Reds Opening Day 2013

In this space you may have expected to find an analysis of the Reds' new center fielder/lead off batter/Korean legend Shin-Soo Choo or perhaps something about the now-annual Cuban Missile Starter/Closer Crisis or maybe a projection about Mike Leake or ubiquitous statements on the greatness of Joey Votto and Robert (he let's me call him "Bob") Castellini.  I plan to present you with some routine baseball analysis next week.  

Today is a holiday in Reds Country and as such it brings with it happy feelings, light moods, reflection, bright hopes for the future and focus on enjoying the moment.  The aim of this blog entry, today, is to share with you reflections of Reds' past which, I hope, will fill you with happy feelings.

Linked below you will find four consecutive years worth of Reds' telecast "openings" [television broadcast terminology] from the mid-to-late 1980s.  This was a period that most of you will remember fondly from your own childhoods' of budding Reds fanaticism.  You will, in these four clips, see four different announcing teams, brief pre-game player interviews and assorted highlight replays of many of your favorite Reds from the Pete Rose managerial era.  I particularly enjoy the low-tech graphics (by our modern standards) and appreciate the effort of crafting theme music which makes a valiant attempt of being evocative of the iconic This Week In Baseball theme.

The Telecast Opening From 1985

OPENING DAY Telecast Open From 1986

1987

1988

Next, an NBC Game of the Week opening from 1985.  The Mets were visiting Cincinnati that afternoon and a young Bob Costas was calling the game:

1985 Game of the Week on NBC

Below, a half-inning of play-by-play and color commentary from 1988 with Marty & Joe that will take you back to those long-ago summer nights sitting on the back patio, drinking an ice cold Coca-Cola and listening to the Reds on 700 WLW:

Marty & Joe from 1988

Next, Tracy Jones struck by a foul ball while sitting in the dugout in 1987.  Marty Brennaman and Johnny Bench call the action:

Tracy Jones Hit In The Coconut

Long-range Reconnaissance

This week we look back at the Cincinnati Reds from one hundred years ago and presented here without the usually extensive explanation for which you have been accustomed.  Leading off, the Reds official team photo from 1913 taken at Redland Field (later renamed Crosley Field):

Batting second, as it were, Reds outfielder Bob Bescher (below), photographed warming up before a game against the New York Giants at the Polo grounds in 1913.  Just two seasons earlier, Bescher stole 81 bases for the Reds while striking out just 78 times.  I would ask if Drew Stubbs is reading this but who cares about Stubby?

Batting third (below), outfielder Johnny Bates taking bating practice at the Polo Grounds.  Bates really turned on one in this photo, looking like he just jacked one down the right field line....or perhaps pulling it foul by a mile.  Or two.  This is understandable, since the distance from home to the right field foul pole was only about 260' (but almost 450' to right-center):

Pitching for the Reds at the Polo Grounds that day was Rube Benton, photographed below warming up before the start of the game:

Game time at the Polo Grounds (below) on May 7, 1913.  This just happens to be the birthday of a noted North Carolinian paleontologist:

Next is a somewhat perplexing photograph.  It depicts four of the Reds pitchers in 1913, including (at right) Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown.  1913 was the only season this legendary pitcher toiled for the Reds, so we know the photo dates from 1913.  What is odd is that the Reds were photographed in their home uniforms yet the ballpark you see is NOT Redland Field (which opened in 1912).  This may have been a scene from spring training or perhaps an exhibition game but the source information claims the photo was taken in June (I think the bare trees in the background refute that assertion):

Since Long-range Reconnaissance is known to feature photos of a more expansive nature, we will conclude this Opening Day update with two panoramic photos of Cincinnati's riverfront.  Below, the scene from atop the under-construction John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge in 1866:

Lastly, we conclude with the Cincinnati riverfront circa 1914 as seen from the mouth of the Licking River (which divides Covington, Kentucky [at left] from Newport, Kentucky [at right]):

Look for me in the 7th row of the Sun Deck, in the right-center power alley.  I will be the guy wearing the Reds cap.

Go Reds!