Flashback Product of the Week: 1985 Topps Baseball Pete Rose Card Set

Leaf’s Pete Rose Legacy wasn’t the first product dedicated to one of the greatest hitters baseball has ever seen.  Back in 1985, Topps issued a 120-card set based entirely on Pete Rose.  The front of the cards contain a full color photo with no fancy text or border.  The set covers most of the major events of his career, except that little gambling issue.  I actually think the cards look nice.  Instead of using an actual photograph, on some of the cards you will find artwork.  These cards would look even better if Topps got Rose to sign some of them so they could randomly insert them as autographed buybacks.  As for demand, they aren’t selling for huge prices.  Complete sets can be found for under $30.00.

On a side note.  Nobody has come forward yet with the card Leaf placed in Pete Rose Legacy that states they have won a batting lesson from Pete Rose.  It must still be out there waiting to be pulled.  Perhaps that is why boxes of Pete Rose Legacy are still selling for $90.00.  By now, an unlicensed product like that would normally have dropped in price.  Leaf did an amazing job with that product.