CLEVELAND — At the National Sports Collectors Convention last weekend, there was another healthy line of collectors seeking Pete Rose's autograph.
Given how much "Charlie Hustle" has signed, it's a miracle there's any value to his autograph.
But Rose has that flair and, despite being suspended from Major League Baseball for nearly 30 years, he is beloved by his fans.
Rose told cllct that, more than anything, he loves to sign baseballs.
Pete Rose discusses the Hall of Fame, Rob Manfred and saying sorry.
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"They're easy to sign, and people like 'em," Rose said. "It's a good souvenir to take home and put on the mantel."
Rose's colorful inscriptions are often what keeps people coming back. But he admitted publicly, for the first time, that he doesn't like the inscription: "I'm sorry I bet on baseball."
"I hate that inscription," Rose said. "I wish I hadn't done it. It cost me $200 million. You'd hate it too, wouldn't you?"
Despite his regret, Rose said, "If that's what they want, that's what you get."
Rose, who has been paid to sit in a store in Las Vegas for days on end to sign, said he now thinks he has signed more than any other baseball player in history.
"I think I passed Bob Feller," Rose said. "But I think it's a good thing that people still want your autograph. It means you're popular. And I cooperate at autograph signings: I take care of people, I talk to them and reminisce and make it an experience."
Rose, who was banned from baseball in 1989 after it was discovered he bet on the game, said he still thinks he should be in the Hall of Fame.
"There's no question in my mind I got Hall of Fame statistics," Rose said. "Check my stats out. I'm on the first page of the Hall of Famers. I always thought, maybe I'm wrong, but I always thought the Hall of Fame was stats. You're not in the Hall of Fame because you're not a nice guy. I'm a nice guy. I just made a mistake. But I got the stats."
The 17-time All-Star is MLB's leader in career hits (4,256), singles (3,215) and games played (3,562). He won Rookie of the Year, three batting titles and three World Series titles.
So, does he believe he will get in? The 83-year-old has mixed feelings about.
"You can't turn on the TV without them talking about gambling," Rose said. "But if you are suspended 29 years, it's hard to lift the suspension. I don't pursue it. (MLB commissioner Rob Manfred) has got enough on his mind to worry about me."
Darren Rovell is the founder of cllct.com and one of the country's leading reporters on the collectibles market. He previously worked for ESPN, CNBC and The Action Network.