C incinnati in summer is sort of a strange beast. Daylight savings or no, the summer sun comes up late and sets late, as late as 8:30 or 9:00 pm.

That said, it was still only warmish out when the 1:15 start approached, so I decided to walk across the bridge to the game. This took much less time than I had anticipated, so I arrived at the ballpark about 45 minutes before gametime.

Preceding the game, Tom Browning, Tom Seaver, and Lee May were to be inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame. They sat in folding chairs arranged around a podium on the dugout side of the first base line.

There were a couple of other names in attendance as well. Names that one would recognize even were one not a fan of the Reds-- hell, even if one were not a fan of baseball.

Names like Tony Perez. Dave Concepcion. Ken Griffey Senior. George Foster. Jack Billingham. Clay Carroll. Tommy Helms.

And Johnny Bench, my childhood hero, sat there as well.

Famed Reds announcer Marty Brennaman, himself already a member of the Hall, was aware of the building heat and paced the ceremony quickly.

A short highlight video was shown for each inductee, who then added a brief acknowledgment speech. 		  T hen, to close the ceremony, each inductee threw out a ceremonial first pitch to Reds catcher Jason LaRue (coincidentally the team's most veteran player). Tom Seaver went last; however, he called time before the pitch (to great audience laughter and approval) and held a "conference" with LaRue on the mound.

A substitution was to be made.

LaRue happily trotted off and escorted Johnny Bench onto the field. This drew an instantaneous and extended standing ovation from the crowd.

Seaver motioned Bench out from behind the plate and closer to the mound, then grabbed his shoulder in mock pain after arcing in a nice pitch.

Most of the great players there looked their age. Bench looked like he could've suited up and played in a pinch.

This was, Gentle Reader, a very moving and emotional display of Reds history. Watching the core of the Big Red Machine chatting with current Reds players; seeing Griffeys Junior and Senior conversing on the field; knowing that Joe Nuxhall was up in the booth with tears in his eyes. It was wonderful and special and I'm glad I arrived in time to see it.



 
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