The cost of a Rose

For a brief time, Pete Rose – seen here with former adversary and new teammate Larry Bowa – becomes the richest athlete in team sports 45 years ago today as he signs a four-year, $3.2 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

That is $3.2 million spread over four years, not one.

Rose, who spends the first 16 years of his career with Cincinnati, ends up staying five years with the Phillies — leading them to the 1980 World Series title and helping them get back there in 1983.

The Phillies are not the only team pursuing the 37-year-old Rose in 1978 as the others making offers include the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates.

“It took me a long time to get to the top of my profession,” Rose says during his introductory press conference 45 years ago today in Philadelphia.

“I played with Henry Aaron and Willie Mays, and Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, and against Mickey Mantle. And it feels great. I’m not going to stand here and tell you a ballplayer should get $100,000, but if that’s what the other guys are getting, I want it, too.”