alive. Yes, he made some mistakes, and some serious ones, but it seems a shame that they won't put the all-time hit king in while he's still alive here...
ReplyDeleteGreat post King! Like the Mays... maybe one day I'll sit down and go through my stuff and pull out my favorite five. One of my favorites is the 1970 Kellogg's, but I'd love to add that 1964 card to my collection at some point. I was trying to buy a signed copy of that card for a few years, but it never dropped down into my price range.
ReplyDeleteAs for other Rose cards I enjoy...
1969 Topps TSN All-Star
1975 Topps
1979 Topps (NL Hitting Streak Record)
1982 Donruss Diamond King
1982 Fleer (Pete & Re-Pete)
1984 Topps Traded
Always forget about Pete on the expos
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Rose card is '74 Topps - just a wonderful shot that basically exemplifies his entire style of play. And I'm so glad you slotted an Expos card in here, because I always love an Expos Pete sighting!
ReplyDeleteGreat collection! Love the ‘64. I have one too and will show that in a post soon. Paid a lot for that one. Don’t have and would love to get the ‘70 Kellogg’s. I’m only missing the Rose RC and ‘65 ( I think) to complete the Topps flagship cards. Happy holidays!
ReplyDelete