Baseball card company strips Pete Rose of all-time hits record

Pete Rose is Major League Baseball's all-time hits leader with 4,256.

But don't expect to find his name attached to the historic accomplishment on any Topps baseball card.

That's because Topps does not acknowledge Rose's record on the back of any card where his feat is referenced in the feature labeled "Career Chase."

Why the omission?

"Since (Rose) is banned from Major League Baseball, we don't include him on any officially licensed products," said Matt Bourne, MLB's vice president of business public relations. "This is not a new policy."

Rose, now 71, is ineligible for the Hall of Fame and was banned from baseball in 1989 for gambling on games while playing and managing the Cincinnati Reds in the 1980s.

That ban includes Topps, which is an official licensed product.

Clay Luraschi, a spokesman for Topps, told ChicagoSideSports.com it was "a simple decision."

Why the hubbub now over Rose's exclusion? Rose's likeness hasn't appeared on a Topps card nor has he been referenced on the back of one since 1989. But it's how Career Chase is presented that makes it noticeable.

Career Chase is wedged between the player's personal information and his complete batting record. It indicates how close a player is to a particular record and who owns it.

For example, A.J. Pierzynski's card reads: "With 1,645 hits, Pierzynski is 2,611 from the all-time record of 4,256."

No mention of Rose.

Bobby Parnell's card reads: "With 249 games pitched, Parnell is 1,003 away from Jesse Orosco's all-time record of 1,252."

A clear acknowledgment to the career leader.

While Rose might not be cited as the all-time hits king, it should be noted that Barry Bonds is referenced on the cards as the all-time home run king.

Here are some examples:

Hat tip to Chicagosidesports.com