1990

1990


I know now I took it for granted,
but I was only age thirteen.
I assumed it was the modern version
of the BIG RED MACHINE.
Such a pleasurable summer at the RIVERFRONT,
not hardly a single blemish.
It was known as wire-to-wire,
The Reds would lead from start to finish.
When a problem did appear -
and that was only now and then -
SWEET LOU took care of it quick,
with a point down toward the pen.
This version was plain NASTY,
from the seventh inning on.
With NORM, ROB, and RANDY on the hill,
the fear of losing was gone.
The CAPTAIN lived up the middle -
a true leader even then.
A big time clutch performer -
he just knew how to win.
A five-tool shortstop?
Baseball had only known a few.
BARRY’s silver bat and glove of gold
did all the talking it needed to do.
The GOGGLES watched the hot corner.
He was such a fan’s delight.
He played the game in a “ROSE-like” fashion,
with great desire, grit, and fight.
Forty-four played in center.
He was known as ERIC THE RED.
His talent in all aspects of the game
left many shaking their head.
We took out the Pittsburgh Pirates,
after being the best of all the WEST.
Now we had the pennant -
Champs of the NLCS
Then came the big, bad A’s,
who planned to BASH this and that,
but the broom went sweeeeep
and LA RUSSA’s bubble went flat.
The Reds had done the unthinkable,
with a JOSE of their own.
The champions of the world -
Where now they stood alone.
I remember the call like it was yesterday,
I remember what MARTY said.
As BENZINGER squeezed it in foul ground
“And this one belongs to the Reds!”
A dream season to remember -
and remember I always will -
I can’t wait for the Reds to return to October,
but today I am waiting still.
It must be about that time –
the tradition of opening day.
A time in which first-place
is just a win away.
Perhaps this will be the year,
that ultimately ends the drought.
I know in the mind of this die-hard Reds’ fan
there is but little doubt.

They were not even close to the Big Red Machine.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by captain11

1990


I know now I took it for granted,
but I was only age thirteen.
I assumed it was the modern version
of the BIG RED MACHINE.
Such a pleasurable summer at the RIVERFRONT,
not hardly a single blemish.
It was known as wire-to-wire,
The Reds would lead from start to finish.
When a problem did appear -
and that was only now and then -
SWEET LOU took care of it quick,
with a point down toward the pen.
This version was plain NASTY,
from the seventh inning on.
With NORM, ROB, and RANDY on the hill,
the fear of losing was gone.
The CAPTAIN lived up the middle -
a true leader even then.
A big time clutch performer -
he just knew how to win.
A five-tool shortstop?
Baseball had only known a few.
BARRY’s silver bat and glove of gold
did all the talking it needed to do.
The GOGGLES watched the hot corner.
He was such a fan’s delight.
He played the game in a “ROSE-like” fashion,
with great desire, grit, and fight.
Forty-four played in center.
He was known as ERIC THE RED.
His talent in all aspects of the game
left many shaking their head.
We took out the Pittsburgh Pirates,
after being the best of all the WEST.
Now we had the pennant -
Champs of the NLCS
Then came the big, bad A’s,
who planned to BASH this and that,
but the broom went sweeeeep
and LA RUSSA’s bubble went flat.
The Reds had done the unthinkable,
with a JOSE of their own.
The champions of the world -
Where now they stood alone.
I remember the call like it was yesterday,
I remember what MARTY said.
As BENZINGER squeezed it in foul ground
“And this one belongs to the Reds!”
A dream season to remember -
and remember I always will -
I can’t wait for the Reds to return to October,
but today I am waiting still.
It must be about that time –
the tradition of opening day.
A time in which first-place
is just a win away.
Perhaps this will be the year,
that ultimately ends the drought.
I know in the mind of this die-hard Reds’ fan
there is but little doubt.

---

Nice work! :thumbup:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by alex trevino

They were not even close to the Big Red Machine.

---

Wow, you couldnt say nice job, or great poem. You had to come out with a negative out the gate huh..


I thought it was great, I my self was 15 and remember it like it was yesterday. 1990, what a wonderful year!!

What a magical time October 1990 was. The NL playoffs against Pittsburgh was simply magnificent and then to top off the year by sweeping Oakland to become the World Champions was the ultimate.

Thanks for sharing your prose.

Fantatstic work Captain!! :clap:

Great job Captain!

ah, the innocence of youth. :clap: to the Cap'n

I was 17 - and I had a car, a girlfriend, a good job, and I was having fun as a senior in high school.

Boy that seems like eons ago.....:bang:

The 1990 Reds will always hold a special place in my heart. I was 22 and straight out of college. That season, I was able to attend about 7-8 games and the Reds won every game except for one. The game they lost was a Saturday game of the week versus the Pirates. Homers by both Bonds and Bonilla did in the Reds that day.

What they did to the Pirates in the NLCS more than made up for that loss. I believe that series made the one with Oakland boring by comparison. Every game came down to a timely hit, a cutoff throw, or a great catch in the outfield. O'Neill and Braggs ruled right field and nailed anybody who dared try to run on them.

Jose Rijo was the best pitcher in baseball that October. I knew that Oakland would crumble when he took the mound. I was a little bit upset by the sweep because I wanted Jose to shut the A's down a third time. It would have also been nice to clinch at home...good times, indeed!

Great work Captain, I loved it!!! I was 11 during that time, and remember it pretty much like you. Well done! :clap:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by alex trevino

They were not even close to the Big Red Machine.

---

Um, Alex...I hate to say it...but for those of us who are, well, I have to assume younger than you, the 1990 Reds are the closest thing we've ever seen to the Big Red Machine. Geez. Don't hate...Appreciate.

NIIICE! i was about 1 when they won it, so i cant say anything really about remembering it like it was yesterday, but i have watched the highlights on ESPN Classic before! LOL

Good job. Wire to wire, 1990 was a great year.

I like the poem, but it is all the more reason we need the season to start so we can start analyzing games!

Thanks for sharing this :)