Lelands.com president expected the bat of the all-time hits leader to fetch a bigger price. He believes the tough economy and Rose's controversies -- such as his lifetime ban for betting on baseball -- held down the price.
Pete Rose is first on the all-time hits list, but he's not in the Hall of Fame because of his lifetime ban for gambling on baseball games.Cincinnati, Ohio -- The black Mizuno bat that Pete Rose used to get his final hit has been auctioned for $158,776, well below what was expected for the 32 ounces of baseball history.
Rose used the bat for hit No. 4,256 in 1986, the major league record.
Lelands.com auctioned the bat online this month. Seven bids were received.
Lelands.com president Mike Heffner expected the bat to fetch a bigger price. He believes the tough economy and Rose's controversies -- he's got a lifetime ban for betting on baseball -- held down the price.
The record for an auctioned bat is $1.3 million, paid for one that Babe Ruth used to hit his first homer at Yankee Stadium.