Given a Reds contract by his uncle who happened to be a Cincinnati scout, Pete Rose spent several years toiling in the low minors. No one thought that the kid from Cincinnati’s Westside would ever reach the majors – all except Pete. Through hard work and a burning desire to succeed, Rose beat the odds by making the 1963 Reds roster after a wildly successful spring training. It was during a spring training game that Rose got his nickname “Charlie Hustle” allegedly after a disparaging remark made by Whitey Ford when he watched the Reds hopeful scale an outfield wall in pursuit of a Mickey Mantle home run that was 10 feet over his head. Rose took that off-handed comment and turned it into the mantra that would eventually make him the lifetime leader in base hits and one of the greatest ballplayers of all-time.

This well used bat was used by Pete Rose during that first spring and season which would end with his being awarded the NL’s Rookie of the Year honors. That this is indeed a rookie season bat is shown in the factory order records at the Louisville Slugger museum that shows Rose ordering six bats matching the specifications of this bat in October of 1962, noting that they should be shipped “To Florida.” Rose spent 1963 spring training with the Reds and made the Opening Day roster. The Hillerich & Bradsby U1 model bat displays excellent use with a repaired handle crack. A 5 ½ -inch piece is missing from the back barrel and several ball marks with stitch impressions can be found on the right, left and back barrel. A light coat of pine tar still clings to the handle and Rose’s soon-to-be-famous number “14” has been handwritten on the knob in black marker. The Hit King has signed the bat in strong black marker, completing this tremendous rookie season bat. This bat comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1B16937) for the game use and has been graded a solid GU 8. Additionally, this bat also comes with a LOA from Charlie Sheen, who states that this bat was part of his personal collection.

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