[kailes2872]

I was a big Reds fan growing up. During the 1990 season, I either watched, listened to, or attended every game that year. The Reds started out hot and then hung on for dear life - finishing 90-72. I thought that they would lose to the Pirates in the LCS, but they pulled it out.

In game 1 of the WS, Jose Rijo led the Reds to victory - I think that it was 10 or 11 - 0.

I had just started my freshman year in college. A guy on my floor named Mike Amrein came down to my room and said that he spoke to his uncle and tickets were going for $50 - would i want to go with him? I said sure.

We go to the stadium and soon realized that tickets were 200-250 apiece - quite a sum for college students. The $50 that was quoted was the face value. After about an hour, we realized that tickets were much more expensive than we had planned and we would probably have to go across the river and watch the game on TV. About that time, an older gentleman walked up to me and said - "I have a blue seat". I said, "How Much?" he said, "What it says here" - which was $50. Now, Mike was a new friend, but a friend - and he drove - so I couldn't just buy the ticket and say - see you in three hours! I bought the ticket and then sold it for $200. We then split the profit and bought 2 tickets for $400. - A net of $250 total. These tickets were underneath the scoreboard. We had to actually angle our heads during the entire game to see it.

However, it was awesome. if I recall correctly, Eck came on to pitch the 9th. A little known player named Billy Bates beat out an infield single. Joe Oliver eventually hit a double down the line and the Reds won game two. I still have the stub and the program.

After the game, people were going crazy. They were driving through town waving brooms. people were celebrating in the fountain of downtown Cincinnati. I think it was after 3am that we arrived back home - but we had attended the game.

Beyond all belief, the Reds went on to sweep that series. I look at that lineup in retrospect and am amazed that the sweep didn't go the other way.

As an aside, I was the sports director of my college radio station. The next year, I applied for and received, opening day passes to the Reds game. It was also the ring ceremony.

I was 19, so please have some grace - but

I remember that I was on the field and they were celebrating the championship. Marge Schott gave Schotzie a replica collar of the world series ring. it was probably 100-200k as it was full of diamonds. If you remember from the World Series, Eric Davis made a sliding play in game 4 and lascerated his kidney. Marge would not pay to send him home, so he had to spend 10k of his own money to get home on a medical plane.

When the rain came, they moved us underneath the stadium. I looked to my left and lo and behold, there was Schotzie, the St. Bernard.

For a brief moment, I thought to myself "I bet the team would consider me a hero if I turned around and drop kicked the dog' I would probably be banned from the stadium and would probably go to jail, but the fact that she spent all of that money on a ring/collar for the dog but wouldn't pay to send Eric Davis home would make me a popular guy in the clubhouse.

Alas, I resisted temptation and did not do anything. I love animals and could not bring myself to lash out against an innocent dog - but I was so mad at Marge for what she did.

The funniest part of that day was that they had me in the press room. I was 19 - well below drinking age - yet I was drinking beer off of the tap all day and enjoying opening day and the championship celebration.


Over the years, I moved to Pittsburgh. My love for the Reds waned and the Pirates became the families' team of choice. Yet, everytime they play the Reds I find myself a bit conflicted and never get a lot of joy in a Pirates win.