Haunting final photo of baseball legend Pete Rose just hours before his death at the age of 83

Pete Rose and his beloved Big Red Machine teammates were fortunate to reunite less than a day before baseball’s king passed away in Nevada on Monday.

In a haunting photo taken a day before his death, 83-year-old Rose was seen with Cincinnati Reds legends Dave Concepcion, George Foster, Tony Perez and Ken Griffey Sr. while attending an autograph convention in Nashville. Rose sits in a wheelchair and smiles in the photo, surrounded by his former teammates, with whom he won World Series titles in 1975 and 1976.

According to authorities, Rose would be found dead within a day by a relative in his Nevada home.

Signing autographs has been one of Rose’s main activities since she was banned from baseball for life in 1989.

Outside of his reunion with Concepcion, Foster, Perez and Griffey, Sunday was somewhat typical for the three-time World Series champion. Rose would spend about an hour signing cards alongside other sports and wrestling heroes such as Warren Moon, Ric Flair, Sting, John Smoltz and Andre Dawson.

Rose was signing autographs in Nashville on Sunday, within a day of his death in Nevada

Pete Rose #14, Joe Morgan #8, Jonny Bench #5, Tony Perez #24, George Foster #15, Dave Concepcion #13, Ken Griffey #30 and Cesar Geronimo #20 of the Cincinnati Reds lineup during the introductions before Game 1 of the 1975 World Series against the Boston Red Sox on October 11, 1975 at Fenway Park

Even before Rose arrived, the Music City Sports Card Collectibles and Autograph Show was newsworthy for a few other reasons.

One participant, retired Boston Red Sox slugger Wade Boggs, was forced to cancel after recently being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Another legendary Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman, Steve Garvey, appeared at the convention Saturday amid his ongoing campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Then there was Mike Tyson, who also appeared Saturday as he prepared to return to the ring at age 58 to box Jake Paul in Arlington, Texas, in November.

But following Rose’s death on Monday – the cause of which has yet to be determined – those in attendance are reeling from the devastating news.

“I’m in shock,” event organizer David Glaskin wrote in a text message Newsweek. “As he was wrapping up for the day, I said to him, ‘Pete, you’ve been a guest on our Music City show here in Nashville for five years.’ He said, ‘I’ll be back next year!’

At least one participant described Rose as cheerful during Sunday’s signing.

“He was just smiling, taking pictures with the fans and signing lots of autographs,” Michelle Phelps told Newsweek. ‘We have seen him many times for autographs and he has always been a very polite and pleasant person. We saw him last year and he told us many stories about him and his friends getting up to mischief.

“He was overall a great guy and loved to the end.”