Pete Rose was a 1B/OF for the Montreal Expos, accumulating over 70 hits in less than 300 ABs.  He also toiled elsewhere in the National League, and when all was said and done, he retired with 4256 hits and is remembered as Une Belle Expo.

These days, Pete Rose can be often spotted in Las Vegas, Nevada.  They don’t make Montreal Expos anymore, so it really is wise to corner the ones you can find.  If you happen upon Mr. Rose while visiting The Entertainment Capital of the World, you’d best make the most of the encounter.  When in doubt of what to do, consult your field guide.

The Meeting Pete Rose in Las Vegas Field Guide

1. Feel Free to Approach Pete Rose Directly

• This ensures that one of Pete Rose’s handlers (most likely a burly employee of the sports memorabilia store in which Pete is seated) will address you and welcome you without delay.  This helpful servant will be more than happy to take you away from Pete and towards the cash register.

2. BYOB (Bring Your Own Baseball)…

• For your convenience, Pete Rose usually tours the sports memorabilia store circuit with goodies in tow.  The savvy traveler, however, can save $10 on an autographed baseball from Pete Rose if he or she supplies their own*.  No, you didn’t read that wrong, and yes, that’s a savings of 10% off buying a new baseball at said memorabilia store.

3. …or Bring Your Chequebook

• Forgot your baseball when you left the hotel room that morning?  No problem, for a few hundred dollars, Pete Rose will sign a bobblehead or a #14 Montreal Expos jersey for you instead.  The $400 combo package* nets you Rose’s book (hardcover!), a jersey, and a baseball – all of them autographed.

4. Snap Quickly

• Pete Rose is a busy guy, but he always has time for a picture.  Sure, he technically only poses for pictures with paying customers, but if you can dodge his handlers and act when all attention is diverted, you can snap a beautiful profile shot of the former Expo like this one I scored:

Pete Rose in Las Vegas, as a red-head walks by

5. Practice Your Forgery

• Okay, you already have a pre-bought baseball and you’ve snapped your keepsake photo of Pete Rose; just stop a minute and think of all the money you’ve saved.  Why not go a step further and sign your Pete Rose baseball yourself?  It’s your baseball.  It’s going on your mantle.  Just try and do a better job than this:

*Yes, I happened to have a baseball in my pocket when I “met” Pete Rose (baseball pictured above).  Who travels without a baseball?

**2008 Pricing, not adjusted for inflation and/or deflation.

That’s our field guide for meeting former Montreal Expos great Pete Rose in Las Vegas.  Join us next week for our field guide for meeting former Montreal Expos great Bartolo Colon at the NYSE.