Upper Deck signs Pete Rose to autograph deal

Posted Jan 6, 2010 by Bob D'Angelo

Updated Jan 6, 2010 at 04:20 PM

Even though he remains banned from baseball, Pete Rose loves to sign autographs. In fact, during Hall of Fame induction week in Cooperstown, N.Y., Rose would set up at a card shop across the street from the Hall, signing. In the South Florida cities of Boynton Beach and Boca Raton, Rose has signed articles purchased at his restaurant (uniform jerseys, baseball, bats) for free when he was on the premises (he did a radio broadcast from the Boynton Beach location).

And now, Rose has signed again — this time, with Upper Deck.

Officials at the Carlsbad, Calif., card and memorabilia manufacturer announced that major-league baseball’s all-time hits leader, has signed an autograph deal with Upper Deck, and his signature will be included in UD products released during 2010.

“Despite his current ban from baseball, Pete Rose’s signature and game-used memorabilia cards continue to be sought-after by baseball fans and card collectors everywhere,” Gabriel Garcia, Upper Deck’s baseball brand manager, said in a news release. “We are extremely excited to have Pete be a part of our newest baseball card releases.”

The first Upper Deck product that will include Rose’s game-used memorabilia cards is 2010 Goudey Baseball, which is scheduled to hit store shelves on March 18.

Adding Rose to the fold follows the announcement last month that Upper Deck had signed a deal to include Shoeless Joe Jackson cards and memorabilia in its 2010 products.

While the loss of major-league licensing (Topps was awarded exclusive rights last year) was originally seen as a bad thing for Upper Deck, it looks to me as if UD now has a chance to take some chances. Both Jackson and Rose have been persona non grata to baseball’s establishment, but Upper Deck is rekindling interest in both of them.

That’s just my theory. It will be confirmed if Upper Deck ever announces an exclusive agreement with the estate of Hal Chase.