This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/11/2001.
For 23 seasons, Pete Rose, who once said he would "walk through hell in a gasoline suit" to play
ball, was the game's most tenacious (and controversial) competitor since Ty Cobb, whose all-time hit record he eclipsed. "Charlie Hustle" began his career in 1963 with his hometown Cincinnati Reds and would rack up numerous achievements worthy of a Hall of Fame plaque (if Rose is ever allowed to have one), including Rookie of the Year, three batting titles, a NL-record 44-game hitting streak, World Series MVP, and 17 All-Star appearances. After 17 seasons as the sparkplug of the "Big Red Machine," Rose put in three seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies before signing with the Montreal Expos in 1984. On April 13 of that year, a day before his 43rd birthday, he collected his 4,000 hit while wearing this Expo uniform. (The following year he would break Cobb's record with his 4,193rd hit in his second turn with the Reds.) There are three pieces to the historic uniform, a knit shirt, pants and cap, all signed by Rose. On the inside left front tail of the jersey is a red label with "Rose 84" in white chain stitch. Below this is the "Rawlings" label with the size "44"and adjacent is the flag tag reading "Set 1 1984." On the left breast is the Expos logo in red/white/blue tackle twill. Below this is the name "Expos" and on the back is the name "Rose." The player number "14" appears on both the right breast and on the back of the shirt. The letters and numbers are made of blue tackle twill. Rose signed his name and the words "4000th Hit, 4-13-84" in black marker on the right breast, with the signature rating a 9. Inside the waistband of the pants is a red label reading "34/36 28 ½ 84" in white chain stitch, for the waist size, inseam and year. Adjacent to this is the flag tag reading "Set 1 1984." Also in the waistband is the "Rawlings" label with the size "34" and adjacent is a red label reading "Rose 14" in white chain stitch. Rose signed the same inscription that he did on the shirt on the left front of the pants, the signature also rating a 9. On the inside band of the cap is the Major League Baseball label, the "New Era" label and the size tag "7 1/4." Rose signed his name on the inside brim of the cap in blue marker with a "14" under it and the signature rates a solid 8. The three-piece set shows game-use, appears to have no alterations of any kind, and comes with a letter of authenticity from Rose.