Friday, May 31, 2013

Pete Rose raking in $1 million a year signing autographs in Las Vegas

Former Major League Baseball legend and sometime pariah Pete Rose — banned from the sport since 1989 — is still a star on the memorabilia circuit and has revealed he now earns more than $1million a year signing autographs in Las Vegas.

Rose has always made a buck throughout his career selling his signature to fans looking for a piece of Charlie Hustle, but since 2005 he has been a regular fixture signing at the Mirage Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, when he now has his own memorabilia shop.

Since 2005, Rose claims to have spent several hours a day, for 15 to 25 days per month, 12 months of the year signing his name for money. Rose says he is happy to sign and pose for photos with anyone, provided they buy some of the memorabilia he and his business partners sell, including baseballs and photos ranging from $75 to $800. 

"I must say that what I do, and I don't mean to sound arrogant about this, but what I do, I think I'm the best at it," he told The Wall Street Journal.


Rose was a popular player for his hometown Cincinnati Reds from 1963 to 1986. He also managed the team from 1984 to 1989.

He is the all-time Major League leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and outs (10,328).

He won three World Series rings, three batting titles, one Most Valuable Player Award, two Gold Gloves, the Rookie of the Year Award, and also made 17 All-Star appearances at an unequaled five different positions.

Then in August 1989, three years after he retired as an active player, Rose agreed to permanent ineligibility from baseball amidst accusations that he gambled on baseball games while playing for and managing the Reds, including claims that he bet on his own team.

After years of public denial, Rose admitted in 2004 to betting on baseball and on, but not against, the Reds. 

The still admired 71-year-old remains hopeful that one day he will be re-instated, but his election to the Hall of Fame remains a contentious one throughout baseball.



Rose's foray into reality TV wasn't a hit after his TLC series, Pete Rose: Hits and Mrs. — a show he co-starred with his much younger former-Playboy model wife Kiana Kim and her two kids — ground out and was recently cancelled.

Still, it sounds like baseball is very good to Rose.

11 comments:

  1. Pete should have already been in the Hall.

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    1. Absolutely true. Keep him out of managing, scouting, whatever else he might do in baseball, but it's simply stupid to keep him out of the HOF. He earned it and he deserves it.

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    2. I agree with you partner.....but Charlie Hustle has put his foot in his mouth to many times, he and we will probably never see him in Cooperstown, but in the end, I m sure the good lord will see that he gets in

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  2. had the Babe had the same level of public scrutiny as Pete Rose, he too would not be in the hall.

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    1. He has been positively hounded and persecuted. It's time to reinstate him. I don't even see the harm of what he did. He made a few bets. OK fine him and move on.

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  3. He that is without sin shall cast the first stone

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  4. A SPORTS WRITERS HALL OF FAME WOULD BE EMPTY

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  5. Greatest player ever!!

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  6. There is no Hall of Fame without Pete Rose.

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  7. the Hall of Fame will not be legit until Pete Rose is re-instated and voted in. He could be the best ambassador for Baseball if given a chance.

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  8. The Hall of Fame is suppose to be based on ability and what is achieved on the field. If it was based on brains there might not be as many enshrined. Poor choices has cost Pete but he brought more kids to baseball than maybe any other player ever during his time and he deserves to be in. Without Pete in the Hall it should be called the Hall Of Shame on You.

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