Topps Baseball Cards refuse to mention Pete Rose

This year’s Topps baseball cards include “career chase” notes on the back that list how far players are away from various statistical records. For instance, on the back of Mets reliever Bobby Parnell‘s card it says: “With 249 games pitched, Parnell is 1,003 away from Jesse Orosco’s all-time record of 1,252.”

However, Rob Harris of ChicagoSideSports.com noticed that all of the “career chase” notes mentioning hit totals do so without actually using Pete Rose’s name. So, for example, A.J. Pierzynski‘s card says: “With 1,645 hits, Pierzynski is 2,611 away from the all-time record of 4,256.”

That “all-time record of 4,256″ belongs to Rose, of course, but apparently Topps has taken it upon themselves to whitewash him from history. Or something. When contacted by Harris company spokesperson Clay Luraschi said only that it was “a simple decision” and made “plain and simple.”

I’m guessing the “plain and simple” part has to do with Topps’ licensing agreement with MLB, which obviously wants nothing to do with Rose (and Topps wants even less to do with angering MLB). But until told otherwise I’m going to assume Topps is taking this stance in 2013, three decades after Rose retired, because they’re less offended by his connection to gambling on games and more offended by his new reality television show on TLC.

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Seems like Chris Benoit all over again. Pete Rose earned them merits playing the game hard-nosed and correct. His being blackballed didn't come because of his playing days, but his managerial. I think he deserves to have his name mentioned for what he's accomplished.

He just should not have bet againt his own team plain in simple.

On that note, he is the greatest hitter of all time, and no worries, once jackass who runs mlb dies or quits or whatever, Pete Rose is in the hall of fame. I wish the baseball hall of fame was a seperate entity from MLB much like the hockey hall of fame is, then you wouldn't see this crap.