CINCINNATI -- Pete Rose turned down his invitation to lead the parade for Opening Day at the Cincinnati Reds' new ballpark. So parade organizers say they'll get the next best thing.

A Pete Rose look-alike contest is set for noon local time Saturday outside Findlay Market in the city's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The winner gets a place of honor in Monday's parade and two tickets to the game against Pittsburgh.

Findlay Market is sponsoring the city's 84th annual parade. Executive director Bob Pickford said the look-alikes don't have to do headfirst slides to win, but they are encouraged to appear in costume.

Rose agreed to a permanent ban from baseball in August 1989 following an investigation of his gambling. Baseball's all-time hits leader applied for reinstatement in September 1997 and has been in discussions with baseball officials the past year about being reinstated.

Tom Browning, the only Reds pitcher to throw a perfect game, will be the parade's grand marshal.