David Glaskin has worked with Pete Rose more than 100 times over the years. Never did he imagine that he would be with the baseball legend on his last day on Earth.
Rose died on Monday. He was 83.
At the Williamson County Agricultural EXPO Park on Sunday afternoon, Rose signed autographs alongside his former teammates of the 1970s Cincinnati Reds.
The planning for reuniting the members of the Big Red Machine began a year ago and it was inspired by Rose.
Glaskin runs the Music City Sports Card, Collectibles, and Autograph Show which has been an annual event for the past five years. Last year, the 1995 Atlanta Braves made an appearance — and this year, Glaskin wanted to bring the Big Red Machine to Nashville.
Joining Rose on Sunday were Dave Concepcion, Tony Perez, George Foster, and Ken Griffey Sr.
“I’m in shock,” Glaskin wrote in a text message to Newsweek Sports hours after news broke about the legend’s death. “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!'”
Michelle Phelps worked the show on Sunday alongside her husband who has been a fan of Rose for 40 years. They have attended shows annually and were devastated when they heard the news.
“He was all smiles, took photos with the fans and signed many autographs,” Phelps told Newsweek Sports. “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.”
Glaskin echoed that sentiment. Rose loved baseball but most of all, he loved his fans. Even though his health was deteriorating, he didn’t let that stop him from talking about the game with those who shared a love for it.
On Sunday, Rose arrived in a wheelchair and walked to the table where he sat for hours accommodating those who were there for him.
Glaskin and Phelps choose to remember the good times with Rose. The stories he told about being a young man speeding through little towns and getting pulled over or remembering all of his stats from his playing days.
“I will remember him as one of the greatest baseball players ever and one of the nicest guys I’ve had the pleasure of meeting,” Glaskin added. “And I am so happy he got to see his teammates one last time.”
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