You may be in the minority if you don’t have something signed by Pete Rose but a new campaign announced by the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum puts a new spin on Rose autographed baseballs.
In between his paid Las Vegas signing sessions recently, Rose signed 4,256 baseballs, each of which has been stamped with a special logo and the number of one of those hits. The Reds Museum is selling those baseballs, which come encased in a display that includes a case, photo collage and certificate. Proceeds will help efforts to fund a bronze sculpture of Rose that will be placed outside Great American Ballpark next June.
The cost of the ball and display varies a bit but most are $170. “Sponsors” can pick out the hit number they want on the ball (say, a 1963 single off Warren Spahn) but milestone numbers will instead be sold at auction.
To kick off the campaign, Rose will appear at Redsfest December 2 and 3. Those who sponsor a ball between now until the end of the convention will get a ticket to meet Rose and have a picture taken with him.
Only one baseball is available for each of the hits and each ball comes in a display that includes a photo collage and certificate of ownership that references the baseball’s unique hit number and date.
“This innovative campaign allows fans to own a ball representing one of Pete’s hits, which helps to fund his statue,” said Rick Walls, executive director of the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum. “We are excited to have Pete in the Hall of Fame area at Redsfest so he can meet those who are supporting the campaign.”
You can get more information on the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum website.
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