Pete Rose bobblehead to draw collectors' interest

He might be banned from baseball. His odds of ever getting into the National Baseball Hall of Fame are quite long.

But it's safe to say Pete Rose still will draw lots of fans to the ballpark later this season when the Cincinnati Reds give a Rose bobblehead to every person who attends the Sept. 12 game vs. the St. Louis Cardinals.

The giveaway celebrates the 30th year since Rose's record-breaking hit number 4,192 in September 1985. Rose, chosen by fans as a member of the Reds' "Franchise Four" this year, is the final player in the "Stars of the Queen City" bobblehead series, following Johnny Bench in May and Barry Larkin in June.

It comes in a year when Rose is seeking reinstatement to baseball following the ban imposed 26 years ago because Rose bet on baseball while serving as Cincinnati manager. He is to meet this summer with Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to make his case.

Whatever happens in the Rose reinstatement case, it's safe to say the Rose bobblehead will become a collectible, the owner of a local sports memorabilia store said Tuesday.

"Of course it will be," said Raymond Gawrych, owner of Sports Collect-A-Mania in Fairfield. "All the bobbleheads ... go up in value, not just Pete Rose."

When the Reds have such giveaways, there are some fans who work to get as many of the dolls as possible, Gawrych said.

"That's the best giveaway at the stadium," he said. "A lot of people buy 20 tickets" expecting their bobbleheads will appreciate in value, he said.

You can purchase tickets:

• Online: reds.com

• By phone: 513-381-REDS or 877-647-REDS (7337)

• In person: Great American Ball Park ticket windows and select Kroger stores with Ticketmaster retail outlets.