|
|
Post by doc on Sept 26, 2019 14:05:24 GMT
Opening day for Major League baseball. Back then, the Cincinnati Reds were always the first team to play every year (thank you ESPN for destroying another sports tradition - now the season opens in frickin' Japan, but I digress). The Reds were playing the Atlanta Braves that day and Hank Aaron was sitting on 713 home runs to begin the season. Early in the game Aaron smashed a Jack Billingham fastball over the left field wall and the immortal Babe had been tied. Controversy soon set in as the Braves wanted Aaron to break the record in Atlanta so they hinted that Hank might sit out the following games until they played at home on April 9. I think the commissioner strongly suggested that he not sit out, and I don't think he did, but Aaron did break the record on April 9, in Atlanta off Al Downing of the Dodgers.
Back to the game on April 4, the Reds won the game in extra innings as Pete Rose raced all the way from second base on a wild pitch. And it was following that mad dash for home that we first heard the phrase, 'And this one belongs to the Reds!' Marty Brennaman was calling his firsr game as the Reds play-by-play announcer and that phrase became synonymous with him - every Reds win since that day would culminate with, 'and this one belongs to the Reds!'
45 seasons later, Marty is hanging it up. Today is the last game he will call for our Reds - he's called 3 World Series championships, the only perfect game in Reds history and got to see Hall of Famers like Bench, Perez, Morgan, Larkin and Sparky Anderson. He's in the Hall of Fame himself - it's been an amazing run. And every year since '74 I've spent countless hours in my car or sitting by the radio listening to Marty call Reds games. I was 15 when he called his first game in Cincinnati, next month I'll be 61; what a run.
So today I'm heading down to the ballpark to see the final game of Marty's career. The last time he got to say, 'and this one belongs to the Reds!' was last Saturday against the Mets. i sure hope the Reds give him the opportunity to say it one more time - it would be really cool to be there for that final win. Thanks for the memories, Marty - you will truly be missed!
|
|
sc69er
Junior Member
Posts: 69 
|
Post by sc69er on Sept 26, 2019 19:00:53 GMT
Downing threw Hank a Cupcake for the record.
|
|
|
|
Post by doc on Sept 26, 2019 20:29:21 GMT
Just returned from the game - Reds lose 5-3 so there will be no 'and this one belongs to the Reds!' They showed a lot of highlights from Marty's career and many of his great calls. While he was the Reds announcer, 7 players made the HOF - Bench, Morgan, Perez, Larkin, Seaver, Griffey Jr. and Lee Smith although he put in most of his great years elsewhere. I believe two others, Rose and Concepcion should be in the Hall but that's for another debate.
Mart called Roses 4192nd hit to break Ty Cobb's record, Griffey's 500th and 600th homeruns, Tom Seaver's only no-hitter and Tom Browning's perfect game. And today, with a strikeout by Alex Blandino - it's all over. The last home run he called was by Reds rookie Aristides Aquino, a towering shot in the first inning. It's been a great ride, Marty - thanks for the memories.
I wish I had a recording of my all time favorite call - the night San Diego let Roseanne Barr sing the National Anthem -immediately following one of the most embarrassing performances of our anthem by anyone at anytime Marty said the following....
'Well, I gotta tell ya. The San Diego Padres should be severely reprimanded and that woman should go straight to jail for allowing that kind of crap to happen an a baseball field. Absolutely embarrassing.' and that was Marty - he said it like he saw it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hero on Sept 26, 2019 22:37:49 GMT
I grew up a Braves Fan and was there when Hank hit his 500th.
|
|
|
|
Post by bluehen on Sept 27, 2019 10:25:05 GMT
Proud that Marty Brennaman is a Virginia boy and a grad of our Randolph-Macon College
|
|
|
|
Post by doc on Sept 27, 2019 20:23:35 GMT
Proud that Marty Brennaman is a Virginia boy and a grad of our Randolph-Macon College I hope he’s philanthropic toward his alma mater! He’s very imvolved in the Cincinnati community. |
|
|
|
Post by ajbuckeye on Sept 30, 2019 15:16:18 GMT
April 4 1974??? I remember that day well as I think that is when the F5 tornado took out Xenia OH. I had no idea that Marty started with the Reds then. Without a doubt I will consider him the GOAT when it comes to broadcasting. He used to do other sports on the off season. I think I recall him doing some SEC football games and I am pretty sure he called the game when Laetner hits the last second shot in the NCAA tourney. Me and my buddies were driving back from spring break then and that was the time where radio was all you had but he made you feel like you were actually watching the game.
|
|
|
|
Post by doc on Sept 30, 2019 15:52:06 GMT
Good memory but I think the tornado was April 3, 1974. Interesting that the opening day was on a Thursday, too. I recall it typically being on a Monday but maybe I'm wrong. i do remember watching the game at Mike McCoys house as he lived close to our school so we went there when school was out - I was in the 10th grade at the time.
|
|
|
|
Post by ajbuckeye on Sept 30, 2019 16:33:01 GMT
Good memory but I think the tornado was April 3, 1974. Interesting that the opening day was on a Thursday, too. I recall it typically being on a Monday but maybe I'm wrong. i do remember watching the game at Mike McCoys house as he lived close to our school so we went there when school was out - I was in the 10th grade at the time. I was almost 10 at the time. I remember sitting at the table eating Taco Bell the day of the tornado. Back then you just listened to the radio hoping nothing was coming your way. Back in those day if you got to watch a Reds game on TV it was a real treat so you had to listen to the radio. My brothers and I would actually get our baseball score books out and track the games from time to time. I an not sure when Nuxhall started but you had to love "this is the old left hander rounding third and heading for home" at the end of the broadcast. It is up there with 'this one belongs to the Reds" |
|
|
|
Post by Bevo on Oct 4, 2019 17:31:27 GMT
Funny how comforting it was to hear a familiar voice on the radio. For me, in Baseball, it was Milo Hamilton. He was the VOICE of the Astros forever.
For football, it was Ron Franklin. He was the local Houston sports anchor, but also called all the Texas games. He went on to have a great career calling college game around the country. But, to me... he was THE Longhorn radio guy.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hero on Oct 5, 2019 0:01:36 GMT
Funny how comforting it was to hear a familiar voice on the radio. For me, in Baseball, it was Milo Hamilton. He was the VOICE of the Astros forever. For football, it was Ron Franklin. He was the local Houston sports anchor, but also called all the Texas games. He went on to have a great career calling college game around the country. But, to me... he was THE Longhorn radio guy. Milo Hamilton is one of the voices of my life. I listened in my youth to Milo with the Braves and as an adult with the Astros. |
|
|
|
Post by Bevo on Oct 5, 2019 2:12:26 GMT
Mili called Hammering Hank’s 715th homer.
|
|
