Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Pete Rose still a hit on Las Vegas autograph circuit despite latest revelations

Pete Rose

Jesse Granger

Pete Rose, baseball’s all-time hits leader, signs autographs at “The Art of Music” memorabilia store Monday, June 29, 2015, in Mandalay Bay.

In 2004, Pete Rose admitted he bet on baseball after nearly 15 years of denial.

Now, the 17-time Major League Baseball all-star will admit just about anything you want him to, for the price of an autograph.

Sunday and Monday afternoon, Rose sat in the front of “The Art of Music” memorabilia store inside the Mandalay Bay, signing autographed baseballs, bats, jerseys and photos for fans. He’s regularly signed in Las Vegas for more than a decade.

For $99 fans had the chance to sit down with Rose and get an autographed baseball. For an extra $200 Rose would admit pretty much anything and sign it right on the baseball, including but not limited to:

“I’m sorry I bet on baseball.”

“4,256 hits in the steroid era.”

“I’m sorry I broke up the Beatles.”

And last but not least, “I’m sorry I shot JFK.”

The memorabilia shop was swarmed with fans willing to shell out cash for a piece of history, despite the latest news that Rose bet on baseball while he was still a player.

ESPN’s "Outside the Lines" released newly obtained documents last week with evidence that Rose, who starred as a player with the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies, gambled extensively on baseball during his final playing seasons. The documents are said to go beyond the evidence, presented in the 1989 Dowd report, that Rose bet on games when he managed the Reds. That evidence resulted in Rose’s lifetime ban from the game.

“I don’t buy the new information that came out,” said Bill Thornton, who visited the store from California and walked away with a $75 autographed photo of Rose’s signature headfirst slide. “Why did they keep it a secret for 25 years just to release it now? I think they did it on purpose because of his review with (Rob) Manfred.”

Newly appointed MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is contemplating reinstating Rose into baseball, which would open the door for him to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. That’s something many fans getting Rose's autograph this week feel is well overdue.

“The man has paid his dues. Let him into the Hall of Fame,” said Derek Brantley, a San Francisco Giants fan from California who purchased a baseball bat signed by Rose for $199.

Despite not being a Reds fan, or being old enough to really watch Rose during his playing days, Brantley says the recent news about Rose’s gambling has no effect on his legacy in his eyes.

“Was what he did right? Probably not,” Brantley said. “But people have done much worse and been forgiven. As a gambling man myself there is no one better to meet than Pete Rose.”

Most fans inside the memorabilia store at Mandalay Bay overlooked Rose’s betting on his team as a manager in favor of his success on the diamond.

“His gambling had nothing to do with his 4,256 hits,” Thornton said. “He’s a legend. He’s Pete Rose!”

Belinda Colon, Rose’s sales manager, said the hit king would not be available for comment. That is, unless you purchased an autograph.

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