Some random baseball talk for a snowy February day.

[Tommyjohn25]

Hey all, it's about 5 o clock here in the Dayton area and I've been cooped up in the house all day due to the weather conditions. I've spent a good time of the day today surfing around Redszone, watching highlights from last year, and even putting in my tape of 2005 Opening Day.

The reason I made this thread is bacause as I was watching all the video of past games, plus watching the video link in the "Reds 2006 Walk Off Wins" thread that Reds44 posted, I realized that for pretty much my whole life, for every big, important Reds win or defeat, I remember EXACTLY where I was at the time it happened.

1990-Winning the World Series: Jumping around at age 11 with my Dad and my brother as Benzinger caught the 3rd out (ahhh the Golden Years). 1995-Reds get swept by the Braves in the playoffs: I was living in North Carolina at this point so me and my above stated brother watched every inning at a sports bar called "Scoreboard" sat in the same seats, and became increasingly distressed after every loss. 1999-Reds lose one-game playoff to the Mets 5-0: I was sitting in my car through almost all of the rain delay that accompanied that game, I ended up pulling over into a parking lot to listen to the end of it as I couldn't concentrate on the road very well. Barry Larkins first Grand slam-I was sick in bed with the flu. Joe Randas walk-off-I was hosting a Opening Day cornhole tournament with my closest of friends. Adam Dunns walk-off granny-I was sitting alone in my recliner jumping around my living room dying for someone to celebrate with....I could go on and on...trust me, but I digress.

I ask you now if this is just me, or is it the majority of you too? Is the game of baseball engrained so deeply into your psyche that you can almost make a life timeline for yourself based only on events in baseball? Like, "oh yeah, I remember that time, that was right around the time the Reds were on a 5 game losing streak in 1990."

Like i said, really no point to this thread other than me being insanely bored from being snowed in, but I think it's somewhat of an interesting question nonetheless.

[RedsManRick]

In 1990 I was 7 and had just moved from Dayton to State College, Pennsylvania. I got to stay up late and watch the WS game including the final out "Benzinger back and calling..." on my parents' 14" crappy tv in their bedroom. I proceeded to jump up and down on their bed for the next 15 minutes. I sort of wish I was older so I could have appreciated it, but it certainly cemented my Reds fan status -- something that would challenged as I've lived in Pirate, Twin, Brewer, and Cubs/Sox territory ever since.

[redsfanfalcon]

Great post, great idea...just like songs help you remember where you were during certain times, so do Reds wins. I also wish I were older to appreciate the 1990 title...I was 14, and of course I watched the end with my dad...I always gave dad a high five when the Reds did something good, and this also required a good bear hug. These are memories that someday I'll look back on and cherish...I also remember 4192. I hope to make many more memories with Dad, and also my son someday who is currently 8 months old. I can't wait to take him to a game and make our own memories.

[Tommyjohn25]

Great post, great idea...just like songs help you remember where you were during certain times, so do Reds wins. I also wish I were older to appreciate the 1990 title...I was 14, and of course I watched the end with my dad...I always gave dad a high five when the Reds did something good, and this also required a good bear hug. These are memories that someday I'll look back on and cherish...I also remember 4192. I hope to make many more memories with Dad, and also my son someday who is currently 8 months old. I can't wait to take him to a game and make our own memories.

That's awesome. To me, looking back on the bonding power baseball has on families is priceless, and why it is the Great American Past Time.

[George Anderson]

I was 22 when the Reds won the fourth game of the 90' WS in Oakland. It was a weekend game so me and 4 buddies drove from Indianapolis all the way down to Cincy to watch the game at a Cincinnati bar and hopefully celebrate on Fountain Square. We watched it at a restaurant on the river right across from the stadium. I dont remember the name of the restaurant, all I remember was they served red beer. The atmosphere on Fountain Square made the trip worthwhile. I remember people standing on street lights,standing on tops of cars and people generally going nuts. There were many chants going on among the crowd and the one that sticks out in my mind was "GO SABO GO SABO".

I watched a similar thing on local TV last week when the Colts won the SB and the fans in Indy celebrated on Monument Circle. This time however with a wife and two young kids and the temperature being below zero, I chose to watch the euphoria from my couch.:)

[HumnHilghtFreel]

I was 2 years old for the 1990 WS, but my mom was always a huge Reds fan and would talk about it to me, so I guess being a Reds fan has been ingrained into me from an early age.

[ThatPitchIsDunn]

Granted, I was a ten year old, so my childlike innocence contributed to it, but Game 2 of the '90 WS is still the best game I've ever been in attendance for. In ANY sport.

Conversely, I can remember being so annoyed with Reggie Sanders in the '95 series against the Braves. I was at a buddy's birthday party, and somehow it seemed every time I'd come in to get a drink, use the phone, whatever, Reggie was finding ways to strike out.

Joker's opening day walkoff made me think too. I was running a speciality camera for the first on-air broadcast out of a particular studio at ESPN. I was sure that game was over, then it just felt like Dunner wanted to give the fans a little somethin. Bang bang and 6-4 Mets went to 7-6 Reds.

[Tommyjohn25]

Granted, I was a ten year old, so my childlike innocence contributed to it, but Game 2 of the '90 WS is still the best game I've ever been in attendance for. In ANY sport.

Conversely, I can remember being so annoyed with Reggie Sanders in the '95 series against the Braves. I was at a buddy's birthday party, and somehow it seemed every time I'd come in to get a drink, use the phone, whatever, Reggie was finding ways to strike out.

Joker's opening day walkoff made me think too. I was running a speciality camera for the first on-air broadcast out of a particular studio at ESPN. I was sure that game was over, then it just felt like Dunner wanted to give the fans a little somethin. Bang bang and 6-4 Mets went to 7-6 Reds.

:laugh: It's not REALLY funny I guess, but I remember feeling the exact same way about ol' Reggie Sanders during that series, it's undoubtedly the first thing I think about when I think 1995 playoffs.

[jmac]

I remember setting in a local Gatti's and watching Sabo hit 2 hrs on a big screen tv. Other things too stand out: playing ball and listening to reds games as a youngster.
Bruce Berenyi walking the first 6 astros in his debut. He was then pulled as all 6 scored.
The famous Seaver vs Richard showdown in the astrodome. Reds score 2 in top of first and stros 1 in bottom of first. Final 2-1

The big reds/ dodgers brawl back when we were bitter rivals.

The reds giving young phenom Valenzuela his first loss as rookie!

Tuning into games when we was terrible just to hear Soto pitch !

And the list goes on and on ......

Ah....reds baseball !

[redsmetz]

My first time I met a Red was when I was in grade school. Gordy Coleman came to a father/son Dad's Club meeting at our parish and I won an autographed ball. I got to walk up on stage, get the ball and shake his hand. This has to have been around 1964 or 1965.

I remember the first time I bought group tickets and going down to Riverfront and being escorted into an office where I met Brooks Lawrence, the former pitcher, and that was fun even for me in my 20's.

I remember throwing a ball in Silverton Park with one of Gus Bell's sons (not Buddy) and being impressed that he had a Gus Bell autograph model baseball glove. How cool was that?

I still get goosebumps thinking that Tom Seaver pitched for the Reds for nearly five years and threw the ball regularly to Johnny Bench and we've had that discussion. I regret not going the night he pitched his no-hitter, but always thinking, if I'd gone, maybe that would have changed something and it wouldn't have happened.

I remember turning on the radio around the 8th inning of Tom Browning's perfect game - wow, that was thrilling!

I remember painting a bedroom for my girlfriends nephew and Ray Knight (or was it Ron Oester) hitting two home runs in an inning. She was just as excited about it, so I married her! It still irks her when folks ask if she was a baseball fan before she knew me - something many of the women here can probably sympathize with!

I remember coming home and asking my wife if she minded if I bought a Johny VanderMeer autograph baseball. She knew who he was and said sure, if she could buy something frivolous too! I still don't remember what she bought.

I remember the first time my wife found out her second cousin pitched in the majors (Tom Henke) and we realized he was a pretty good relief pitcher. I still remember our kids' mortification as we went down early to watch the Cardinals and my wife hollered (bellowed might be the right word, if you ask our kids!) to Henke, "Hey, Tom Henke, we're related". Then it was like old home week and going over the family tree and all. Our oldest daughter, then about ten, dove under a seat when my wife yelled over.

I remember my son and I running into Wily Mo Pena, Albert Pujols and one other Latin player at Kenwood Towne Center when he was about 15 or 16 and liking that he found that exciting still. He said Wily Mo had the biggest hands he'd ever seen.

I remember sitting at my kitchen table with my buddy looking over a mutual friends scrap book from when he played in the Reds minor league system, sipping beers and reading about the guys he played against (Brooks Robinson hit two homers off of him in Williamsport, PA - "I don't remember that." he told us).

I loved the story the guy who owned the office supply store across from my office told me about playing in Spring Training in the minors with Johny Vander Meer as his manager. He threw the ball away on an attempted double play because the runner stayed up and he tried to throw it over his head. Vandy chewed him up one side and down the other and said if he ever did anything like that again, he'd ship him home. He told him to throw it right through the guy and he'll get down. In the nightcap of the doubleheader, here comes another runner doing the same thing, Ken threw it straight at first base, the runner didn't get down, the ball shot off the middle of his forehead and shot straight in the air!

I remember getting goosebumps as I walked into the Baseball Hall of Fame. I hope I can go back some day.

My dream vacation someday will be to just take off and go see ballgames - major league, minor league, little league; just go from town to town watching games.

Okay, way too many random thoughts.

[HumnHilghtFreel]

I still get goosebumps thinking that Tom Seaver pitched for the Reds for nearly five years and threw the ball regularly to Johnny Bench and we've had that discussion. I regret not going the night he pitched his no-hitter, but always thinking, if I'd gone, maybe that would have changed something and it wouldn't have happened.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks this way.

Is it vain to think that my attention to a competition I'm nowhere near may effect its outcome? lol I always find myself noticing that if another team is having a big rally and I change the channel it will end. Maybe I should stop watching altogether?:)

[westofyou]

I lived in Oakland in 1990, with an A's fan. I had just graduated from college in June and was pretty broke in the fall, so I didn't attempt to go to any of the games due to cost, I'd have to watch them with all those damn A's fans.

That was a sweet series and it was even better seeing it destroy the cocky A's fans that surrounded me all the time.

[Reds Freak]

I was 13 years old at the time of the 99 playoff game. I remember not paying a bit of attention in school that day because I could not sit still I was so excited. I was only 9 in 95 and only 4 in 90 so this was my first real appreciation of Reds playoff baseball. I came home from school that day and my dad called and we talked about the game for a few minutes and then at the end of the conversation he said make sure you're ready by the time I get home. I couldn't believe he got tickets because I think they sold out in about 30 minutes. The rest of the day I sat there waiting for my dad and listening to sports talk. I remember being so frustrated at the game especially after the 3rd drunken fan ran out on the field. I stared out the window of the car the whole ride home. But that was still the best atmosphere at a Reds game that I have been to.

Hey TJ, not to nitpick, but I don't remember there being a rain delay in that game. I know it was crappy all day but I don't recall the game being delayed. Maybe I'm wrong..

[durl]

I'm not the type that remembers a specific things that happened in a game 20 years ago. Still, I believe baseball is part of who we are as Americans. Like the line in Field of Dreams, "baseball has marked the times."

I was 10 when the Reds with the WS in 1975. It sure was special growing up, playing little league during the time of the Big Red Machine. Back in that day, I could hear every Reds game on the radio even though I was at the southern end of Kentucky. (Our local station was an affiliate.) Growing up hearing Marty and Joe call those games is something I'll never forget.

[remdog]

The morning of the first game of the '90 WS I commented to a buddy that the A's were tough and this series could be over in four games. Benzinger caught the last out as I packed to go to France on business.

HEY! I was half right! :laugh:

Rem

[redsmetz]

The morning of the first game of the '90 WS I commented to a buddy that the A's were tough and this series could be over in four games. Benzinger caught the last out as I packed to go to France on business.

HEY! I was half right! :laugh:

Rem

You were completely right. They were tough, we beat a good team! We were a phenomenal team.

[reds1869]

I will never forget Dunn's walk off against the Tribe. I was sitting in the left field bleachers in the second row with my father. I remember thinking it strange that hardly anyone around us left early despite the huge deficit; it was as if we all knew something special was going to happen.

I have memories seared in my mind for other sports moments, baseball and non-baseball alike. I particularly remember the details of a Columbus Clippers vs. Louiville Bats game where I watched the son of a former coworker close out the game for Louisville while sitting with her; we hadn't seen each other for three years before that.

[RichRed]

You were completely right. They were tough, we beat a good team! We were a phenomenal team.

But according to Dave Stewart, et al, the better team didn't win. Their sour grapes made the taste that much sweeter for us Reds fans.

[realistic]

91 world series was my senior year of high school...i remember watching at a friends house having what we called a 'party' . i also met my girlfriend of the next 4 years that very night. we were all listening to vanilla ice and mc hammer!

95 playoffs final loss i remember sitting at the bar at a place in murfreesboro called 'the trademans tavern'. was in college at the time. was there with my roommates ex-girlfriend. interesting night.

99 mets game was no fun, watched it at my house while halfway playing a mmorpg online.

thanks, now im depressed :)

[shredda2000]

For the 1990 series game 4, I was 23 years old and at a 25th Wedding Anniversary party for my Mom and Dad. I remember catching the end of the game on the radio and telling my brothers, "the REDS just swept the A's...do you believe it!?!"

[dfs]

October 11, 1972.

What would now be called the league championship series and was then called the playoffs. Best of 5 games all tied up at 2-2. The reds are losing by a run going into the bottom of the 9th. We had all tasted despair in 1970 with Brooks Robinson picking everything his way and we wanted no part of it again, but ...well they only had three outs.

Dave Guisti comes in to close it out for the Pirates and the first batter of the inning is Bench. Bench takes him deep. We exploded. The red's go on to win when George Foster scores on a wild pitch with two outs.

Of course we ended up tasting despair anyway when those damned long-haired A's beat the reds, but...that moment made me a fan for life. I don't always like the home team and I don't always have much respect for the owners, but I'll always be a fan of the game.

[George Anderson]

October 11, 1972.

What would now be called the league championship series and was then called the playoffs. Best of 5 games all tied up at 2-2. The reds are losing by a run going into the bottom of the 9th. We had all tasted despair in 1970 with Brooks Robinson picking everything his way and we wanted no part of it again, but ...well they only had three outs.

Dave Guisti comes in to close it out for the Pirates and the first batter of the inning is Bench. Bench takes him deep. We exploded. The red's go on to win when George Foster scores on a wild pitch with two outs.

Of course we ended up tasting despair anyway when those damned long-haired A's beat the reds, but...that moment made me a fan for life. I don't always like the home team and I don't always have much respect for the owners, but I'll always be a fan of the game.

I dont know why but Al Michaels's call of Bench's home run still send shivers up my spine. There have been better Reds moments than Bench's home run but Michaels call has to be my all time fav.

[dfs]

I dont know why but Al Michaels's call of Bench's home run still send shivers up my spine. There have been better Reds moments than Bench's home run but Michaels call has to be my all time fav.
Yeah. I don't know about that new Brennaman fellow they brought in.
I miss Al ;) Nobody could take his place.