This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/8/2023
While baseball historians argue over whether Pete Rose, personal liabilities and all, deserves to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame, sports card hobbyists see an even bigger injustice when it comes to the legacy of "Charlie Hustle"; that baseball's all-time hits leader is relegated to sharing his debut 1963 Topps appearance with three other "prospects." In all fairness (or unfairness if you prefer), Hall of Famers Willie Stargell and Tony Oliva also share their respective rookie cards with three other players, so it's not a slight to Rose personally but rather an unfortunate decision by Topps for all three icons. It doesn't detract from the commonly held belief that the Rose rookie card stands as one of the most significant debut cards of the decade. Rose's combined .317 over three minor league seasons proved he was a viable prospect that could become a major league superstar. And 24 seasons of consistently hovering around the .300 mark with three National League batting titles have turned card #537 of the 1963 Topps set into one of the best cards that Topps ever produced. The featured example has earned the grade of PSA 9, no small accomplishment given the centering, stray print, and chipping issues that befall most Rose rookie cards. Only 30 examples have earned a grade of PSA 9 MINT, with a lone example graded higher. The centering, while not perfect, easily falls within the specifications for the MINT level while the corners and edges sidestep the usual chipping and deliver at an almost flawless level. The colorful surface is bold and without unsightly stray print while the reverse is bold, bright, and clean. You don't get many opportunities to land a MINT rookie card of Pete Rose, so take your shot!