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 enough to reunite less than a day before baseball's hit king passed away Monday in Nevada.

In a haunting photo taken a day before his death, the 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 is seated in a wheelchair and smiling in the photograph while surrounded by his former teammates, with whom he won World Series titles in 1975 and 1976.

Within a day, Rose would be found dead by a family member at his Nevada home, according to authorities. 

Signing autographs was one of Rose's primary occupations since receiving a lifetime ban from baseball in 1989.

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

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

One attendee, 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, made an appearance at the convention on Saturday amid his ongoing US senate campaign.

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

But following Rose's death on Monday – the cause of which has yet to be determined – attendees have been left reeling over the devastating news.

'I'm in shock,' event organizer David Glaskin wrote in a text message to Newsweek. 'When he was finishing up for the day, I said to him, ''Pete, you have been a guest at our Music City show all five years we have put this show on here in Nashville.'' He said, ''I will be back next year!'

At least one attendee described Rose as upbeat during Sunday's signing.

'He was all smiles, took photos with the fans and signed many autographs,' Michelle Phelps told Newsweek. 'We've seen him many times for autographs and he's always been a very polite and pleasant person. Last year, we saw him and he told us many stories of him and his friends getting into mischief.

'He was an overall great guy and loved until the very end.'