One of the most well-known baseball players of all time is Pete Rose, known famously for being the all-time MLB hits leader with 4,256 hits over his career from 1963 to 1986. As one of the great hitters and competitors in baseball history, Rose generated significant card collecting interest during his playing days from the 1960s through the 1980s. Several of his rare and valuable rookie and starring cards from Topps, Fleer, and other classic baseball card sets are highly sought after by collectors and can be quite valuable depending on the year, set, and condition of the card.

One of Rose’s most valuable and iconic rookie cards is his 1963 Topps card. As Rose’s true rookie season was 1962 but he did not have a card until 1963 in the Topps set, his ‘63 is considered one of his premier rookie cards. High grade examples of this iconic Rose rookie card in Near Mint to Mint condition can fetch prices well upwards of $10,000. Even well-centered, sharp examples in Excellent condition from 5.5-7 on the standard 1-10 grading scale have sold for $3,000-$5,000. The ‘63 Topps Rose rookie is one of the most historically significant and collectible cards issued in the entire 1960s decade of the “Dawn of the Modern Era” in the hobby.

Another top Rose card that can be pricey is his 1964 Topps card. As Rose’s breakthrough season was 1963 where he started to establish himself as a superstar, his ‘64 is one of his early starring rookie cards following his true rookie season. Top grade examples in Mint to Gem Mint 10 condition have topped $8,000 at auction. More approachable VG-EX copies in the 3-6 range still demand $500-$1,500. Condition is absolutely critical to value when valuing any high-end vintage card from the 1960s like the 1964 Topps Pete Rose.

Pete Rose also had a relatively short-printed and thus rarer rookie card in the 1965 Topps set that could potentially be worth big money as well, if graded high enough. The 1965 Topps design is one of the most visually striking vintage issues and Rose’s card has added significance as the year he hit .285 with 76 RBIs and continued to assert himself as an elite hitter. A PSA Gem Mint 10 ’65 Rose rookie has brought nearly $4,000 in past sales, showing the strong demand for truly pristine examples of even his slightly less heralded rookie issues like the ’65.

Later in his career, Rose racked up batting titles, All-Star appearances, and accolades that translated to highly valuable starring cards as well. His 1971 Topps card, depicting him winning the NL batting title that year with a robust .338 average, has sold for over $1,500 in top condition. The 1975 and 1976 Topps cards pay tribute to Rose claiming the career hits record, and high grade versions can fetch $500-$1,000 each. Even post-career Rose cards like those from 1987 showcasing his success as the Phillies player-manager are scarce and desirable, with high grade examples changing hands for $300-$500 or more.

Any of Pete Rose’s true rookie cards from 1963-1965 Topps have the potential to be worth thousands graded high, especially the iconic ’63 issue. But later starring cards from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s Topps sets can still have substantial value as well depending on exact year, condition and eye appeal. Pete Rose was such an instrumental and legendary figure in baseball history that his vintage cardboard continues to captivate collectors to this day, even amid the controversy surrounding the end of his career. With supply firmly limited by age and preservation quality over decades, Rose’s best vintage cards will likely only increase in value as time goes on. His on-field performance and historic hitting records ensure that top examples of all his best vintage issues, especially his tough-to-find 1963 Topps rookie card, remain among the most desirable investments in the entire world of baseball collecting.