Pete Rose was sent home from the hospital with a clean bill of health just five days before he died on Sept. 30, according to TMZ Sports.
He was 83.
The Reds legend was taken to a hospital by a friend, who believed he was “acting different,” on Sept. 25 — and after undergoing tests, doctors determined the results “appeared fine and did not show anything wrong with Pete,” the friend said.
Rose, who was living in Las Vegas at the time, was ultimately sent home.
Four days later, Rose attended an autograph show in Franklin, Tenn.,on Sept. 29.
The former slugger, who was in a wheelchair, had a reunion with fellow members of the “Big Red Machine” — Dave Concepcion, George Foster, Tony Perez and Ken Griffey Sr. — as seen in a photo posted on the Facebook page for the Music City Sports Collectables and Autograph Show.
Afterward, Perez told TMZ Sports that Rose wasn’t feeling well, and wasn’t acting like his usual self while at the event, where the group signed autographs.
Rose — a three-time World Series champion and 17-time MLB All-Star — was found unresponsive at his home by his son Tyler, who was unsuccessful at performing CPR, according to TMZ.
Rose died of natural causes stemming from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a statement by the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner, Melanie Rouse, who determined diabetes was a contributing factor.
Authorities at the scene reportedly found what appeared to be vomit in a trash can.
The day before he died, Rose was smiling while signing a jersey in another fan-shot video.
Perez explained that Rose “wasn’t a talker” at the autograph signing and that he “didn’t even look too good.”
“It’s really hard when it happens,” Perez said of Rose’s death. “We’re just sitting there on Sunday, having a time but not a good time because he was in a wheelchair and he wasn’t feeling that well. He didn’t even look too good. We can see he’s pale a little bit and he wasn’t him at all. He wasn’t the guy I see the last time I see him before Sunday.
“He wasn’t a talker, he didn’t say much. He said, ‘Hello,’ and that’s it but we didn’t go the way we used to go on each other and he used to see me and go … and say a lot of stuff and get on me, ‘You getting old, man. You ugly,’ or whatever. Dave Concepcion and (Ken) Griffey Sr. was there and George Foster from the Cincinnati Reds and really we don’t have that great time with him because of the way he looks and the way he reacts that day.”
The former MLB stars were part of “The Great Eight” for the Reds during their 1970s dominance, when they won consecutive World Series championships in 1975 and 1976.
Rose, MLB’s all-time hits leader, was banned for life from MLB for betting on his own team in 1989.
