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On May 13, 2025, Major League Baseball made headlines with a move few saw coming: commissioner Rob Manfred announced that Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson were officially removed from the league’s permanently ineligible list. While this doesn't automatically punch their ticket to the Baseball Hall of Fame, it opens the door — a door that’s been bolted shut for decades.

For card collectors, the news was immediate fuel. Interest in Pete Rose’s iconic 1963 Topps rookie card (#537) has taken off in the weeks following the announcement. And while Rose’s Hall of Fame fate won’t be decided until at least December 2027, collectors are already placing their bets.

Sales data from Card Ladder shows notable spikes in graded versions of the card across several tiers — especially for mid-grade copies:

Pete Rose 1963 Topps Rookie Card Price Increases (Month-over-Month):

• PSA 8: +41%

• PSA 7: +27%

• PSA 6: +33%

• PSA 5: +16%

• PSA 4: +45%

• PSA 3: -18%

• PSA 2: +52%

• PSA 1: Not enough data

Even without Hall of Fame induction, the symbolic lift of the ban was enough to ignite a surge in market confidence — especially for collectors who believe Rose’s long-standing exile may finally be ending.

Once branded the game’s ultimate outcast, Rose’s redemption arc may still be unfolding, and his card values are reflecting that shift in sentiment. The sharp rise in value for low and mid-grade versions suggests many collectors are jumping in now, hoping to get ahead of any major announcement down the line.

Whether prices continue to climb or level off, Rose’s cardboard stock is once again a hot topic in the hobby. And while it’s hard to predict what the Hall will do, one thing’s for sure: the hobby is watching closely.