It’s opening day in Cincinnati. and the seats will be empty.
The Reds will entertain the Detroit Tigers in the 2020 season opener at Great American Ballpark on July 24, which is obviously the latest start of the season in big league history.
As a sportswriter for my hometown newspaper The Palladium-Item, it was my great fortune to make the trip to Cincinnati for many games as a reporter, which included several season openers.
One of the things that I was never able to do growing up was attend a Reds opener. My first opportunity came in my final year of college at Ball State University on April 8, 1985.
The Reds won 4-1, which was important, but my most vivid memory is being frozen in the upper deck of right field along with 52,971.
Reds player-manager Pete Rose had a great day as he penciled himself in the lineup in the second spot. He had two hits and knocked in three runs as he began his pursuit of the all-time hit mark set by Ty Cobb. Rose would eventually pass Cobb later in the season on Sept. 11.
Mario Soto started his fourth opener in a row, while the Montreal Expos countered with Steve Rogers. Overall, Soto would start six times on opening day with a 4-1 record.
On this day, it was cold. Did I mention we were frozen in right field?
According to a column by Mike Lopresti, who is one of my journalism mentors, the wind chill factor was 20 degrees.
Lopresti quoted Rose, “I told them (the players) yesterday, if you lose and go 0-for-4, it’s a hell of a lot colder than if you win and get a couple of hits. I don’t think anybody on our team was cold today.”
Did I mention we were frozen in right field?
The contest was scoreless when the snow started coming at us. It was so windy that it seemed to be snowing up inside Riverfront Stadium. From our perch in right field, we couldn’t see home plate. Did I mention … oh, you get the idea it was cold LOL.
The game resumed, but by the fifth there was more snow with a some rain added into the wintry mix.
It was in the fifth that Rose’s two-run double put the Reds on top. Dave Parker‘s RBI single ended the day for Rogers, who was probably thankful he could head to the clubhouse as the Reds led 3-0.
Soto somehow survived the two delays to reach the seventh inning. He gave up a triple to Hubie Brooks to lead off the frame. After Vance Law grounded out, Tim Wallach hit a ground ball that brought home Brooks.
It was another hit by Rose that produced the final tally for the Reds in the bottom of the inning.
Carl Willis worked the last two frames on the mound for Cincinnati as he earned a save as Soto picked up the victory. Soto gave up four hits and struck out five.
It was an exciting experience to be at an opening day and certainly one of the more memorable Reds games that I’ve attended.
One a side note, my car was quite warm on the way back to school.