ASG2015/4

As a part of this year's All-Star Game on-field ceremonies, MLB honored the four greatest players from each franchise (as voted by the fans) for pre-game recognition.  MLB labeled the honorees as the "Franchise Four."  You can view all of the honorees by clicking here.  All we care about here are the Redlegs!

First up, the greatest catcher of all-time, Johnny Bench!

Next, the greatest Moeller High School shortstop of all-time, Barry Larkin!

Barry and JB shared a "special moment."

In the days after, there was some sports talk radio discussion about the inclusion of Barry Larkin over such luminaries as Frank Robinson, Edd Roush (OK, that was just me), Ted Kluszewski, Ernie Lombardi, Vada Pinson, George Wright (OK, that was just me again).  Since MLB drew the line at four, worthy nominees would necessarily be excluded.  Yet Larkin checks all the boxes which merit his inclusion:  MVP, World Series champion, National Baseball Hall of Famer, a Cincinnati native and a Cincinnati Red for the totality of his playing career.

Perhaps more significantly for the hometown fans, with the ageing of our Big Red Machine idols the torch of living-legend Redleg must by necessity soon be passed on.  The Larkin's and the Davis' and the Browning's and Rijo's and Griffey Junior's and Votto's and Bruce's and, yes by God, the Adam Dunn's will one day, perhaps all-too-soon, carry that mantle.  Time and tide waits for no man nor Cincinnati Red.

The most vivid and melancholy example was next up on the Great American Ball Park All-Star Game stage:

"Little Joe," Joe Morgan, the greatest second baseman of all-time!  Yes, I just typed that.  Joe has been beset with linger ailments and isn't as mobile as he was once.

All kidding aside, it took Joe a while to amble out to where JB and B Lark were waiting.  Joe's spirits haven't been outwardly dampened by his frailty.

Last to be honored, but by no means least, was you-know-who!

Pete!  Pete!  Pete!

Pete was greeted warmly by his former teammates (yes, including Larkin) and with thunderous acknowledgment from the fans:

What's that?!  Pete received a warm tepid embrace from Johnny Bench!

JB doesn't need sympathy from anybody.  He's the greatest catcher who ever lived, he's been a smashing success off the field for half a century and he has an out-sized ego surpassing those even of medieval kings.   Yet one can't feel a small bit of sympathy for the greatest Red of all-time (arguably; Frank Robinson must never be overlooked) who has always stood, at least partially, in the shadow of the hometown Pete Rose.  JB being eclipsed only in Cincinnati is a reality of Reds Country. 

Next in ASG2015;  More pre-game ceremonies.  Yes!  More!  [What year is this, now?]

Roll the credits!