Cincinnati Reds and the Great American Ball Park

On the day before postseason starts, let me talk about the Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati. On the shores of the Ohio River, this ballpark has served as the home of the Cincinnati Reds since 2003. This September, this team was at the cusp of qualifying (82 wins - 80 losses), but they did not qualify for the  wildcard this season. The current roster has 6x all-star  Joey Votto, first baseman who may or may not be retiring from baseball this season due to injuries. Votto has played as a  Red since 2007. He told reporters if he could not play to the best of his ability that can help the Reds win, he would rather retire than play injured. In the last year of his contract, it may be his last season.

I visited the Great American Ball Park in August 2013. The Brewers starting pitcher, Marco Estrada, baffled the Reds with his change-up and his other pitches. Estrada had seven shutout innings with only one single allowed. Score was 1 (Reds) to 3 (Brewers). Reds lost the game.

The Cincinnati Reds are baseball’s  first professional franchise. The Reds are proud of their history.  Their Hall of Fame and museum is adjacent to the park. Also, there are statues of ballplayers playing an imaginary baseball game. This scene depicted catcher Ernie Lombardi, first baseman Ted Kluszewski, and outfielder Frank Robinson. The ballfield is famous for “The Gap”, a 35-ft wide break in the stands between home plate and third base.  This gap provides views into stadium from downtown. In centerfield, one can view smokestacks reminding people of steamboats, which shoots fireworks, flash lights, and/or emit flames depending upon what occurred in the game (strikeout, homerun, Reds win). 

In the 1970s, Reds won back to back World Series (1975, 1976) as the “Big Red Machine”, composed of  Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, and Pete Rose. Near the stadium, there  is a rose  garden that symbolizes Pete Rose’s record breaking 4,192nd hit  (because ball landed around this area from Riverfront “Cinergy field” stadium, ballpark from 1970 to 2002).

The Reds (originally Red Stockings) were a charter member of the American Association in 1881 before joining the National League in 1890. The Reds are currently in the National League Central. This franchise has won the World Series 5 times (1919, 1940, 1975, 1976, 1990) and captured 9 National League pennants. Watch for the Reds. Next year, the Reds may be in the conversation when you talk about the postseason.