Pete Rose erased from baseball history? Well if Topps baseball cards had their way, it looks like that would be a possibility. Rose is baseball’s all-time hits leader, and was known for his all-out play on the field, but according to Chicagosidesports.com this year’s collection of Topps baseball cards is leaving Rose in the dust.
According to the Feb. 13 report, Clay Luraschi, a spokesman for Topps, called the omission of Rose “a simple decision” but declined to elaborate. When pressed, he repeated that it was “plain and simple” that Rose’s name should not appear on cards.
The obvious question is - why?
Topps started a nice new stat on the back of the 2013 cards.
On the back of each card, they compare that player to the all time leader of his position and labeled it “Career Chase.”
On every card, whether the player is a 20 year veteran or a rookie, there is a sentence indicating how close that player is to reaching one of the game’s big records.
That is if it doesn't involve Rose.
Here are the examples of how Rose is being snubbed by Topps.
On Paul Konerko's "Career Chase" line it shows that he has 422 career home runs and he is 340 away from catching Barry Bonds, the all-time HR leader. However, when you look at a card that is chasing the all-time hit leaders, it leaves the name of the hitter - Pete Rose - off the card.
Rose has made mistakes over his career, but this is ridiculous.
Pete admitted he gambled on baseball, but only on his team to win, never to lose. Nevertheless, MLB has blackballed him and now it looks like Topps baseball cards have also.
Do you think this is a fair thing to do? I don't.
Not only should Topps be embarrassed, so should MLB.
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