Big Red Machine Collectors

[diamondicons]

WOW! Awesome Borbon jersey.

[gorilla777]

Thanks Mike, Dave...
And Jeff, emailed you back earlier this week.

Ben

[Juan Gris]

On September 22, 2002, I was at the final game played at Riverfront Stadium/Cinergy Field. All season long I had my eye on the "Countdown to Great American Ballpark" sign affixed to the yellow section on the 1st base line. They were using giant red numbers on a white background to display how many games were left until the final game at Cinergy. Part way through the final game they removed the "1" and replaced it with a "0" to signify the end had arrived.

You can see this "0" watching over the final pitch in the below picture on the left side. Shortly after that pitch, I made my way down to the yellow seats, reached over the railing and carefully pulled the "0" up and out. I safely made it out of the stadium, put the sign in my trunk and walked over to the players' parking area. The Reds had a big ceremony going on inside the stadium after the game and the garage was nearly empty. The first Reds player that drove out stopped and talked to me and a friend for a solid 15 minutes. He was polite, generous and funny - it was this very interaction that made me the die hard Adam Dunn fan I am today.

Here's a picture of the "0" sign today next to where it hung back in 2002. If anyone has additional game pictures of the Countdown signage during the 2002 season I'd love to read about it here or via email!

[skyking26]

I wish Dunn had hung on another season or 2. 500 is an exclusive club. Aside from making a living, players aspire to win-it-all and or achieve personal feats. Dunn didn't get the ring so 500 would be something only a few have done. I have to admit surprise and disappointment when he walked away.

[sox83cubs84]

1975 Pete Rose bat

Ben:

Your bat acquisitions never cease to amaze me. That's another great pickup.

Dave Miedema

[gorilla777]

Ben:

Your bat acquisitions never cease to amaze me. That's another great pickup.

Dave Miedema

Hi Dave, thank you!

[sox83cubs84]

1976 Tony Perez Bicentennial bat - with Reds 580 Gift Shop provenance

And the hits keep on comin'! That's another winner, Ben.

Dave M.

[gorilla777]

And the hits keep on comin'! That's another winner, Ben.

Dave M.

Dave, thanks again

Ben

[sox83cubs84]

'76 Joe Morgan Bicentennial bat:

2nd straight MVP Season and back-to-back World Series Champs season..

Ben

Two more great bats...how do you DO it, Ben?

Dave M.

[seanbaseball]

Very Cool Bench Glove!!!!!