Re: When/Where Did You Attend Your First Reds Game? How Old Were You?
duane walker was also a rising pheenom
Re: When/Where Did You Attend Your First Reds Game? How Old Were You?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mth123
Correct. Jones was in RF and was going to be the next big thing. Which of course followed the failure from the previous year, Paul Householder, as the next big thing.
Jones hit .301 with 42 HR's and 101 RBI's (slash line of .301/.426/.662/1.088) at Class A Cedar Rapids in 1982, then made the jump to the majors for Opening Day 1983. (Though an injury to presumptive starting RF Cesar Cedeño opened up the spot in the OD lineup.) To 13-year-old Big Klu, he was "The Next Big Thing", as those were some eye-popping minor-league numbers. However, I didn't understand at the time that he was old for the level at which he had been playing -- having been 24 years old at Class A in 1982.
After failing in 16 games at Cincinnati (.227/.379/.295/.675), Jones was sent to Class AAA Indianapolis, where he continued his free-fall (.187/.322/.320/.642 in 31 games). He was then demoted to Class AA Waterbury, where he finished the season. Jones never played above Class AA again, playing two seasons of AA ball in the Cubs organization in 1984 and 1985, and was out of baseball by 1986 at age 28.
During Spring Training 1986, I noticed "Jones" was playing in the OF again, and I thought at first that Jeff Jones had made the climb back up to possibly earning a roster spot. But turned out to be Tracy Jones, who was a much better player than Jeff.
Re: When/Where Did You Attend Your First Reds Game? How Old Were You?
First one I remember was August 1, 1985 against the Astros. There were some before but I was too young to really remember and appreciate. Also growing up in Florida we were always at spring training but this was my first vivid memory of game in Cincinnati. Got Ron Robinson’s autograph on my ticket stub before the game.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/b...98508010.shtml
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Re: When/Where Did You Attend Your First Reds Game? How Old Were You?
Re: When/Where Did You Attend Your First Reds Game? How Old Were You?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Big Klu
Jones hit .301 with 42 HR's and 101 RBI's (slash line of .301/.426/.662/1.088) at Class A Cedar Rapids in 1982, then made the jump to the majors for Opening Day 1983. (Though an injury to presumptive starting RF Cesar Cedeño opened up the spot in the OD lineup.) To 13-year-old Big Klu, he was "The Next Big Thing", as those were some eye-popping minor-league numbers. However, I didn't understand at the time that he was old for the level at which he had been playing -- having been 24 years old at Class A in 1982.
After failing in 16 games at Cincinnati (.227/.379/.295/.675), Jones was sent to Class AAA Indianapolis, where he continued his free-fall (.187/.322/.320/.642 in 31 games). He was then demoted to Class AA Waterbury, where he finished the season. Jones never played above Class AA again, playing two seasons of AA ball in the Cubs organization in 1984 and 1985, and was out of baseball by 1986 at age 28.
During Spring Training 1986, I noticed "Jones" was playing in the OF again, and I thought at first that Jeff Jones had made the climb back up to possibly earning a roster spot. But turned out to be Tracy Jones, who was a much better player than Jeff.
Did you read the Jeff Jones article I posted a couple pages back? Pretty decent little read.
Same as you my 15 year old self thought Jones would be next big thing as well. Those 42 HRs made me think the Reds have something here.
Re: When/Where Did You Attend Your First Reds Game? How Old Were You?
I had always believed that my first game came in 1968 at age 9 at Crosley (hence my handle). However there is now some thought that it may have been 67. I have memories of losing to the Phillies in a shutout, sitting in the first base mezzanine during a night game, and leaving the stadium during a terrific downpour in which the next days paper reports tornadoes in the area. Looking back at old newspapers and such I can only assume that these are multiple memories of more that one game as no one game seems to fit all of these. But since we started going every year after that and staying for multiple days I really am not certain of exact dates any more. Wish I had some physical evidence.
Re: When/Where Did You Attend Your First Reds Game? How Old Were You?
I was fairly young and with my dad and an uncle. My first game was 4,192. My only memories are being up high in the red seats, a lot of cheering, and my dad saying, "Pete got the hit record!" I remember not getting why that was a big deal. When I reflect about it, I don't even think I liked or cared about baseball. About a year or two later I started to passionately follow the sport.
Re: When/Where Did You Attend Your First Reds Game? How Old Were You?
My first Reds game was in August of 1971. I was 8 years old. Reds played the Pirates at Riverfront. We had tickets in the yellow seats. My dad and I think my other two older brothers attended also. Reds won the game 6-3. Johnny Bench, who was my hero then, homered, which thrilled me to no end. Also a young player named George Foster tripled in a couple of runs. Also Jim Merritt got his only win of the season in that game.
Re: When/Where Did You Attend Your First Reds Game? How Old Were You?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cumberlandreds
My first Reds game was in August of 1971. I was 8 years old. Reds played the Pirates at Riverfront. We had tickets in the yellow seats. My dad and I think my other two older brothers attended also. Reds won the game 6-3. Johnny Bench, who was my hero then, homered, which thrilled me to no end. Also a young player named George Foster tripled in a couple of runs. Also Jim Merritt got his only win of the season in that game.
1971. Oh how that was a painful season to live through, yet a most pivotal one that went a long way into creating the real Big Red Machine.
The worst thing that happened, yet also the best, is Bobby Tolan tore his achilles tendon playing on an off-season Reds basketball team. This caused the Reds to lose their speed and also forced them to scramble for a productive outfielder that landed us George Foster. Also,due to the loss of Tolan, it made Bob Howsam realize just how important speed was to this team and along with the unknown status of Tolan's future speed forced him to trade for Joe Morgan after the season was over. And lord, when you look at who he traded, the teams best player in 1971, Lee May, you realize it wasn't luck. Since May had such a great season, it made May look like the best player in the trade which meant the Astros had to include Billingham and Geronimo along with Menke and Armbrister to make the trade look equal.
It also taught me a valuable lesson about young teams that look like they have arrived as the 1970 Reds appeared. Do not assume they will come back equal let alone better the following season. A lesson I kept in mind after the 2010 season ended and other times with other teams with other sports.
Re: When/Where Did You Attend Your First Reds Game? How Old Were You?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Crosley68
I had always believed that my first game came in 1968 at age 9 at Crosley (hence my handle). However there is now some thought that it may have been 67. I have memories of losing to the Phillies in a shutout, sitting in the first base mezzanine during a night game, and leaving the stadium during a terrific downpour in which the next days paper reports tornadoes in the area. Looking back at old newspapers and such I can only assume that these are multiple memories of more that one game as no one game seems to fit all of these. But since we started going every year after that and staying for multiple days I really am not certain of exact dates any more. Wish I had some physical evidence.
What part of WV are you in? If you don't mind me asking. I am in the western part right on the Ohio border.
Re: When/Where Did You Attend Your First Reds Game? How Old Were You?
Griffey's first season with the Reds at Cinergy Field. I was 12 or 13 years old.
Re: When/Where Did You Attend Your First Reds Game? How Old Were You?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
foster15
Confused. Bench retired in 1983.
Edited: Okay, not confused anymore, the link says 1983, but top of your post says 1986.
Sorry about the confusing dates. Born in '59. 24 in '83 when I left Salem to go to the Bay Area. Saw my first REDS game five weeks after I got there.
Re: When/Where Did You Attend Your First Reds Game? How Old Were You?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
foster15
Speaking of double headers, I've been to one conventional, and one unconventional. 1st was in 1969 against Padres, Jack Fisher won first game and Tony Cloninger won 2nd game 12-0 and hit a homer.
The unconventional one was 1979. Cap day at Riverfront. Seaver started against Cards and got hurt I believe because he only pitched 2 or 3 innings and gave up one run. Paul Moskau finished it for a Reds win. Foster crushed a homer in that game. We were parked on other side of Coliseum and as we were leaving, crowds were lining up for a Rod Stewart concert. We said wth and got tickets. Apparently we weren't the only sports/rock crossovers as the concert was a sea of people wearing Reds caps.
I saw Rod Stewart about two weeks before my first REDS' game as I was walking past this limousine parked in front of Concord, California McDonald's doors as I was going in to get some food. I glanced over and looked to see who had the limo as I walked inside, and said to myself, "Hmm. Rod Stewart. Can't go anywhere in California without seeing somebody famous." Then got me a Big Mac and Fries.
Re: When/Where Did You Attend Your First Reds Game? How Old Were You?
10 years old, family trip to Crosley field 1966 vs the SF Giants. We lost 8-4, got to see Willie Mays. But one of the biggest highlights was being in the causeway prior to the game, seeing a crowd of kids coming our way, and in the middle was Pete Rose carrying his bat over his shoulder w/glove drapped on it. We stood there with our mouths wide open in awe as he walked by (lol).
Re: When/Where Did You Attend Your First Reds Game? How Old Were You?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kingspoint
I saw Rod Stewart about two weeks before my first REDS' game as I was walking past this limousine parked in front of Concord, California McDonald's doors as I was going in to get some food. I glanced over and looked to see who had the limo as I walked inside, and said to myself, "Hmm. Rod Stewart. Can't go anywhere in California without seeing somebody famous." Then got me a Big Mac and Fries.
Fast food story. I always used to go to Vegas for amateur pool tournaments. It was late afternoon at Riviera and I was standing in long line a Burger King at food court in casino. I turned around and right behind me was the greatest women's pool player in the world and of all time, probably the Michael Jordan of Woman's professional pool, Allison Fisher. It was then it hit me like a ton of bricks. All these locals that take the game of pool so seriously because they dream of making a wealthy living at it are fools(not me, I'd given up on that dream long ago lol). If the greatest (current and in history) women's pool player of all time has to wait in a line behind me at a burger king, you have less of a chance of becoming a rich, famous pool player than you do becoming the next Nolan Ryan.
