Counterfeit Card Alert: 1970 Topps #580 Pete Rose

Pete Rose, the MLB's all-time leader in hits, passed away on September 30, 2024, at the age of 83. Nicknamed "Charlie Hustle" for his constant intensity on the baseball diamond, the former Cincinnati Reds switch hitter is a legend of the game. Because of his heroics on the field, the three-time World Series champion and 17-time All-Star has always had a large fanbase. Further, many of his fans are also collectors with a strong interest in his memorabilia and other collectibles.

As is the case with many other sports icons, this has led to counterfeiters attempting to profit off of some of Rose's more valuable collectibles, such as some of his baseball cards from his playing career. One of these counterfeit Rose cards recently came through the CGC Cards grading room, and a handful of red flags helped identify the purported 1970 Topps #580 Pete Rose as a counterfeit.

Front view of the counterfeit 1970 Topps #580 Pete Rose card.

During the authentication process, the card clearly exhibited multiple problems that graders often see with modern counterfeits. One of the main issues with the collectible is that many areas of the card were pixelated. Authentic versions of the 1970 Topps #580 should show more solid ink. Some of the most glaring indicators of pixelation are in the text on the front of the card, including the team's name, player name and position.

LEFT: Close-up view of the counterfeit card's player name on the front. RIGHT: Close-up view of an authentic card's player name on the front.

The black ink used for Pete Rose's name on the bottom of the card is pixelated on the fake. When zoomed in, letters appear less pronounced and fuzzier on the counterfeit version. On the authentic version, the black ink on his name is solid and stands out against the grey border. In addition, the grey border is much more muted on the fake compared to the solid print dots making up the authentic border.

A closer look at the front's "REDS" team name (at the top right) further illustrates the differences in the cards. Everything that applied to Rose's name also applies here. You can see that the black ink in the letter "S", the blue background and the white and grey borders are more pronounced compared to the washed-out look on the counterfeit card.

LEFT: Close-up view of the counterfeit card's team name at the top right. RIGHT: Close-up view of an authentic card's team name at the top right.

One other area on the front that helps identify the submission as a fake is the red ink used to print Rose's position, which states "Outfield." Not only is the ink fuzzier, like the black ink used for the other text, but when zoomed in, you can see the red ink bleeding into the grey border of the card.

LEFT: Close-up view of the counterfeit card's player position at the bottom right. RIGHT: Close-up view of an authentic card's player position at the bottom right.

Turning the cards over and zooming in on the back offers further proof of the differences between counterfeit and authentic versions. The colorful cartoon on the back of the authentic card shows solid light blue and yellow inks. The counterfeit card shows a darker blue, a different shade of yellow and white splotches where solid ink should be instead.

LEFT: Close-up view of the counterfeit card's cartoon on the back. RIGHT: Close-up view of the authentic card's cartoon on the back.

Although there is plenty of evidence only looking at the ink and printing comparisons, the stock is also incorrect on the fake version. The card's weight and thickness do not match those of an authentic 1970 Topps baseball card.

An authentic 1970 Topps #580 Pete Rose graded CGC 7 Click images to enlarge.

Education is the most important tool when collecting cards. The more collectors know about the printing and manufacturing process of cards, the fewer mistakes will be made when buying cards. This example also highlights the importance of certification for any high-value card.

CGC Cards authenticates, grades and encapsulates authentic examples of cards, making the hobby a safer place for collectors, traders and sellers. To do this, CGC Cards uses world-class expertise, advanced technology, innovation and operational excellence to provide sports card collectors and dealers with accurate and consistent certification services. CGC backs these determinations with the CGC Guarantee, which adds significant confidence, liquidity and value to the hobby. To learn more about CGC's industry-leading services, visit CGCcards.com.

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