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Offered here is an extremely intriguing vintage Rawlings Cincinnati Reds #14 “ROSE” jersey obtained directly from the estate collection of noted baseball collector and artist Scott Forst, through his sister.
This jersey is currently being researched and is being offered without a claim or guarantee that it was game-worn by Pete Rose or worn for any particular game or event. Please review the photographs, measurements, construction, tagging and provenance carefully and make your own determination.
JERSEY DETAILS
White Cincinnati Reds pullover-style jersey manufactured by Rawlings with the vintage red Rawlings “Action Tailored / The Mark of a Pro” label.
Features include:
• Cincinnati Reds chenille/embroidered chest emblem
• Red tackle-twill #14 on front
• Individual red tackle-twill ROSE letters sewn directly to the back — no nameplate
• Large red tackle-twill #14 on back
• Red/white V-neck treatment
• Red/white sleeve treatment
• Rounded/tapered shirt tail
• Rawlings tag marked Size 40
• Handwritten “JAPAN” notation on the Rawlings label
• Visible period wear, staining and age throughout
APPROXIMATE MEASUREMENTS
Measurements were taken with the jersey laid flat:
• Pit to pit: approximately 23 inches
• Approximate circumference based on flat chest measurement: 46 inches
• Back length from collar area to bottom of tail: approximately 29½–30 inches
• Upper back/shoulder measurement: approximately 18–19 inches
• Lower body width near beginning of rounded tail: approximately 20 inches
Please rely on the actual measurements rather than the tagged size alone.
PROVENANCE
This jersey comes from the personal estate collection of Scott Forst and was obtained directly through his sister.
Forst was a longtime baseball collector and accomplished baseball artist. The estate contained an extensive baseball collection including more than 1,000 autographs as well as other game-used/player-attributed baseball material, including items associated with Johnny Podres and Bill Dickey.
This is not a recently assembled jersey with an anonymous internet provenance. It was part of Forst’s longtime baseball collection.
Additional estate provenance/documentation will accompany the jersey to the extent available.
WHY THE JERSEY IS BEING RESEARCHED
The jersey has several characteristics consistent with Cincinnati Reds uniforms from Pete Rose’s final seasons with Cincinnati during the 1970s.
Of particular interest is 1978.
Pete Rose recorded his 3,000th career hit on May 5, 1978 at Riverfront Stadium. Later that same year, Rose and the Cincinnati Reds traveled to Japan for their postseason exhibition tour.
This jersey’s Rawlings label has “JAPAN” handwritten on it.
The meaning, date and author of this notation are currently unknown. No representation is being made that the notation was written by Pete Rose or that the jersey traveled to Japan.
MAY 5, 1978 RESEARCH
We have also been comparing the jersey with surviving film and photographs of Rose from his May 5, 1978 3,000th-hit game.
Several visible characteristics appear compatible, including:
• General ROSE lettering arch and placement
• Individually applied ROSE letters
• Tall/narrow appearance of the O
• Orientation of the R and E
• ROSE-to-14 spacing
• Shape and positioning of the back 1 and open 4
• Front #14 positioning
• Reds crest positioning
• V-neck configuration
• Sleeve configuration
There is also a faint upper-chest discoloration/stain on this jersey in an area where a possible similar mark appears in surviving May 5 footage.
THIS IS NOT BEING REPRESENTED AS A PHOTOMATCH.
The available imagery is not currently sufficient to establish a unique physical match.
IMPORTANT AUTHENTICATION DISCLOSURE
Known authenticated Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds jerseys from this period are commonly documented in sizes 42 and 44. Documented 1978 home examples include Rawlings size 44 jerseys with separate Set 1 1978 identification tags.
This jersey is tagged size 40 and currently has no separate set/year tag.
Those differences are disclosed intentionally and are part of the ongoing research.
Interestingly, despite the size-40 label, this jersey measures approximately 23 inches pit to pit, which is why the actual measurements are included above.
The jersey has NOT currently been authenticated by MEARS, PSA, SIA, Resolution Photomatching or another third-party game-used authentication service.
It is therefore being sold exactly as photographed and described: a vintage Rawlings Cincinnati Reds ROSE #14 jersey from the Scott Forst estate with unusual “JAPAN” notation and potentially significant characteristics that warrant further research.
COMPARISON WITH KNOWN 1978 ROSE MATERIAL
A separate authenticated Rawlings size 44 / Set 1 1978 Pete Rose uniform has appeared at major sale bearing Rose’s handwritten “5/5/78” inscription.
Importantly, the sale house stated that it could not definitively establish that particular uniform as the one Rose wore during his 3,000th-hit game because available photographic evidence lacked sufficient identifying data points.
The location of Rose’s actual May 5, 1978 jersey therefore remains an interesting subject of research.
CONDITION
Substantial vintage use, wear, staining, discoloration, loose/frayed threads and other age/use characteristics are present.
Nothing has been cleaned, restored or altered by the current owner.
Please examine ALL photographs closely, as they form an important part of the description.
This is being offered as a research-worthy vintage baseball jersey with exceptional estate provenance — not as a guaranteed Pete Rose game-used or 3,000th-hit jersey.
Additional detailed photographs are available upon request.
BUY IT NOW OR SUBMIT A SERIOUS BEST OFFER.
