Results tagged ‘ Cincinnati ’
The Mayor Moves On: Good Luck, Sean Casey
Official word comes that former Reds first baseman Sean Casey is retiring. If your Internet is slow, your text messages crawling and your phone line busy, it’s because of the legions of friends, former teammates and active players sending best wishes to “The Mayor.” In 12 seasons with the Indians, Reds, Pirates, Tigers and Red Sox, Casey batted .302 with 130 homers and 735 RBI. He’s only 34 years old and coming off two decent years as a first baseman, DH and pinch-hitter. No question, he could help some team for another couple of years. Casey played for the Reds from 1998-2005 and was the team’s most consistent hitter during that stretch. He’ll likely be a Reds Hall of Famer some day, and not just because of what he did on the field. If you know anything about Casey–and Reds fans certainly do–you understand this decision is not about the money, as John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer pointed out, and it’s not about hanging onto the game. It’s about family first, foremost and forever. Sean and Mandi have three kids . . . Andrew (7), Jacob (5) and Carli (3), and their lives center busily around the youngsters and their activities. After he was traded by the Reds to his hometown Pirates before the 2006 season, Casey would spend time in his parents’ front yard, playing Wiffleball with kids like his father did on that spot 20-25 years before. The only difference is Casey made sure they had enough extra balls when one rolled across the street and down the sewer drain. The Reds had played in Washington and it seemed like everyone in the stadium knew Casey. Someone joked that Richmond finally conquered the Capital City because so many of Casey’s college friends had made the trek. The Astros came into town shortly thereafter and Craig Biggio was asked what it was like to be a runner on first base with Casey guarding. Biggio grinned and said, “He is standing there with that big ʻhowyadoinʼ ?ʼ smile on his face like heʼs inviting you into his house for dinner. “But you have to be prepared, too. Case is a big distraction over there. He starts talking about your wife and kids and he remembers everything . . . their names, their ages, their activities. And the next thing you know, you have forgotten you’re trying to play a game instead of standing outside having a beer with Sean Casey.” The stories of Casey’s humanitarianism goes on for volumes. Among many, many, many other contributions are “Casey’s Crew” providing high-priced tickets for disadvantaged kids for games and an anti-hunger organization called “Labels Are For Jars” he founded with talkshow host Conan O’Brien. Long before reporting to the ballpark at home or away games, Casey could usually be spotted at an area hospital, whether on official team business or showing up unannounced. His positive energy and encouragement for the sick or infirmed is astounding. Casey’s also the guy who helped spearhead major-leaguers to give up a day’s salary for Hurricane Katrina victims. He couldn’t come to the rescue of all needy kids or causes but he certainly has tried. A writer once called him a real-life George Bailey from “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Chances are you, too, know someone who was touched by Casey’s time, generosity and faith. The story that has always struck me is the time Casey helped an emotional young man he met after a game. The man said his father had died and he didn’t know what he would do because he didn’t have the money to bury him. The Mayor didn’t balk. “Two days later, I set up this card signing in Dayton,” Casey said. “We raised a lot of money, and I gave it all to him. It would have been worse if I hadn’t tried to help. It was one of those times when you just go with your gut.” He once told Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News, ”We’re all on this Earth to make a difference while we’re here. When we’re gone, we’re gone. There is scripture that says, ‘The Kingdom of God is now.’ “ True story: Casey grew up a huge Ken Griffey Jr. fan and at age 15 he pocketed some Griffey cards from a neighborhood shop. Caught with the goods and handed over to his dad, he was made to read aloud from a dictionary over and over and over the definitions of criminal, greed, selfish, thief and trust. To this day it’s an embarrassing and humbling event in his life, so Casey has never met a fan he wouldn’t sign for, a picture he wouldn’t pose for or a cause he deemed unworthy. That devotion never seemed to diminish his ability on the field, even if a few injuries (and perhaps a little lack of power with the bat) did. Now, he moves on to a new career with the Baseball Network, where some way, somehow, they will have to find a way to get Casey to stop talking when the little red light clicks off. Good Lord, the man can talk up a torrential storm. If ever there was anyone who should be paid by the word, it’s Casey. All of which reminds me of the great line by former Cincinnati Enquirer columnist Tim Sullivan, now with the San Diego Union-Tribune: “If Sean Casey Amen.
has a fault, it is that he grounds into too many double plays. Nothing else comes to mind.”
Billy Werber: Spark Plug of the ’40 Champions
The great Billy Werber passed away Thursday in Charlotte, N.C., leaving behind a remarkable life of accomplishments that includes being the spark plug of the 1940 Reds world championship team. He was also the oldest-living baseball player, at age 100, and last remaining teammate of Babe Ruth. Werber always satisfied his audience with animated stories and hilarious anecdotes, many of which can be found in his 2000 book, “Memories of a Ballplayer: Bill Werber and Baseball in the 1930s.”
Barry Larkin’s Ticket to the Hall of Fame?
For several years now, Reds fans have been debating the Hall of Fame candidacy for former shortstop great Barry Larkin. The arguments for either side–stats say yay, history says nay–are
truthfully valid. The issue will gain some attention in the coming year as
Larkin is eligible for Cooperstown on the 2010 ballot.
To me, Larkin doesn’t get in before another former great Reds shortstop, Davey Concepcion. I was taught by the grumpy, salty,
old-timers who had been covering baseball before I was born (which, btw, was
1869!) that a player always has to be compared to the peers of his era. In that
regard, Concepcion was the standard-bearer for shortstops, a prelude to the
offensive shortstops to come, and his defense at the most critical position was
unparalled in the prime of his career.
The problem for Concepcion is his greatness was soon
overshadowed by Ozzie Smith’s amazing wizardry with the glove. Then came the
offensive shortstops such as Yount, Ripken, Trammell, A-Rod, Jeter and
Garciaparra. As longtime Reds announcer Marty Brennaman said in 2006, “Ozzie Smith is the best-fielding shortstop I’ve
ever seen, but if one of the criteria for getting into the Hall of Fame is that
you were the premier player at your position for a number of years, Davey
Concepcion passes that one. And he’s a better all-around player than the other
guy.”
Ozzie got into Cooperstown on first ballot and deservedly
so. Concepcion (not surprisingly) never received more than 17 percent of the
vote because the standard for his position had changed dramatically by his
retirement in 1988. Plus, once he became Hall eligible there was a wave of voters
who felt he wasn’t on Cooperstown par with other Big Red Machine greats, namely
Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez and the ostracized Pete Rose.
Now, Concepcion’s candidacy rests with the Veteran’s
Committee, which I have much more faith will one day put him in the Hall. In
other words, if the old buzzards were dumb enough to vote in Scooter Rizzuto, they
are smart enough to give Concepcion his place.
Not to be overlooked: In 2010, among the Veterans Committee
panel will be former Reds Sparky Anderson, Morgan, Bench, Perez
and Tom Seaver, along with some notable peers in Mike Schmidt, Don Sutton, Phil
Niekro, Hank Aaron, Fergie Jenkins and Lou Brock, all of whom played against
the Big Red Machine in Concepcion’s prime. Plus, there’s manager Tommy Lasorda
and fellow HOF shortstops Luis Aparacio and Ozzie.
The best argument for Concepcion in the Hall is made by Joe Posnanski of
the Kansas City Star in this excellent blog article from last summer.
What does all of this have to do with Larkin? Plenty.
In ironic kismet, the two players who manned shortstop for
the Reds from 1970-2003 (!) have Hall candidacies that need lifeblood. Each has
become a drop shadow to their changing eras and shortstops with bigger names in
bigger markets. When Larkin was healthy, he was a no-doubt-about-it Hall of
Famer. Bill James named him the No. 6 best shortstop of all-time. Larkin’s win
shares calculation reflects his importance to the winning Reds teams of the
1990s.
But therein rests the hitch: Larkin was rarely healthy. Nine of his 18 seasons were hampered by huge gaps of lost games to injuries,
including four of his last five seasons, which is how a lot of writers will
remember Larkin when considering his Hall worthiness. Larkin missed the equivalent of about 3 2/3 seasons with injuries.
And yet, an argument can be made that he put up numbers
historically comparable to the shortstops already in the Hall, and that his
all-around play measures favorably to many of his own peers.
Concepcion and Larkin need a great Hall of Fame marketing campaign behind
them and for years it has baffled me why the Reds have done so little to push Concepcion. Tim Gay, a Washington, D.C. communications consultant, has helped
raise Concepcion’s awareness the past couple of years with a website, media
interviews and a public push from Venezuelan businesses.
As for Larkin, his retirement in 2004 might have been a
fortuitous move. The 2010 Hall class is extremely thin and chances are it’s the
best opportunity for leftovers Trammell, Andre Dawson, Bert Blyleven, Jack
Morris, Tim Raines and Lee Smith. As for first-year entrants, Edgar Martinez,
Robbie Alomar and Larkin are the best of the group. Still, I didn’t think Larkin stood much of a chance for
getting the required 75 percent vote on the first ballot (or perhaps ever) . .
. that is, until a recent and significant development.
Larkin spent the last couple of years as an assistant to general manager Jim Bowden of the Washington Nationals. His contract was up and there was
a small groundswell for him to return to the Reds. Instead, Larkin went to the
new MLB Channel, removing him from the anonymity of the front office to the high visibility of the promising new baseball network.
Purposefully or no, it was a tremendous move for Larkin’s
Hall chances. He couldn’t buy this kind of exposure and awareness
that Concepcion’s candidacy has poorly lacked. And as we have long known with
Hall of Fame voting, it’s not always just what you have done in your career, but
making sure you’re not out of sight, out of mind.
See Joe Morgan, first-ballot inductee.
The Magical Appearance of the 1869 Red Stockings Card
Just as you think you have seen about everything. . . . Last spring I told you about the Kentucky man who walked into an “Antiques Roadshow” taping in Louisville with a lunch bag carrying a pristine 1919 Reds team-signed ball, one of only a small handful known to exist. He had no idea of the value or historical importance of the ball . . . until he sold it to a private collector for around $50,000 after the TV show’s appraisal. Just before the new year, an antiques/collectibles store owner in Fresno, Calif., named Bernice Gallego (right) sat down to list some store items on eBay. She reached into a box and pulled out ”a little card I found in a bunch of stuff.” The card was obviously very old. Oh, what the heck, Mrs. Gallego thought? She listed the card on eBay for an opening bid of $10 because she didn’t want to pay a higher listing fee. Then, things got wacky in a hurry. She started getting responses asking if the card was authentic and some wanting her to end the auction early and sell them the card right away. She and her husband Al have been operating their store since 1974 and selling on eBay for years but never had such responses. They decided to end the auction quickly and find out exactly what they have. It turns out they somehow owned the most important Cincinnati Reds card, the very first baseball “card” ever produced–the 1869 Peck & Snyder Red Stockings issue. Few are known to exist and their auction value usually shoots well into five figures. One of the cards in pitiful condition–a gaping hole in the middle–sold at auction for $6,106 last fall. Mrs. Gallego has no idea how she acquired the card or how long she’s had it but guesses it probably came from an estate sale, where she and her husband have bought entire storage units with the idea something might bring a few extra dollars. This reminds me of the story of a dealer buying a box of documents a few years ago and later discovering a love letter written by famous Union officer Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain to his future wife just before his heroism at the battle of Gettysburg. Amazin’. The card is obviously appealing to Reds fans because of the great historical nature of that first Red Stockings team. But the card’s scarcity overrides the nostalgia of Hall of Famers Harry and George Wright leading to the team to a 57-0 record and creating the birth of professional sports. The other overriding point of the card parallels the emergence of the 1919 team ball: two remarkably valuable pieces of baseball history and memorabilia magically surface in the hands of two very nice people who had absolutely no idea the value of what they owned. It’s truthfully an astounding story of discovery, again.
Peck & Snyder was an early manufacturer of sporting goods and to promote their business they attached themselves to the more popular teams of the day. In 1869, with the all-professional Red Stockings sweeping the nation, winning every game and catapulting interest in sports to great new heights, Peck & Snyder used a sepiatoned paper team photograph mounted to a 3 1/4-by-4 1/2-inch piece of thin cardboard to create the first distributed baseball card. The back of the card contained a Peck & Snyder advertisement.
Reds Gift Guide 2008: Junket to Spring Training
Last in a Series
By Amy
Staff Mom and Blog Goddess
March in Ohio: Cold, cold, really freaking cold.
March in Florida? Warm gulf breezes, sunshine on your shoulders, fresh grouper sandwiches . . . oh, and baseball!
After a long, baseball-free winter, who isn’t jonesing to see our Cincinnati Reds? Whether you slip this into your own Christmas stocking or share the trip with a friend or loved one, don’t miss this last season of Redlegs spring training in Sarasota.
“Tired old Ed Smith Stadium,” as Marty Brennaman frequently calls the assuredly tired old joint, is admittedly a little–shall we say, rustic? But hey, I’m willing to overlook the sporadically functional plumbing for a few days in the sun with other diehard baseball fans. The crowd at The Ed is great–everyone is chatty and happy to be there, the grounds crew does a little routine to YMCA and the feeling of baseball hopefulness permeates the air.
A few days on the west coast of Florida watching the Reds get ready for a new season is a great time. The players are relaxed and friendly, and it’s the best time of the season to get autographs and pictures. After their own winter’s respite, the players seem happy to be around fans and the game. You’ll also see them in the local restaurants and bars at night in a far more casual appearance than we are accustomed.
With all this information in hand, here is your guide for a junket to Sarasota:
The Games
For simplicity’s sake, we’ll base the trip in Sarasota, even though there aren’t a lot of consecutive home games in this season’s schedule. Last March I spent two nights in Sarasota and saw three games at The Ed; as the 2009 Reds schedule stands, there aren’t more than two home games on consecutive days.
But the Reds play close roadtrips against the Pirates in Bradenton, Phillies in Clearwater and Blue Jays in Dunedin. You can still fit in a round of golf or relaxing time on the beach before heading out to the games, most of which begin about 1 p.m. However, remember that home or away games against the Yankees and Red Sox tend to sell out fast so you definitely want to buy your tickets in advance.
Single-game tickets go on sale Jan. 24. The highest ticket price at The Ed is $18 for a box seat at a premium game. The lowest is $9 general admission and there is absolutely nothing wrong with sprawling in the bleachers, having a beer and working on your tan with the rest of the crowd.
You can also buy tickets as part of a bundle package. This is a good deal and by having your tickets in advance you can better schedule your trip for airfare, hotel and other activities.
Advice from veteran spring training goers: You’ll have far better ticket selection and up-close access to players, coaches and legendary Reds such as Dave Concepcion (photo, above) early in camp. But for warmer weather, time on the beach and other outdoor activities, wait until the last two weeks of March.
Ballpark (heh) Figures for Flights:
Travel websites are your friend and many times you can get a terrific discount on airfare, hotel and rental car by bundling the package. Flying into a regional airport such as Sarasota/Bradenton (SRQ) tends to be little more expensive and might require a stop or two along the way. You can usually save money and perhaps time by flying into Tampa (TPA) or Orlando (MCO) and driving that ragtop rental down the coast to Sarasota and blowing away the wintertime blues.
But shop around (now!) and be thinking at least three weeks in advance of departure for booking. Veteran spring training travelers know the best fares can go long before pitchers and catchers report in February. Airfarewatchdog.com shows USAirways round-trip flights from CVG to Tampa for $256, and to Sarasota for $305, with a 21-day advance purchase. The site also gives you tips on where to book your flight if your dates are flexible or inflexible.
Our pals on the West Coast can do even better: $225 from LAX to Tampa, and $245 to Sarasota. Check various travel sites and the airlines’ own sites, and hey, if you have some frequent-flyer miles just lying around, this is the perfect reason to cash them in.
Because CVG is the most expensive departure city in the country–thanks, Delta–more people in the Cincinnati area are flying out of Dayton. Good idea. Web specials from Dayton to Sarasota on AirTran.com start at about $123 one-way. If you can fly Southwest Airlines, the discount airliner usually has terrific fares for Florida destinations during the winter. For example, flying out of Columbus, Ohio, Louisville, Ky., or Indianapolis to Tampa can be as cheap as $69 non-stop one-way to Tampa.
Remember: Many airlines are now charging $15 per check-in bag each way. You will need to figure in that outrageous extra cost of fare gouging. And Florida has tourism taxes on hotels and rental cars that can also add up.
Where to Stay
Well, it depends. What’s your priority? Sarasota is considered a resort city so you’ll be pressed to find anything–anything at all–for less than $120 a night. The Sarasota beaches are gorgeous but the cost of a decent room near the waterfront hits $200-plus a night. This is where the idea of bundling your trip itinerary through one of the big travel websites might save you substantial money, especially for a stay of five or more nights.
There are many hotel websites such as hotels.com and cheaprooms.com for price and location comparisons. Personally, I like first-hand experience or recommendations from friends, so I won’t pretend to make broad suggestions here.
Are you indifferent about the thread count on your hotel sheets? Go the economy route and stay at the Days Inn Sarasota/Bradenton Airport, suggests LotD’s own DocProc. He’s a regular spring training traveler and says the Days Inn is a good, basic hotel. Rooms range from $85 to $110 per night and come with free breakfast at Chef Paul’s, where “the food is both cheap and good, and the waitresses call you ‘hon’,” says our source. There’s also free wireless internet.
Looking for a little more luxury? The Hotel Indigo (photo, above) in downtown Sarasota might be your choice. A boutique hotel, it’s crisp and clean, has its own bistro and lounge, and is extremely convenient to the stadium, although a bit pricier at $265-$300 per night.
Mr. R says the Helmsley Sandcastle ($209 per night) has been a frequent choice because of a gorgeous pool area and its own private beach (photo, right). I have a feeling that bug-eyed mascot isn’t talking about the landscape when he says he loves the optical workout scenery at the Helmsley.
Another recommendation is the Homewood Suites by Hilton ($177-$209 per night). Not only does this place have a very nice pool but many of the rooms have kitchenettes–not that anybody is thinking of cooking while on vacation. Nope. Just forget that idea. But still, a refrigerator and microwave can come in handy for late-night snacking and early-morning drinking.
The Alternative
Like most of Florida, Sarasota is suffering a real estate meltdown and there are many opportunities to rent a condo at a great price. Check out rental listings from local Realtors, whose license gives you substantial consumer protection against fraud and deceptive rental practices. Avoid dealing with an individual owner unless you know the person or know someone who has dealt with the owner in prior rental agreements. A weekly rental on or near a beach can usually be found for around $800.
Oh, the Food!
Florida Gulf Coast fare is fairly spectacular because of the mixture of foods and cultures. Yes, you can get some absolutely great seafood but there is also an awesome selection of Mexican, Cuban, Asian and Key West-style restaurants, along with some local mom-and-pop favorites.
Take in the shops and sights of St. Armand’s Circle and dine at the Columbia (photo, right), a Cuban and Spanish restaurant that comes highly recommended by LotD’s own C. Trent Rosecrans, who says the white chocolate bread pudding, among other menu favorites, may be the best thing he’s ever had.
Ophelia’s on Siesta Key is known for its excellent seafood dishes and awesome wine list. Da Ru Ma is a unique Japanese/Teppen-style place with tableside cooking and fresh meat and seafood combinations. Try the seaweed salad. Moore’s Stone Crab on Longboat Key specializes in locally caught oysters, great prices and has a terrific view of the mangrove islands.
The Bijou Café on 1st Street is a local favorite where the grouper sandwich draws rave reviews, but don’t overlook the varied Continental selection such as homemade ravioli and filet mignon Parisienne, plus a vast South African wine selection. Spectacular outdoor seating atmosphere.
If you’re looking for dining options closer to The Ed, walk across the street to Gus’ 12th Street Cafe. A favorite haunt of visiting media and locals, especially for breakfast (photo, right), Gus offers inexpensive but good-quality fare. The soup changes daily, but Trent says you can hope to be there on split-pea soup day. Also down the Street from the ballpark is Morel, which has great smoked Atlantic salmon, but has an even better $17 early-bird menu from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
DocProc recommends grabbing a pizza and shooting some pool at local favorite Rico’s across the street from his hotel. Take a bit of a drive for a burger at local fave the Hob Nob Drive-In, or head out to the much-discussed Five Guys chain for burgers and fries, only about 15 minutes from The Ed. I can’t believe I didn’t do that when I was there last March.
Things to Do
While most Reds fans consider ballgames the centerpiece of their spring training trip, Sarasota has a lot to offer a tourist beyond spring training. The beaches are gorgeous, the golf, water sports and fishing excellent, and the element of palm trees, sunshine and outdoor dining are sooooooo relaxing after a winter of cold, snow and blustering misery.
My favorite part of Sarasota (other than the games, of course) is the drive up Longboat Key–a scenic, relaxing atmosphere with lots of interesting-looking places to shop and dine. I visited the Beach House (which is actually in Bradenton Beach), and I can’t find enough good things to say about the beautiful view . . . great place to watch the sunset and high-quality food and drink at a good price.
The key to a great spring training trip is to make plans around the before-and-after of the game. Consider an early morning trip to the beaches such as Venice, Lido, Siesta, Manasota or Casey keys. Or, take a day and explore the islands for nature hikes, kayaking, Mayakka River tours and great Dixieland music at Snook Haven (photo, right) and Jelks Preserve. And be sure to sample the bites of fried alligator tail at the breezy Snook Haven Restaurant and enjoy the lore of Johnny Weismuller and the killer turtles.
There’s also the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota Classic Car Museum and Sarasota Jungle Gardens–all worthy stops for half-day or rainy-day attractions. DocProc says another fun and cheap attraction is the dog races at the Sarasota Kennel Club, where a certain grumpy mascot claims trying to handicap the “poodles” is no different than lighting a torch to very good money.
Spring training starts Feb. 26 and ends April 2. Go ahead, treat yourself to a great destination site before the Reds more to Arizona in 2010. Merry Christmas!
(Editor’s Note: Another awesome job by blog goddess Amy Ryan, and an immense thank-you to her, Donkey Dizzle Riley, Va.RedsFan Everett and all the emails and commentators who made suggestions and contributions for this long, in-depth series. Rest assured, we’ll never do this again!)
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Reds Gift Guide 2008: 10 Oddball Things
Tenth in a Series
In the process of researching and writing this series, we have come across so many great items that we couldn’t come close to slotting all of them into one of the prior themes. Many times we just ran out of space. Other times we figured to plug the item elsewhere.
Welcome to Elsewhere.
Now, as the holidays fast approach and the series winds down, here are 10 of the more interesting, if not curious, gift ideas still unmentioned. Many of these items can be found at stores around the Cincinnati area. Some will have to be purchased online and probably can’t arrive in time for Christmas.
But you get the idea of the, uh, idea. Perhaps some of these can be remembered for a birthday, anniversary or Father’s or Mother’s days.
Pete Rose Rookie Card
Of all the Reds cards over the past and present, the experts at Professional Sports Authenticators say that Rose’s 1963 Topps #537 rookie is the card all true Reds fans should own. Yes, the price is getting up there ($900 book value) but the casual fan doesn’t need the razor-sharp edges, perfect centering and high color quality that has earned the card up to $20,000 for some of the best graded versions. You just want the card. You can find a perfectly acceptable quality for less than $400 at a local dealer or eBay. PSA also suggests buying the Johnny Bench and Tony Perez rookie cards because they are experiencing a market dip these days, and keep an eye on the 1940 Reds team issue of 35 postcards ($500 and stable); pick up the stadium giveaway Kahn’s Reds cards, which date to 1955; and, of course, the 1919-20 Reds postcards set of 24, now at about $75 each. For more modern interests, the 2008 SP Authentic includes autographed rookie cards of Jay Bruce ($40), Joey Votto ($20), Johnny Cueto ($20) and Paul Janish ($15).
Redlegs M&M Candies
Super idea and really popular among sports fans, get your custom Redlegs M&Ms. You realize they’re trying to kill us with these red M&Ms. In 1976, Red was removed from the bag because of concerns about the red dye. Now he’s back and comes with a really cool Mr. Redlegs logo and one with the traditional wishbone C, along with a white C. You can buy ‘em by the bag ($12.99), 5-pound box ($140), or the cool team dispenser with three 7-ounce bags, which is the best value ($59.99).
Reds Coffee Mugs
Simple, stated and perfect for the quick gift. You can find Reds coffee mugs at many stores around the Cincinnati area. There’s a great selection of styles and some really attractive mugs. Personal fav is the 15-ounce black ceramic model ($20.89 for two, photo). Also very cool is the 2-piece Gameball set ($24.95) with the baseball stitch look. Or, get one of the above mugs with a stainless steel travel mug ($29.95). Can’t go wrong with the old-school crest logo model ($9.95). Need multiple mugs? Check out this liquidation sale for a case!
Mitchell & Ness Products
Big fan of the Mitchell & Ness style and quality, not so much the price. But this is a good time of year for catching sale items and there are some awesome Reds apparel and pennants, including this embroidered fleece jacket ($60), gorgeous white warmup jacket with satin lining ($90, photo right), and long sleeve tee ($36). M&N’s felt pennants ($20) are serious high quality and its throwback jerseys ($200) are just like the players wore. Great stuff.
Reds Leather Travel Bag
Of the hundreds of items we looked through for this series this awesome Carriage House Italian leather Reds travel bag is the one item I wish for. A padded handle and shoulder strap make carrying comfortable and easy, the zippered pockets inside and out make storage a snap, and the embossed Reds logo on the bag and luggage tag add an extra touch of style. I really, really want this bag. Price: $300. Of course, last year I really, really wanted this bag made from glove leather by Rawlings, but Santa left a really nasty note about my yearlong deficiencies and then ate all the @#$&*! cookies.
Redlegs Plush Bears
I dunno. Maybe it’s the season, but of all the plush items out there this homely looking dancing bear (right) struck me as the perfect huggable for a young, future Reds fan. Standing 13 floppy inches, he comes with a voice chip that yells such phrases as “Dusty Must Go!,” “On-Base Percentage Is Not You Grandpa’s Stat!” and “Whaddya Mean There’s No More $1 Hot Dogs?” You know, to get the kid on the right track to Reds fandom. Price: $29.95
On the subject of plush, Reds collectors should not overlook the line of high-end bears made by Cooperstown Bears. These items have amazing value escalation because of their extreme quality and limited numbers. The sold-out 1869 Red Stockings Bear originally priced at $140 in 1998 is now at $350 and rising. Look for a 1956 Reds bear ($190) and a 1951 model ($140), both of which are still available.
Reds Pro-Grip Calculator
You didn’t think I’d forget the stat geeks? It’s the holidays, for crying outloud, and nerds deserve a hearty good cheer, too. Even if they are so stupid as to think OPS is a measure for shortstops. Or every batting order slot requires high OBP. This eight-digit Reds calculator is a nice complement for their number crunching. Comes with team logo and molded side grip so they can literally get a grip the next time someone older, wiser and far grumpier yells, “dope smokers!” Price: $15.97
Reds Mini Fridges
Yep, there’s more than one. Who knew there were mini and mini-me fridges? Made by Boelter, these popular yet gaudy team-style fridges are perfect for game rooms or the home office. The portable mini-me Reds fridge ($249) holds 24 cans and can be plugged into your car’s DC socket. Grab it by the handle slot and go! The more standard mini fridge (right) holds 84 cans and comes with auto defrost and shelves ($399). You probably want to leave this one stationary; it weighs 100 pounds.
Reds Garden Gnome
Okay, something has to work, right? Eight straight losing seasons call for desperate measures and the Reds garden gnome is our salvation. You smirk? One of my friends has a goose ornament he puts in his front yard for the biggest games and dresses him in black-and-gold garb, alas the “Steelers Goose.” Seems to work out just fine. We need a Reds garden gnome. Get yours before the 2009 season. Price: $24.95
MLB Gift Card
Run out of time, run out of ideas? Why wonder and ponder what to buy the baseball fan? Go by the Reds gift shop or online at MLB.com and grab the MLB Gift Card. Available in denominations of $100-$250, the gift card can be used to make online merchandise purchases at reds.com or shop.mlb.com. Unfortunately, that doesn’t include Reds single-game tickets just yet but is expected to be available by the start of the season.
Reds Gift Guide 2008: Gifts for Her
Eighth in a Series
By Amy
Staff Mom and Blog Goddess
Hey everybody, I’m back with another installment of Mr. Redlegs’ holiday gift guide series for Reds fans, “Gifts for Her.” I have to say, this segment was so much fun to research, but it may cost me–big time. It’s amazing how much stuff is out there just for female fans. I want a lot of things from this list.
Jewelry, clothing, accessories–you can find merchandise ranging from funky to understated–for Reds fans of varied tastes. The overall selection of “Gifts for Her” might even be the most appealing day of the entire “12 Days” series!
So pay attention, all of you Santas out there: there’s plenty of great ideas to put something Red under your tree this Christmas!!
Best. Gift. Ever.
For two years now, my husband has treated me to what I do seriously consider one of the best gifts I’ve ever received: Diamond Seats (photo, right), a fireworks night game, and a night at the Hilton Netherland Plaza. Some of you may remember my LotD blog description of last summer’s game–well, here’s the condensed version:
The food is superb, the seats are beyond compare, and you just never know who you might run into waiting for the elevator. As for the hotel, I know the trendy place to be is across the river, but if you like a hotel with a bit more history and character, the Netherland Plaza is the place to be. I could rave on about the art deco style, the woodwork, the small details, but this site does it for me. Trust me, you can’t go wrong giving this to your Reds girl!! Prices: Diamond Seats, $225 per seat; hotel room, $99-$300 per night.
Loaf of Bread, Jug of Wine . . . Oh, Just Hold the Bread
For the wine lover in your life, I suggest the Cincinnati Reds wine glasses. Pair the classic tulip-shaped glasses with a bottle of her favorite wine, delivered in a Reds-logoed red velvet wine bag. Want to go even more Red? Make the wine a Longball Cellars charity vintage featuring Ken Griffey, Jr. (Cabernet Sauvignon), Barry Larkin (Merlot) or Homer Bailey (Chardonnay). Glasses: $32.99; wine bag: $9.95; charity wines: $13.99 per bottle.
Sparkly Stuff
I had no idea there was so much Reds jewelry out there–everything from your gaudier gameday gear like a funky beaded bracelet and Mardi-Gras-style beads with Reds medallion, to your much pricier 14k and sterling items. Really, it’s kind of sad that the only Reds jewelry I own is one small pair of dangle earrings (ahem!). I didn’t realize that Alyssa Milano’s “Touch” line included jewelry–this charm bracelet is a lot of fun. Here are some nice, classic pieces: a wishbone C pendant in various sizes, in both sterling, 10k and 14k gold (photo, right)–these go beyond gameday-only wear; these can be everyday jewelry. Browse fansedge.com for the best selection of sterling and gold pieces, including Mr. R’s personal fave, the wishbone C toe ring. Prices: beaded bracelet, $6.95; beads with medallion, $8; dangle earrings, $6.95; charm bracelet, $15.95; sterling pendant, $38; gold pendant, $92-$176; toe ring, $40-$188.
Redlegs Hat Society
Okay, I have to ask: Why do 95 percent of the ladies’ versions of Reds hats have to be pink? If you like that sort of thing, there’s a lot of it out there, but I prefer the more traditional colors–although I still love my green Reds hat from the St. Patrick’s Day game in Sarasota. Since it is winter, and sadly, it will stay that way for several more months, you might like a warmer knit hat like this cabled version. As far as baseball caps, the classic look is wonderful, but sometimes we like something just a little bit different from everyone else . . . I think this khaki hat with a red wishbone C (photo, above) fills that requirement nicely. It’s a men’s hat, yes, but it’s adjustable. Or how about a visor? This one’s nice and simple, unlike most of the other hats at this website! Prices: Cabled hat, $16.99; khaki hat, $16; visor, $16.99.
Reds Footwear
Show some team spirit from the ground up! You knew this was coming–the (in)famously lucky Reds Crocs, right? And now, also from Crocs, snazzy black Reds flipflops–excellent baseball-season footwear. Going with your running shoes instead? Add some Reds ankle socks. Oh, and if your gal is both Reds fan and golfer, these golf shoes from FootJoy are perfect (I’m guessing the guys might really enjoy these, too). They almost make me want to take up golf. Almost. They’re that cute. Prices: Crocs, $34.99; socks, $7.95; golf shoes, $129.95-$149.95
Reds Reusable Shopping Bags
Reduce, reuse, recycle–get with the program, people! These Reds shopping bags are infinitely cooler than the ones you can buy at the grocery store. Sure, you can fill them up with fresh produce, but I use them for many other purposes–trips to Grandma’s house, taking supplies to Scout meetings, buying all the stuff you see here–perfect mom gear. You know what else they’d be great for? Carrying your gameday supplies–camera, sunscreen, rain gear–you’ll be surprised how much one of these environmentally friendly bags hold. Set of six shopping bags: $23.95
A Fan’s Loyal Friend
Mr. Amy travels–a lot–and with managing the kids, their activities and the house, it’s enough to drive a woman to drink. Sadly, I have a cardinal rule about not drinking when I’m the only adult home, even when the bullpen blows a lead or E5E5 butchers an easy toss to first. But if I were ever to consider breaking my rule, I’d have this attractive 6-ounce Redlegs flask cocked and loaded. Comes with a nice metal logo and can be engraved. Price: $39.95-$42.95.
I Want All of These, Thanks!
There was an unfortunate laundry incident with my favorite Reds t-shirt this fall. And now the only player whose jersey I owned has been traded. I am in serious need of some new Reds garb. Let’s go! Pajamas, definitely: drawstring pants and a tank. Hey, look, there’s a cool hoodie from Alyssa Milano’s line (right) that doesn’t look like you need to be a size 0 to wear! And this crew neck t-shirt (below, right) is my pick to replace the tee from that laundry incident–love the embroidered striped sleeves. Or maybe this Mr. Redlegs ringer tee.
Footballfanatics.com has a vast collection of women’s clothes and they still have that great shipping deal as well–$4.99 for any size order. I’ve not found this particular women’s jersey anywhere else–love it! And they have the best selection of long-sleeved tees–if you live in the frozen tundra of Ohio like I do, you’ll get more wear out of these than the short-sleeved versions.
Another great idea for a Reds fan this time of year? A jacket. Here’s a very nice mid-weight microfiber, microfleece number–looks pretty cozy. Also can’t go wrong with a simple Reds zip-up fleece with half-mock collar. Prices: drawstring pants, $21.99; tank, $21.99; touch hoodie, $44.99; striped-sleeve tee, $34.99; ringer tee, $22; Jersey, $50; long-sleeved thermal tee, $21.95; microfiber jacket, $89.99; fleece jacket, $74.99.
And Finally . . . the Official Scent for Hypnotizing Male Fans
We all know Mr. Redlegs has his weaknesses: a pulled-pork sandwich, fruity beer, a lively war of words with dope-smoking bloggers. Well, Mr. R. has made another confession. To him, there is no better fragrance for women than “Red” from Giorgio. Quoth he: “This classic floral-oriental fragrance has been hypnotizing male suitors and interlopers for almost 20 years.” Its impact on leather-headed mascots? He’s waxing his mustache and firing up the Victrola as we speak. Price: ranges from about $16 for tester spray to $50 for 3-ounce bottle; 4-piece gift packs range from $65 to $100.
Reds Gift Guide 2008: Ornaments and Decorations
Seventh in a Series
It’s that time of year when many people are putting up their Christmas tree and if you are a Reds fan you simply must show the spirit of the season–preferably with egg nog. There is an amazing legacy of Redlegs ornaments and decorations going back to the early 20th century. You might see some of these things at an antiques shop, yard sale, flea market and sometimes eBay. The Reds used to produce an annual ornament but that appears to have stopped around 2000.
Meanwhile, there’s a bevy of licensed product out there. Some of it is very nice, some of it is licensed junk. And some of it is not licensed at all. I found a candlemaker who specialized in very attractive team-themed candles, but no longer offers these items. I believe the MLB Properties police paid her a visit.
As a mascot of sensitivity and awareness, I believe we need an official Cincinnati Reds Holiday Candle. This year’s scent could be “Dope,” for all the hallucinating people who think Ramon Hernandez and Juan Rivera lift you from fifth place to contention. Otherwise, here’s a look at some of the ornaments, decorations and other holiday items for your home:
Reds Stockings (har)
No yuletide fireplace would be complete without a Reds stocking hanging for each member of the family. There’s no shortage of selection as a new style comes out each year. The favorite this year is a set for the kiddies by AWM, a snowman and Santa stocking, each 22 inches long (right). For simple and understated, try this logo stocking from Willowford. For busy and overstated try this one. This Reds Santa door sack is pretty cool, too. And for something fluffy and huggable, like a mascot, check out this 22-inch Reds Santa pillow. Squeeze it real hard and it will cuss the cherished mantra at you: “dope smokers!”
Reds Ballparks Musical Snow Globes
It’s winter, it’s seasonal, so it’s reasonable to include snow globes such as these depictions of Crosley Field, Riverfront Stadium (I’ll never call it Cinergy–never!) and Great American Ball Park. The 6-by-4.5-inch globes sitting on a wood base spin confetti around the stadium. Tap the globe and it plays “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Ask the globe a question, tap quickly three times, the confetti stirs and it makes a Reds prediction like the old Magic 8 Ball game. Nice display piece. Price: on sale for $39.95 each at sportsgifts.com
Santa Himo Cap and Stocking
The myriad of products from Forever Collectibles include a colorblock Santa cap and fireplace stocking. The washable plush cap has the Reds logo and name embroidered. They say it fits all sizes, but looking at my bulbous size 33 3/4 noggin’ I am very skeptical. The cap has embroidered mistletoe and can be found at mlb.com. The matching stocking stands 17 inches tall and can holds lots of stuff, such as diamond seats and bottles of barbecue sauce. This can also be found at mlb.com but prices vary, especially on eBay.
Redlegs Ornaments and Wreaths from Scottish Christmas
A diverse line of holiday ornaments for the house from Scottish Christmas that include very nice glass baseballs with Reds logos, a glass Reds cap decoration, three different Snowflake Friends snowmen, a wintertime Reds nightlight and a 20-inch Redlegs snowman wreath. Prices range from $18-$35 but you can probably do better price-wise by shopping around a little.
Memory Company Figurines and Ornaments
High-quality cold cast resin products have long been a staple of this collectibles company and they offer some very attractive Reds holiday products. I like the three decorative Santa-themed figurines: Santa’s Friend, Santa’s Gift, and Reds Classic Santa. These figures cost about $40 each but shop around and you’ll likely find them for $35 or less. You can also buy these figurines as smaller gift ornaments for your tree. Price: About $16. Ms. R also likes this “Home Sweet Home” tree ornament. So do a lot of people. This can be a little hard to find. Cost: $17-$27
Redlegs Tree Skirt
You edit a 12-part holiday gift guide series and you think you’ve seen just about everything until you stumble across the Redlegs tree skirt. Measuring 48 inches in diameter and featuring the team logo, this idea is empowered by the fact the Reds team colors are red and this is the holiday season. Afterward you can use the skirt for practicing your golf pitches in the house. Price: $44.95 at sportsfanfare.com.
Rose, Morgan, Bench, Griffey Jr. Ornaments
A hard item to pin down but we know these 4-inch plastic ornaments of Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, Pete Rose and Ken Griffey Jr. were produced earlier this decade by the Tree-mendous Co. as part of a series of baseball, football and hockey greats. There’s also a Roberto Clemente, Vince Lombardi and Stanley Cup ornament, but I really dig the Don Maynard piece. Price: $4-$10 on eBay.
Candy Cane Ornament Set
Six plastic candy cane ornaments decorated in Reds colors and logos, measuring 5 inches high. Now, these are fine and dandy, but why can’t they be real candy canes? If they can put a Reds logo on M&Ms, they can make an edible candy cane ornament, eh? Price: $13.99 at overstock.com
And Finally. . . .
No Christmas tree would be complete without an ornament that fully expresses the hunger, passion and priorities of Reds fans and bloggers everywhere. A true symbol of love and devotion.
Reds Gift Guide 2008: Bobbleheads and Figurines
Sixth in a Series
Since 1999, when bobbleheads first become the big marketing gimmick for sporting events, the genre of figurines and statues has taken off to another level, which is pretty amazing because they went completely bonkers in the early 1990s with new and collectible product.
But the idea of figurines has been around since the 1950s. Many of these pieces are rare and expensive and yet many more are “created collectibles”–items purposefully made to be limited in numbers to drive consumer interest and high re-sale value. Of course, the best items were simply made to be bought and enjoyed, like the 1960s paper mâché bobbers, which originally sold in stadiums for $2.95.
Today there’s so much product to choose from that I had to be choosy on what to include here. Any randon Internet or eBay search of “Cincinnati Reds figure” will produce a trove of items; there’s no way to list even all the ones that are interesting. It also gets confusing deciding among the early bobbers–do I buy the rare red-base version, or the white-, gold- or green-base models? Instead, I stuck with two that are highly collectible and/or price friendly.
I also avoided several products that have Reds representation–bobbleheads from Sports, Accessories and Memorabilia (SAM), Salvino figurines, several toy products, and most SGA stadium giveaways. Salvinos can be difficult to find, the stadium giveaways are plentiful and the SAMs, while limited, pricey and a little difficult to find, hold no resemblance to the players whatsoever (above, right). Duh.
(On the subject of vintage bobbleheads, please be aware there are condition requirements and several questions about repairs/restoration that are critical to the price. If you’re buying an older bobber, you are welcome to email me and I’ll give you some tips on what to ask the seller about hairline fractures of the bobble, replaced decals and paint restoration.)
Here are some gift ideas for figures that I believe most Reds fans would enjoy:
1963-’65 Black-Faced Bobber
The rarest of the rare as this series, an offshoot of the more common green-based white-faced bobbers, features the doll as a black athlete. The black-face pieces were made in much smaller quantities (believed to be 5,000) in great part because of the racial climate of the times; no one knew how they would sell. Some, such as the Houston Colt 45s bobber, have sold for as much as $11,000 at auction. The black-face pieces come in two styles–happy face and the more preferred serious face. The Reds dolls routinely sell for $800- $2,000, depending on condition. A great, great piece.
1963-’65 Green-Base Bobber
This gorgeous Mr. Redlegs version sits on a rounded green base made with a better quality and more durable paper mâché than his older siblings. He’s also the most plentiful of the early nodders thus less expensive and more popular. This model is also the last to have the team name painted on the jersey chest; most use a decal thereafter. If there is one bobber to buy for a gift, this is the likely choice–vintage, collectible, attractive, reasonable value. Price: $85-$200, depending on condition. Original box adds about $15 value.
2006 Kroger Big Red Machine Set
Offered at Cincinnati-Dayton Kroger stores as a set of 10 bobbleheads and issued at 10,000 each, this series sold out fast and has decent market demand. There are five boxes containing two bobbers each: Sparky and Bench, Perez and Morgan, Rose and Griffey, Foster and Concepcion, Brennaman and Geronimo. Rose is wearing Reds logos on a product for one of the few times since his banishment. The Reds were persistent with MLB Properties that 100 percent of proceeds were for a charity and Properties finally agreed to this rare exception. Price: around $70 per set; individual box prices vary.
Hartland Classics Johnny Bench
Issued in the 1990s, these plastic figures with a careful attention to pose and facial likeness reintroduced the classic original Hartlands of 1958-’62 that young fans adored. While not as popular or valuable as the first series, a few more modern players were included, Bench among them. Very nice pose, improved and heavier plastic from the originals, good value. Getting the box in mint condition is important. Price: $22.50 at Romito.com
Danbury Mint Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, Ken Griffey Jr. Statues
You will be hard-pressed to find a better quality, likeness and value for a player statue/figure than the Danbury Mint offerings of Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench and Ken Griffey Jr. The terrific poses were crafted from meticulous study of photos and the 8-inch figures sit on a solid wood base and come with a facsimile autograph and inscribed brass title plate. Price: $87 each at Danbury Mint.
Johnny Bench and Pete Rose Gartlan Figures
Founded in 1985, the popular Gartlan line of fine cold cast porcelain figures sitting on a wood base led off with an 8-inch Pete Rose autographed model (right) limited to 4,192 pieces–the number of hits to become the all-time hits king. Price: around $850. Johnny Bench’s 1989 figure in catching gear commemorates his induction to the Hall of Fame. Limited to 1,989 pieces, it costs around $300. An artist’s proof of this figure that also includes the artist’s autograph and limited to 250 pieces costs around $500. Each player has a 5-inch mini model issued to 10,000 pieces that can be found on the Internet for around $25 each. Very nice figures that have seen about a 60 percent value increase on the autographed line over the years.
Marty Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall Bobblehead
Released in 2003, this tribute to Marty and Joe’s 30 years in the broadcast booth was an excellent idea for a stadium giveaway. There were 20,000 issued and you’ll occasionally see one of these signed by Marty and Joe. Buyer beware: the tiny microphones are prone to breaking, so make sure you inspect the item closely before buying. Price: around $15 in the box; $150 autographed.
1950s Gibbs-Conner Mr. Redlegs Figural Bank
Extremely rare with only a few are known to exist, this porcelain bank was part of a line of products by the Gibbs-Conner Co., a small Cleveland-based manufacturer of porcelain products such as ashtrays, toothpick holders, cookie jars, statuettes and coin banks. More Reds pieces exist, notably coin banks that often contained the name of a local bank that served as a giveaway for opening a new account. Sometimes you see these “oddball” items at flea markets, craft fairs and card shows. The figural coin bank and other cool ceramic items are available at Inside the Park Collectibles. Price: $225.
2000 SAM Ken Griffey Jr. Statue
Super rare piece as Sports, Accessories and Memorabilia was going out of business and made only 200 of these figures, of which 100 were signed. Some believe even fewer exist because of a fire that destroyed SAM’s warehouse as the company was folding. Made of high-quality ceramic and standing 18 inches high, this good likeness of Griffey weighs almost 15 pounds. Price: $179 at Bobbers Inc.
Starting Lineup Action Figurines
The plastic toy product created by former Bengals punter Pat McInally had a nice run from 1988-2001. There’s some great pieces–many available at close to retail cost; others way above–of the city’s most popular players, including an awesome figure of Pete Rose in a head-first slide, Paul O’Neill making a leaping catch, and an Eric Davis “rookie.” No Reds player was treated better by SLU than Barry Larkin, whose poses through the years include turning a double play, making a backhand grab, sprawling on a diving catch, swinging a bat and running the bases, among others. Go to eBay and use the keywords “Cincinnati Reds” and SLU or “Cincinnati Reds” Starting Lineup and you’ll find a terrific selection of a fun collectible and display. There’s even a Deion Sanders issue. Price: $5-$100.
Reds Desktop/Shelf Display
This may seem utterly ridiculous, but I like this simple team display from The Memory Company. With a resin logo and heavy metal base that looks like a baseball, this bold yet understated piece is perfect for displaying on a desktop or bookshelf. The Memory Company turns out nice team-oriented products suited for office use, including a Reds piggy bank you might like. Price for Reds Logo Display: $29.95.
“Warman’s Bobbing Head Field Guide”
Want a great stocking stuffer? Check out Lou Criscione’s guide to identification, values and history of the dolls. The 512-page, full-color guide features not only sports but non-sports, celebrity, cartoon, political, advertising and musician bobbers, too. There’s some awesome stuff here, including a Fidel Castro in a toilet, Medicine Man, the Beatles and Mr. Peanut. Most of this guide deals with vintage pieces, especially from the 1960s. Price: $10.39 or less at Amazon.com.
Reds Gift Guide 2008: Autographs
Fifth in a series
Since the 1870s, baseball fans have collected signatures and photos of their favorite players and teams, making autographs as much a part of the game as the Sunday matinee.
But what was long a harmless hobby is now a very large business. Sports memorabilia is a $1 billion industry in great part because the public is so willing to pay big bucks for access to their favorite players, past and present. Many older players make as much money signing autographs as they did playing the game, and for that reason there’s little shortage of signed materials in the marketplace.
That’s why this segment of “The 12 Days of a Redlegs Christmas” deals with autograph items–at least, on a peripheral scale. The obvious is taken for granted: as a Reds fan, you want or already have something signed by your favorite players. The goal here is not to be an all-inclusive price guide or catalog listing, but to point out a few items or themes that might make good holiday gifts.
In some instances the omission of a player or item is done on purpose, like team-signed baseballs, especially for the 1940, 1975-’76 and 1990 world championship teams (photo, above). Every true fan wants one of these balls; the reality is the cost and rarity means you will likely have to buy them through an auction unless you get lucky at a show or through a dealer you trust.
No item is suggested here unless there is a direct source for you to buy right away as a holiday gift. You’ll pay upwards of $40-$80 for most active players to sign a ball or photo–unless you attend RedsFest in December (see item below). But there’s also some autographed items in other parts of this series, including an upcoming installment on cards, where signed “memorabilia” cards are the current rage and often much cheaper options to signed balls, bats, photos and equipment.
Pete Rose Signed Items
The most popular and infamous player in Reds history is not only baseball’s all-time hits leader but one of its most prolific autographers. There are hundreds of Rose-signed items on the market and choosing the right one is a matter of subjective preference–a signed ball, bat, photo, cap or Dowd Report–you name it, you pay it and Pete will sign it. Here’s the proof: “Sorry I Bet on Baseball” signed ball that is, umm, certainly unique. There’s all sorts of themes by which to buy Rose-signed items–his 15 times on Sports illustrated covers is the most of any baseball player–including his 44-game hitting streak, being MVP, a batting champion, three-time World Series winner and, of course, the Hit King. How to make to simple? Nothing says “Pete!” more than a signed bat. A personal favorite remains the signed front page poster of the Cincinnati Enquirer the day after he broke Cobb with hit 4,192. Price: $134.99
“The Great Eight” Signed Photo
There’s not one Reds fan who doesn’t appreciate and respect the Big Red Machine era, so you can’t go wrong giving that special fan a 16-by-20-inch photo signed by the eight players–Bench, Rose, Concepcion, Morgan, Perez, Foster, Geronimo and Griffey–who comprised the “Great Eight” starting lineup. This popular and increasingly valuable image makes a simple statement of historical greatness by lining up the players by position. Price: $455 at Onlinesports.com; $799 at www.ceisports.com.
Also: Look for a new 16-by-20 collage poster of the Great Eight that features the players in-action and with their signatures. Gaudy-looking piece with a gaudy price tag: $699 at Ironcladauthentics.com.
Idea Dept.: As the price of collecting the Great Eight continues to rise, more fans have been seeking ways to buy them cheaper. Buying a single-signed ball of each player can be done for about $400. Finding signed cards of their 1975 and ’76 Topps issues is even cheaper.
The Living Hall of Famers
There are three terrific and (relatively) inexpensive autograph collectibles to commemorate the enshrinement of Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez and Sparky Anderson. The first is a Hall of Fame gold postcard that depicts their actual Cooperstown plaque. These cards have long been popular items for HOFers to autograph. The other great item is the Perez-Steele art postcards that can be autographed or paired with a cut signature. Either way, these are A-plus-plus gifts at a cost usually under $50 each. The plaque and Perez-Steele cards can be found on eBay and most larger shows such as RedsFest. A new item growing in popularity is the official Hall of Fame baseball. The player usually adds his HOF year to his signature. Visit Ironcladauthetics.com for a good selection of Reds-signed HOF balls. Pick up one of the balls and ask announcer Marty Brennaman to sign one, too. Signed balls and photos of the living HOFers range from $80 to $130 each at any number of web-based autograph sites.
The Dead Hall of Famers
Edd Roush, Eppa Rixey and Ernie Lombardi were extremely popular players in their day and they maintain a steady collectibility today. Their signed 3-by-5 index cards, vintage and memorabilia cards, album sheets and photos are fairly common on eBay. But you’ll notice that single-signed balls by these players are extremely tough finds: Roush, $250; Rixey, $3,500; and Lombardi, $1,400. Or, take my cue and put together a nice Perez-Steele card with a cut signature and have matted and framed, like I did here with Edd Roush. Cost: around $60.
Signed Riverfront Stadium Seat Back
One of those overpriced, contrived collectibles that drives me nuts. But there is a certain novelty to this back from a Riverfront Stadium red seat that includes a numbered faceplate and the signatures of Rose, Morgan, Bench and Perez. Needs more autographs, especially at this price: $699 at Fan’s Edge.
For the Love of Vada Pinson
There a growing revisionist interest in former Reds great Vada Pinson, whose statistics make him a borderline Hall of Famer. Pinson died of a stroke in 1995 at age 57 and over the past few seasons there’s been a curious tick in his collectibility. Problem is, there’s not a lot of signed materials and what’s out there is a bit pricey for a non-HOFer. Prices: ball, around $350; photo, $100-200 at Quality Autographs and Memorabilia.
Brandon Phillips Signed Gold Glove Ball
Want something really unique and a piece Phillips will be overjoyed to sign? Pick up a commemorative Rawlings Gold Glove baseball and have Phillips sign and put the year on the sweet spot. Gold Glove balls are not that easy to find–surely a dealer will offer them at RedsFest–and they offer a chance to get a player-signed item unlike the norm. The Gold Glovers generally like to sign these balls because they signify a great accomplishment. Price: Around $20 for the ball at Anacondasports.com.
Redlegs at FanFest
There isn’t a better time or more cost-effective way to get autographs of current and some former players than RedsFest held Dec. 12-13 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown. At $20 for a two-day pass, you can get any item signed free as long as you can bear the lines. This year’s show is perhaps the biggest for autograph seekers with a lineup that includes young stars many fans desire–Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Johnny Cueto, Voltron and Phillips–plus old-timers George Foster, Eric Davis, Jim Maloney, Lee May and Mario Soto, and so many more, including minors stars.
Ted Kluszewski Signed Items
Despite Big Klu being a terrific signer through the mail, the emotion and devotion he evoked from Reds fans is reflected by the small number of his autographs on the market. Fans simply do not resale Big Ku items very often. It’s very difficult to locate his single-signed ball ($500) unless you visit the sports memorabilia auction houses. Instead, look for one of his many signed cards he returned to fans through the mail, which have decent value if they are graded. Price: Around $100. Check out the selection at KHW Hall of Fame Gallery.
Gateway Cachet Envelopes
If you’re looking for something different, easy to find, inexpensive and yet limited, dated full-color silk cachets from the Gateway Stamp Co. have been around since 1977 to commemorate some event in history, politics or sports. You can usually find these items, which have a U.S. Post Office postmark for the date of the event and oftentimes an autograph, for less than $50. The Reds have good representation with cachets of Bench, Morgan and Perez going into the Hall, Tom Seaver’s 3,000th strikeout, Tom Browning’s perfect game (right), Mario Soto making the 1983 All-Star team, Jim Maloney at Crosley Field, Eric Davis hitting the big Game 1 homer in the 1990 World Series, and a handful of Pete Rose issues, including one for being banned from baseball. Check eBay for the best prices.
Johnny Vander Meer Signed Photo
Arm issues and wildness limited his potential but Mr. Double No-Hitter made his name in 1938 on being the only pitcher to throw back-to-back no-hitters. Afterward, the Reds asked him to change his number to 00 but he flatly refused. Vander Meer was very popular on the autograph tour in the 1990s so his autographed items are plentiful and affordable. Most popular: signed photo of him pitching in the second no-hitter. Price: Around $40 for a signed photo, up to $230 for a signed ball with inscription. Try Claremontshows.com
The 5 Most Difficult Reds Autographs to Buy
1.) Bid McPhee
19th century Reds second baseman was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2000, sending high-end collectors swooning. They have found almost nothing, not even cancelled checks. It’s believed his wife handled most all correspondence. Price: $10,000 and up . . . for a cut signature.
2.) Pat Moran
Manager of the 1919 champions died unexpectedly from kidney disease in 1924 at age 48. He left behind little correspondence and few autograph albums (popular at the time) with his auto are known to exist. He’s high on the wish list of high-end baseball collectors. Price: Up to $9,500 for a 3×5 cut.
3.) Harry Wright
The mastermind player and manager behind professional baseball in Cincinnati and one of the game’s early visionaries died at age 61 of pneumonia. His signatures usually come from old score sheets or business letters. Price: Up to $7,500
4.) Willard Hershberger
The signature of the backup catcher who committed suicide late in the 1940 championship season is so rare and desired that his autograph on a team-signed ball or autograph page can add hundreds to the value. A simple cut signature starts at around $350.
5.) Paul Derringer
The great pitcher of the 1940 champions, Derringer was moody and temperamental, and hated signing. He often refused mail requests even 40 years after he retired. Very difficult to find on a single-signed ball. Price: around $300 for a signed photo, about $950 for a single-signed ball.
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