The city of Cincinnati and baseball enthusiasts everywhere are preparing to celebrate and honor the life of Pete Rose, a legend in the sport, this Sunday at Great American Ball Park. The Cincinnati Reds have announced a public visitation—for the Reds' all-time hit leader and a hometown hero—which will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. As reported by WLWT, the Reds fans will have the opportunity to pay their respects to Charlie Hustle, as Rose was affectionately known, spanning 14 hours, symbolically marking Rose's jersey number.

The locale for this event is no coincidence; it's a meaningful nod to Rose's legacy, starting at his iconic statue at the ballpark. The Reds Hall of Fame executive director, Rick Walls, mentioned to WLWT that fans would enjoy a "beautiful display" in Gapper's Alley, an area that overlooks the ballpark field. Attending this visitation expecting a sad affair is "a little bit of a celebration," emphasizing Rose's relationship with the city and its fans.

Adherence to decency and respect throughout this event is key. The Reds organization stated that "out of respect for the family," photography and video recording will not be allowed inside the visitation area. This was echoed in articles by both The Enquirer and FOX19. Those wishing to bring personal tributes such as flowers and memorabilia are encouraged to leave them at the base of Rose's statue on Crosley Terrace.

The city of Cincinnati is not just remembering Rose for the records he broke; his life resonated well beyond the chalked lines of the baseball diamond. Fawn Rose, Pete's daughter, shared in a statement obtained by FOX19 that his family knows bringing him home to Cincinnati is the appropriate homage to his "love and devotion to the fans." In addition to the visitation, the Reds Hall of Fame will waive admission fees on Sunday, providing fans another way to reflect on Rose's storied career and contributions.

Although his career concluded with controversy, including a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball for gambling, leading to his ineligibility for the Hall of Fame, Rose's impact on the sport remains undeniable. Up to the time of his death on September 30, at age 83, he was Major League Baseball's all-time hits leader—a towering figure whose legacy will be enshrined further with the celebration of "Pete Rose Day" come May 14 next year, when the Reds play the Chicago White Sox. "Pete was a Red through and through. No one loved the game more than Pete and no one loved Pete more than Reds Country. We must never forget what he accomplished", Reds owner Bob Castellini said, according to a statement obtained by FOX19.