Pete Rose's record-breaking ball sells for $403K

Credit: Joe Robbins

Credit: Joe Robbins

The ball Pete Rose smashed to left center field for his record-breaking hit No. 4,192 sold Saturday for more than $403,000 on Leland’s Auctions.

Rose drove the ball for a single on Sept. 11, 1985, at the former Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati to break the record of lifetime hits set by Ty Cobb in 1910.

>> Read more trending news

The ball comes with documentation, including copies of a notarized letter signed by Rose; a letter from the collector who first bought it from Rose, and a photo of Rose and the collector. It also has PSA/DNA authentication that the baseball has “Charlie Hustle’s” handwriting, according to our media partner WCPO-TV Channel 9 in Cincinnati.

The ball was first bought in 1987 as the first piece of sports memorabilia to sell for six figures, according to Leland Auctions. The ball has been up for bidding since May 23, with the starting bid $50,000, WCPO reported.

About the Author