Pete Rose: the next life

Baseball's all-time hit king is now America's king of autographs. Pete Rose, the man banned for betting on baseball, is now working in the gambling capital of the world. Geoff Foster has details on Lunch Break. Photo: Isaac Brekken for The Wall Street Journal.

4,256 Hits, Millions in Autographs

Pete Rose Works Full-Time Selling His Signature in Las Vegas; the Occasional Sports Bet

By BRIAN COSTA, WSJ

Las Vegas

A few steps from the casino at the Mirage, baseball's all-time hit king sits behind a table in a memorabilia shop, pen in hand. Through a glass wall, Pete Rose sees revelers and gamblers, shoppers and visitors. To him, they are all potential customers.

"They might not look like they're going to buy anything," Rose said. "But they will."

In 1985, Rose collected career hit No. 4,192, breaking Ty Cobb's major-league record. (Rose finished with 4,256.) Now, in the 24th year of his lifetime ban for betting on baseball, Rose is chasing another title: America's autograph king.

Since 2005, he has spent several hours per day, 15 to 25 days per month, 12 months per year signing his name for money. He signs and poses for photos with anyone who buys memorabilia from his business partners, with items such as baseballs and photos ranging from $75 to $800. And for this, Rose earns more than $1 million per year.

(More here.)