If there was ever a professional athlete more polarizing than Pete Rose, he or she hasn’t gotten nearly the amount of attention they deserve. Rose’s lifetime ban from baseball for betting on games when he was a player and/or manager is still heavily debated to this day and probably always will be. Rose’s record of career hits is the only constant about his career, but it seems that even that’s being challenged now. Topps trading card company has basically taken a shot at Rose with its latest batch of featured memorabilia.

The new 2013 Topps cards feature career millstones that certain players are trying to break, complete with the record itself and the name of the player who owns it. However, on the cards featuring the career hit record of 4,256, there is no name. In a sense, Topps completely erased Rose from the books, at least in its latest featured set.

Ouch! Talk about a gut check! Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro and Chicago White Sox catcher AJ Pierzynksi are two examples of cards with that record listed, but no legend’s name to go along with it. Rose is the mystery man, or the shamed, nameless wonder, depending on your point of view.

Topps said they didn’t even think twice about leaving Rose out of their collection of records and legends this year. They didn’t even consider putting him on the cards. Well, if you’re one of the many who believe Rose should be in the record books just like everyone else, let your sob story begin.

Jeric Griffin is the Director of Content for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JericGriffin, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google