Latest Newscasts. Gray DC Bureau. Investigate TV. Closings and Delays. Dismiss Closings Alerts Bar. Reds schedule released; Opening Day set for March By Jared Goffinet. Published: Aug. Share on Facebook. Email This Link. Share on Twitter. Share on Pinterest.
Share on LinkedIn. The first 15, fans at the game will also receive a commemorative Lou Gehrig oversized baseball card, thanks to Humana. Click below to learn more about this special day and how you can get involved. More Information. Beginning June 2, health and safety measures fans should expect: Masks will be optional and no longer a requirement for entry to Great American Ball Park.
Tickets are issued digitally via the MLB Ballpark app to allow for contactless entry. They weren't the most comfortable seats, but who was complaining when you got your chance to see Ernie Lombardi, Frank McCormick, Ival Goodman, Johnny Vander Meer, Bucky Walters, Paul Derringer and the other stars from those championship years of and ' The custom of seating the overflow in the outfield ended in Yet the opener only grew in stature.
The tradition of playing the opener a day early began in the late s and early s. The annual sellouts and hoopla even drew the attention of The Today Show in Dave Garroway and his crew, including his famous mascot, a chimpanzee named Mr. Muggs, set up a set on Fountain Square and somehow managed to finish their broadcast despite nearly freezing in early morning temperatures in the high 30s.
That opener featured the debut of a baseball Hall of Famer, year-old Frank Robinson, who over the next few seasons helped lead the Reds back to respectability and the pennant. In , another unforgettable debut: young Pete Rose took the field for the first time on April 8. Aaron and Brennaman helped make the opener arguably the greatest in Reds Opening Day history.
Brennaman debuted in the booth, and called Aaron's th home run which tied Babe Ruth's home run record. And the Reds overcame a deficit to come back to win, , in 11 innings, a thrilling and historic day at Riverfront. The only time Cincinnatians have not supported their Reds on Opening Day came in the early s, when after the collapse of the Big Red Machine and front-office moves of Dick Wagner that angered many of the faithful, the Reds disintegrated, finishing last in and And the fans took out their displeasure by failing to support Opening Day.
Less than capacity crowds horrors! But Pete Rose's return in re-kindled the excitement, and in , 52, filled the ballpark for the opener on a day that featured all four seasons: it rained, it snowed, the sun shone, and the Reds won.
Opening Day was back, and has been ever since despite three difficult years in the mids. In , a confusing scheduling mixup left the Reds opening on Easter Sunday evening. Owner Marge Schott refused to treat the game as anything special much to the dismay of ESPN and Major League Baseball, and instead scheduled all the hoopla for the next day, Monday afternoon, which was more in keeping with Reds traditions.
Unfortunately, neither game was viewed by a capacity crowd. In , with the players on strike, the baseball owners threatened to start the season with "replacement" players. Everything was in place for the opener, including the parade. But on the eve of the scheduled opening day, a settlement was reached, and players were permitted to have a shortened spring training. That delayed the opener for 23 days, but the parade organizers were left with a dilemma.
With a lot of money already spent on the arrangements, and the organizers not sure they could re-group for the delayed opener, the parade went off as originally scheduled. Everything went fine There was just no game afterwards. Who needs a baseball game when you have a parade?!?
The following year. A beautiful day, with Sparky Anderson on hand to throw out the first pitch. But just seven pitches into the game, umpire John McSherry collapsed.
Depsite frantic efforts to revive him, McSherry died of a heart attack. The opener was postponed and played the next day. To this day, the umpire's dressing room in Cincinnati is named after McSherry. Certainly one of the most memorable and historic Openers in recent history was the affair, when the Reds christened their new home, Great American Ball Park. It was only the second time since that the Reds had opened in a brand new facility on Opening Day. Adam Dunn hit two home runs, including his second to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth.
With the crowd roaring, Reds third baseman Joe Randa then launched a game-winning home run into the left field bleachers, the first ever walk-off home run in Reds Opening Day history. But these exciting game moments are often second in the memories of Reds fans. It is the excitement of Opening Day, the festive atmosphere, and what the game symbolizes: a new season and a chance to celebrate Cincinnati and its historic role in the development of the National Pastime.
And it's holiday! Just like Sparky said, "Ain't nobody else got that! The game developed quite a reputation as a social event. Fans came by train from Hamilton and Dayton, and from east and west and south. Local dignitaries had to be seen at the game. In , from his box behind home plate, the mayor handed the ball, to the umpire. The next year, the mayor decided to toss the ball. Big mistake: his throw from the stands went over the head of the umpire, the first wild first pitch in Opening Day history.
By , newspapers ran cartoons showing bosses and school kids each making up white lies so they could evade work and school and attend the game.
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