Babe Ruth 100th Anniversary Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/12/2014
After two post-season trips ended in disappointment, the Philadelphia Phillies knew there was only one ball player who could add that extra "something" to get them to the World Series: Pete Rose. The Philadelphia organization deemed the acquisition of Rose of such importance that for a time he became the game's highest paid player, eclipsing their own star Mike Schmidt. The gamble paid off and Rose indeed proved to be the key needed to get to the Series. Rose hit .282 and led the NL with 42 doubles as Philadelphia stormed to the pennant. In the play-off against Houston Rose clobbered Astros pitching to the tune of .400 and pounded 6 hits in the Phil's victory over Kansas City for the World Championship. Through that 1980 season Pete Rose demonstrated how his gritty determination could almost single-handedly change an entire team's destiny.
This is the uniform Rose wore during that historic 1980 Championship season. The jersey is the classic 1980's Phillies style made famous by Rose. The red pinstripe zipper front has the bold "P" with abstract baseball logo in maroon tackle twill on the left chest and Rose's famous "14" on the right in the same color and material. The jersey shows even, moderate wear with some puckering to the graphics. The Wilson size "44" jersey is marked "ROSE" in the collar and is tagged for the Championship year of "1980". The back features "ROSE" in arching letters across the shoulders above that famed "14", all in Phillies maroon tackle twill. A bold maroon stripe runs down each shoulder and from the armpits to the tail. The matching red pinstripe pants are marked "Rose, 80, 4" on a strip tag in the waist band. The wear is consistent to the accompanying jersey and makes an outstanding display piece. There aren't many other pieces of memorabilia from Rose's career that speaks more to the man's sheer talent and drive like this uniform set from one of his greatest seasons. That is also happens to be of a style that remains to this day identified with the Phillies greatest ball club makes this set all the more desirable. MEARS has thoroughly examined this 1980 Phillies home uniform set and has given it its highest grade of A10.