As Pete Rose marched towards a date with history in pursuit of Ty Cobb's seemingly unattainable career hit record he redefined the bar with which we measure baseball excellence. Rose's list of career statistics and records is lengthy and assuredly never to be equalled. Although Cobb's career mark was undoubtedly the end goal for Charlie Hustle, the vaunted 3,000 Hit Club was an important step towards batting immortality. Along with the 500 Home Run Club, the 3,000 Hit Club has long been revered within the game as the benchmark for the most elite batsman in the game. It was also a guaranteed ticket to enshrinement within the Hall of Fame, until Rose ended that streak (thus far) due to his well documented betting scandals within the game.
On May 5, 1978 in a game played between Rose's Cincinnati Reds and the Montreal Expos the offered baseball was batted for the 3,000th hit of Pete's career. Fittingly, Rose beat out an infield chopped hit off of Steve Rogers for a single. The Feeney NL baseball exhibits evident use including "rubbed up" surface from game prep, even light soiling and general surface wear. Rose himself had autographed the ball in blue ink across the sweet spot in the period which has now faded to rate 2 /3 out of 10 but remaining clearly recognizable. Additionally, Rose inscribed two side panels of the ball in vintage black marker, "3,000th Hit May 5, 1978" and "Expos 4 Reds 3 Off Pitcher Steve Rogers".
Originally sold within a 1993 Lelands auction as consigned directly by Rose's ex-wife Karolyn Rose who personally attested to having witnessed Pete inscribe the ball. The ball originally included a 1993 letter from Karolyn Rose which has since been misplaced but is accompanied by a copy of the 1993 auction listing memorializing same. Also included are three color copy 8 1/2"x11" images of the ball, each of which has been autographed and inscribed by Rose in addition to three related COAs all signed by Rose as well. Pete Rose's place in history will be subjectively evaluated and is open to debate. Pete Rose's accomplishments within the game are solidified among the most elite players in history without question. The offered baseball represents one of the most significant of any such milestone items to have ever been sold at auction and has long ranked within the hobby as an iconic member of a very elite collecting tier. Includes full LOAs from PSA/DNA and JSA, (3) Pete Rose autographed full page images of the baseball, (3) Pete Rose signed COAs for the Rose signed sheets, and copy of the 1993 auction listing corroborating Karolyn Rose provenance: EX