By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MOUNT ORAB - Cory and Nicholas Gatrell of Amelia were among the estimated 400 Reds fans who had baseballs and photographs signed by Pete Rose Sunday afternoon.

The brothers, ages 9 and 7, arrived at Western Brown High School at 7 a.m. with their mom and grandma to make posters - including "I'v ben waitn all u my lif to see yu Pete" - to hold when they got their picture taken with the baseball legend shortly after 2:30 p.m.

"I told him `My grandma loves you,'" Cory said. "Then he winked at me."

Many fans said their meetings with Mr. Rose and Gary Waits, a Reds' bullpen catcher during the 1970s, were brief but memorable.

The duo signed about 30 dozen baseballs and photographs as a fund-raiser for the high school's baseball stadium.

"By being here, they're really showing their support for the kids; that's who this stadium is for," Mr. Rose said of the crowd, who gave him a standing ovation when he walked into the gym.

"A lot of diehard fans are from this area."

After more than an hour of giving autographs, Mr. Rose and Mr. Waits - who didn't give any speeches - headed out to the stadium for a brief batting practice.

For Brent Gardner and his 6-year-old son, Devin, who got an autographed ball and their picture taken with the players, the day was a dream come true.

"I said, `I can't believe it's you, Pete,' and he said, `It is,'" the 32-year-old Seaman resident said, shaking his head. "Just seeing Pete Rose is something. I can't believe he came this far."

Mr. Rose, dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt and pale blue running pants, had flown in from California, where Wednesday he had been introduced before World Series Game 4 to promote baseball's most memorable moments. The Reds' great, banned from baseball 13 years ago, was honored for breaking Ty Cobb's career hits record of 4,191 in 1985.

"I was kind of shaky about it," 12-year-old Dale Thomas, of Maysville, Ky., said of meeting Mr. Rose Sunday. "I was just so excited I was getting a baseball autographed."

The former Reds' players signed only the $35 baseballs and $25 photographs that were available for purchase. People also could pay to have their picture taken with them, or purchase celebrity memorabilia during an auction and have pictures taken with the Reds mascot.

Athletic Director Tim Cook said he hoped the event raised enough money to pay for the $20,000 improvements being done to the baseball stadium, including new bleachers, backstops and dugouts.

The 140-seat stadium is named after Mr. Waits, a Mount Orab High School graduate.

"It was well worth the money," said Pam Gentry, a 48-year-old from Fairfield. "I've been waiting to meet him since I was 12."

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com