Lot # 1: Extraordinary 9/11/1985 Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds Signed 4,192 Hit Record Game-Used Batting Gloves - Gifted Directly From Rose - SIA Photomatched!

In the pantheon of sports records, Pete Rose's all-time hits record is one of the most iconic achievements in Major League Baseball history, symbolizing both extraordinary talent and relentless dedication to the game. With 4,256 career hits, Rose cemented his legacy as the most prolific hitter in the sport's history, a testament to his durability and consistency over a 24-season career. It was on September 11, 1985 that Rose etched his name in the record books with hit 4,192, an outfield single, to surpass Ty Cobb's longstanding mark.

Presented here is an extraordinary relic, accompanied by extraordinary provenance, from this significant game. Offered are a pair of red-and-white Mizuno batting gloves worn by Rose during this record-breaking game and gifted directly to a Major League executive (our consignor), through Padres broadcaster Jerry Coleman, immediately following the game. Our consignor developed a penchant for collecting that was heightened by his time in professional baseball. Knowing that Rose was one hit shy of history entering a four-game homestand against the Padres starting on September 9, 1985, our consignor pulled Jerry Coleman aside and asked him to bring back a ticket from the record-setting game. Coleman had been friends with Rose for two decades dating back to the fall of 1967 when the two men, along with Joe DiMaggio and others, traveled to Vietnam to boost troop morale.

Pete Rose was absent from the lineup during the first game of the series, just one hit shy of breaking Ty Cobb's career hits record. The following day, Rose recorded four at bats but zero hits, setting up the September 11 game as one in which he was "due" to make history. Fortuitously, it didn't take long for Rose to break the tie with Cobb. Rose singled off pitcher Eric Show in the first inning and took a well-deserved celebration at first base. Later in the game, he'd record an additional hit, continuing to extend his lead over Cobb en route to an ultimate 4,256 hits.

At the conclusion of the game, Jerry Coleman visited with Rose in the Reds' locker room to congratulate him on the accomplishment. Coleman said to Rose, "Pete, you've got to give me something from tonight for (the Padres executive)." Pete held up the batting gloves he'd worn and said, "Would this do?" Coleman replied, "Yes, but you’ll have to autograph and date them because you know how (he) is." Coleman then safely tucked the pair of gloves away, continued on to Houston for a three-game series against the Astros before returning home to San Diego for a series against the Dodgers. It was before that game that Coleman presented the gloves, opening with "I didn't get a ticket from the Rose game as you asked, but I thought you'd be okay with these." Sitting on his desk was this historic memento — the batting gloves worn during the record-breaking game. Rose signed the left glove on the inside part adjacent to the thumb ("Pete Rose 9-11-85").

The gloves show moderate to heavy usage, including heavy dirt stains on the palms, indicative of Rose's tough play and propensity for head-first slides. The gloves have been photomatched to the record-breaking game by Sports Investors Authentication. At a later date, our consignor had a small plaque created to memorialize the gloves in his personal display of memorabilia from his career. The plaque reads "These Are The Mizuno Batting Gloves I Used On September 11, 1985 When I Got The 4,192nd Hit Of My Career Which Broke Ty Cobb's All-Time Base Hit Record." Pete Rose has signed the plaque at the bottom in red marker. Offered elsewhere in this auction are additional mementos from this historic event. The lineup cards from the record-breaking game, including the Reds' card signed by Pete Rose as player-manager, were also gifted to and saved by our consignor and kept alongside the gloves for the last 40 years! This is an incredible offering, made public for the first time ever, dating from one of baseball's most iconic records! Accompanied by a full LOA from Sports Investors Authentication for the photomatch as well as a consignor Letter of Provenance.