1984 pete rose

after helping the phillies win the world series in 1980 and then return to the fall classic in 1983, pete rose headed north as a free agent to montreal.  i'm sure the o-pee-chee folks were plenty pleased to issue his 1984 card

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

at the time he joined the expos, pete had 3990 hits.  he got his 4000th career hit on april 13, 1984 (21 years to the day that he got his first major league hit) in montreal against jerry koosman and his former team, the phillies.  rose had reached 4062 hits by august 16th when the reds figured they should reacquire him and cash in on his pursuit of ty cobb.  interestingly enough, rose's 1984 topps traded card was issued as an expo rather than a red.  i guess the trade was too late in the design and printing process.

voici à vous, 1984 pete rose!