Focus on your hometown teams Cincinnati Reds
By Jay Morrison
Staff Writer
HAMILTON — The Cincinnati Reds caravan made its first stop Thursday evening in what team CEO Bob Castellini referred to as the capital of Reds country.
“It’s a privilege to be in Hamilton,” Castellini told the crowd of more than 300 at Parrish Auditorium on the campus of Miami University Hamilton.
“It’s probably, per capita, the highest percentage of Reds fans of any city that is part of the Reds network,” Castellini continued. “And of course it’s the home of Joe Nuxhall.”
Castellini, who was making his only appearance on any of the three legs of the caravan, joined former Reds great and Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, manager Dusty Baker, rising star Todd Frazier, Minor League Player of the Year Billy Hamilton, announcers Jim Kelch and Jeff Brantley and vice president of baseball operations Dick Williams and mascot Rosie Red on the Parrish Auditorium stage.
There was a 40-minute question-and-answer session that featured the standard “How are you going to do this year” and “Should Pete Rose be in the Hall of Fame” queries, along with some cute ones from some younger fans in attendance, such as the boy who asked Baker what he does when he runs out of toothpicks.
There also was some breaking news as Kelch announced Aug. 18 will be Barry Larkin cap night in honor of his election to the Hall of Fame, and Castellini said Larkin’s number will be retired. The team is still trying to work out a fall date to honor Larkin at Great American Ball Park.
The team also announced that $2 from every ticket sold for City of Hamilton Night — Friday Aug. 17 against the Chicago Cubs — will be donated to the Joe Nuxhall Character Education Fund.
Following the Q&A, fans lined up to meet the panel and have the members sign various pieces of memorabilia.
Dayton resident Nick Maloney brought a blue seat from Cinergy Field and had it signed with a silver Sharpie, while 6-year-old Hamilton resident Keithen Castator opted for the more traditional autographs under the bill of his hat.
“He’s like a lot of kids in Hamilton, a huge baseball fan,” Keithen’s father Steve said. “I thought what Mr. Castellini said was dead on, that there are so many Reds fans in this city. It’s great to see the Reds buying into that and out in the community supporting it.
“These types of things for young kids, the memories are just priceless.”
Hamilton resident Matt Brosius came with his wife Debbie and sons Tommy, 8, and Nick, 6.
“We came last year for the first time and we loved it, so here we are again,” Matt said, adding that the family photo they took with Brandon Phillips at last year’s caravan made it on to the Christmas cards they sent out last month.
The caravan will continue to 14 more stops in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia, with the next closest one being in Dayton at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on Sunday.