Extremely attractive high-grade example of the key card to the 1963 Topps issue: that of Pete Rose. The Rose rookie first attained mythical status in the late 1970s and early 1980s as Rose's 1978 hitting streak helped catapult him into the limelight and his 1980 World Series victory with the Phillies helped keep him there. Subsequently breaking the all-time hit record was a foregone conclusion as the fiery infielder had eclipsed 200 hits ten times before his 39th birthday. Despite his late-career transgressions his greatness was well-established and his status as baseball's last player-manager was an indicator of his great knowledge of the game. The 1963 Pete Rose rookie card was one of the hobby's first big-dollar postwar cards; this writer can recall examples selling for more than $1000 in the early 1980s when Rose was still an active player. Despite a relatively high population of high-grade examples sales have been relatively consistent with noticeable growth over the past few years. This is an extremely well-centered specimen some light corner touches keeping the card from a higher holder but clear images and sharp color more than compensating in terms of eye appeal. Simply one of the most popular cards of the 1960s one that helped launch the hobby into the stratosphere in the 1980s.