Redleg Lifestyle
Considering that anyone who leads the “World’s Largest Chicken Dance” at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is never actually good* at the Chicken Dance, we’ll give Little Joe a C+ grade on this one. He started off strong, but trailed off towards the end. Can you blame him? The Chicken Dance is two minutes too long anyways.
*The one exception would likely be “Weird Al” Yankovic.
Hall of Famer Johnny Bench entertains the crowd at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 25, 20010 in Cooperstown, New York. (July 24, 2010 - Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America)
We hope a lot, because this weekend is Johnny Bench overload. Here’s a rundown of stuff going on at the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum and elsewhere around town…
Johnny Bench Night
Saturday, September 17, 5:00pm
Join the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum on an historic night at Great American Ball Park as the Museum celebrates Johnny Bench Night with the unveiling of Johnny’s statue. Commissioned by the Reds Hall of Fame and made possible through the generous donations of a host fans and friends of Johnny, the statue was created by world-renowned sculptor Tom Tsuchiya who also created the statues of Ted Kluszewski, Ernie Lombardi, Joe Nuxhall and Frank Robinson that adorn the Crosley Terrace entrance to the ballpark. [More Information] [Johnny Bench Night - Hour by Hour]
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Johnny Bench Book Signing (Sold out)
Saturday, September 17, 5:00pm
Johnny Bench to Sign Copies of “Catch Every Ball” on Saturday, September 17th!
Johnny Bench will visit the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum on Saturday, September 17 for an exclusive book signing. The signing will take place from 3:00-4:30PM. Ticket packages for the signing are $45 for Hall of Fame members and $50 for non-members.
Packages include admission to the Reds Hall of Fame, the fifth bobblehead in the Johnny Bench bobblehead series, a copy of Johnny’s inspirational book, “Catch Every Ball: How To Handle Life’s Pitches” and a guaranteed spot in the signing line. A limited number of ticket packages are available and pre-orders are strongly encouraged. To purchase a package, please call the Hall of Fame Box Office at 513-765-7923.
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A Golden Photo Opportunity
September 16-18
As part of the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum’s celebration of Johnny Bench, visitors to the museum will have a unique opportunity to have photos taken with a one-of-a-kind display of Johnny Bench’s Gold Gloves. A 10-time Gold Glove winner, nine of the Gold Glove trophies Bench was awarded during his career will be on display in addition to the trophy he received for being named to the Rawlings All-Time Gold Glove team in 2007. Each of the trophies comes from Johnny’s personal collection and this weekend marks the first time that the trophy collection has been made available for public display. The trophies will be on display during the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum’s operating hours Friday, September 16 (10:00 AM – 8:00 PM), Saturday (10:00 AM – one hour after the end of the game) and Sunday (10:00 AM – two hours after the end of the game). [More Information]
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Dave Concepcion and Cesar Geronimo at Sports Gallery
Friday, September 16, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
More of Johnny’s teammates will be bringing their Gold Gloves to town. Dave and Cesar will be dropping ink on your memorabilia in exchange for reasonable amounts of cash. We’ll be headed up there to get our ’72 Topps Cesar Geronimo all done up proper. [More Information]
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Joe Morgan leading the World’s Largest Chicken Dance
Saturday, September 17, 1:30pm
A lot of Johnny’s teammates will be in town this weekend. Little Joe gets his own spotlight on Saturday during Oktoberfest. Be there and be square. [More Information]
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Reds player appearances around town
Saturday, September 17
Jay Bruce, Yonder Alonso and Ryan Hanigan take to the streets of Greater Cincinnati spread the Reds gospel as well as sign your baseball cards and awkwardly pose for photos. [More Information]
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#RedsTweetUp
Saturday, September 17
It’s the last Reds TweetUp of the season. Let’s go out with a bang. See you there? [More Information]
Chicken wing... CLICK!
Know for his “Chicken Flap” batting stance routine, Hall of Famer Joe Morgan will be leading the throngs of herrens und frauens in the Chicken Dance next Saturday at Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati.
Synchronize your Swatches and make sure you’re at Fountain Square at 1:30pm Saturday, September 17 for it then that “Little Joe” will be presiding over what has become know as the “World’s Largest Chicken Dance.” Morgan is following in the footsteps of past Chicken Dance luminaries such as Vince Neil, Homer Simpson, Chad Johnson, Verne Troyer and our hero and spiritual advisor, Weird Al Yankovic.
For a list of past Chicken Dance leaders, check this.
CBS Sportsline’s Gregg Doyel gives some love to his hometown Reds, but couldn’t resist including this gem in his column …
I watched Leake in the Reds’ clubhouse for 20 seconds before the game Wednesday, and in those 20 seconds he slapped the naked ass of Reds executive and Hall of Famer Joe Morgan and playfully goosed a (dressed) teammate with a bat handle.
Wha?
A couple of appearances happin’ this week at the ol’ Reds Hall of Fame & Museum. Check it:
5:30-6:30PM Keith Brown Autograph Signing: 1990 Reds pitcher will be signing autographs from 5:30-6:30PM in the Hall of Fame. Autographs are FREE with Hall of Fame admission. Please limit one autograph per person.
4:30-5:30PM Joe Morgan Meet and Greet: Reds Hall of Famer, Joe Morgan will meet with fans from 4:30-5:30PM in the Hall of Fame. NO autographs, pictures welcome.
5:45-6:45PM Joe Morgan Meet and Greet: Reds Hall of Famer, Joe Morgan will meet with fans from 5:45-6:45PM in the Hall of Fame. NO autographs, pictures welcome.
For more upcoming Reds Hall of Fame & Museum events, click here.
I met Keith Brown at after a Yankees/Pirates spring training game in Tampa back in 2009. He’s a super nice guy. Make sure you swing by the Reds HOF if you’re at the game early tonight and chat him up.
Gotta admit, I’m a little bummed that Joe Morgan isn’t signing autographs, though it’s pretty understandable given the frenzy it would generate. See, I’m working on getting the entire Reds 1972 Topps team set signed… and I still need Joe! My time will come… patience, right?
Major up-tick in Reds-related appearances and general goings-ons this weekend and next. Here are a few we know of:
Chris Dickerson, Ryan Hanigan & Mike Leake Saturday 6/12
Chris, Ryan and Mike will be making an apperance at this year’s CiTiRAMA® in Northside from 12:00 to 1:00.
Dusty Baker, Joe Morgan & Bryan Price Saturday 6/12
Dusty, the Hall of Famer and Bryan will be at an Reds Community Fund field dedication in O’Bryonville at Noon.
Chris Heisey & Nick Masset Saturday 6/12
Chris and Nick will be appearing at the Kenton Co Animal Shelter. Not totally sure, but we think that Heisey will appear from 11am to Noon and Masset will be there from 1 – 2pm. Call ahead to make sure!
Chris Sabo Saturday 6/12 & Saturday 6/19
Spuds will be showing up at a few area Kroger locations with the fine folks at Hudy Delight.
Join Hudy Delight & Hudy 14-K at Select Kroger Locations June 12th and 19th and Meet Cincinnati Baseball Great Chris Sabo!
More information from Hudy:
At each Kroger location, fans will be able to:
• Get Chris Sabo’s autograph
• First 100 fans receive a free pass to Cincinnati Baseball Hall of Fame
• Register two win two free tickets to an upcoming Reds game at each location (winner drawn by Sabo at Autograph Signing)Saturday, June 12th
Kroger location & time:
Blue Ash: 11:30AM-12:30PM
Hyde Park: 1:00PM-2:00PM
Anderson: 2:30PM-3:30PM
Newport: 4:00PM-5:00PMSaturday June 19th
Kroger location & time:
Dent: 11:30AM-1:00PM
Western Hills: 1:30PM-3:00PM
Harrison: 3:30PM-5:00PM
Wire-To-Wire Reds Saturday 6/12
Authors John and Joel will be signing their new book, The Wire-To-Wire Reds, as well as chatting up fans, kissing babies and the like at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum from 4:30-6:30pm.
More information: wiretowirereds.com
Reds Tailgate! Saturday 6/12
A few Reds fans are putting together a tailgate on Saturday, June 12th before the Reds game. Meet the one and only Jamie Ramsey from Better off Red and legions of Reds fans on what is sure to be a grand time. Starting at 1pm in the parking lot directly across the street from Fat Cats Dueling Piano Bar (formerly Gameday Cafe), on East Pete Rose Way.
You never know, OMGreds might make an appearance. Ok, ok… we’ll be there. Hopefully it won’t rain too much!
You’ve got to love getting home from Sam LeCure’s gem in his first Major League win – Friday’s 15-6 spanking of the Astros – and seeing Cincinnati native DJ Hi-Tek (while performing with Talib Kweli) rocking the Reds hat and giving a shoutout to the ‘Nati on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
And earlier this week I’m a little ashamed to admit I saw SCPA grad Sarah Jessica Parker on “The Late Show with David Letterman” talking about Cincinnati and the Reds and eventually how angry she thinks Joe Morgan sounds when he broadcasts. And Dave felt obligated to do an impression of Joe’s batting stance twitch? Did you see it? Here’s the clip …
Joe Morgan, rollin' the Honda Del Sol
Now, settle down folks, we know you’ve had your eye on that Fit for a while now, but you’ll just have to wait. Joe Morgan Honda probably won’t be opening its doors until next summer, at the earliest. So, we have plenty of time to sit around and dream about how fantastically awesome the commercials starring the Hall of Fame second baseman will be. Early word* is the commercials will likely give Bronson Arroyo and Chris Welsh a serious run for their money. Let the showdown begin.
*Totally made up
I really hate bumping down Mr. Brett and his diarrhea water story, but to follow up a previous post, heres a clip from today’s Ellen Show with Bench and Morgan. I’m assuming there’s more to it but have yet to find the next clip yet.
Okay here we go, to see more clips from today’s show check out Ellen’s site.
Looks like our good friend Ellen had a little help recruiting George Clooney to be on her show by tag teaming with a couple of Big Red Machiners. Apparently Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench somehow lured Clooney onto her daytime show. I’m not quite sure what to make of this story but if you would like to read all about it, click the link below.
