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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2009 > April > 02 > Entry
Nothing like ‘Opening Day’ in Cincinnati
LONGING FOR THE GOOD OL’ DAYS
WITH RUTH LYONS & PAUL DIXON
Pardon me if I get a little sentimental about Reds’ Opening Day, but it means the world to me — like it does for everyone who calls Cincinnati home.
I grew up in Price Hill, an area famous for its ball diamonds, chili parlors, Catholic churches and watering holes.
Boldface, Dempsey, Oskamp, Rapid Run and Mount Echo parks were my playgrounds on the west side (the best side), and the fields were decorated with kids, on “Knothole” teams, who dreamed of playing for the Reds.
I literally begged my pop, a proud Cincinnati Firefighter, to take me to Crosley Field, and he did just often enough to satisfy his No. 2 son’s insatiable appetite for sports.
The most historic game we witnessed was Aug. 12, 1966, when Art Shamsky hit three consecutive home runs — two in extra innings — in a loss to Roberto Clemente and the Pirates. Two days later, Shamsky went yard again. Four homers in four trips. His bat is on display in Cooperstown.
How many of you watched the Ruth Lyons 50-50 Club with your grandmas? Remember Ruby Wright, Marian Spelman, Bonnie Lou, Peter Grant and Bob Braun, with Cliff Lash and the 50-50 Club Band? Ahh, the memories.
As we prepare for the 90th Findlay Market Opening Day Parade on Monday April 6 — with Frank Robinson as Grand Marshall — and the game itself, let’s be proud of our roots. Major League Baseball’s oldest team has the finest tradition.
For more on Crosley Field, go to:
For more on Ruth Lyons, go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RuthLyons(broadcaster)
The legend of WLWT (Paul Dixon, Ruth Lyons, Nick Clooney and the Midwestern Hayride):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRcPYmM-RPM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJK1WhuHUh0
Contact Chick Ludwig at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Radio/TV
Comments
By Ruth Fan
April 2, 2009 8:25 PM | Link to this
Speaking of Ruth Lyons, the fabulous people at Orange Frazer Press have a new book out… RUTH LYONS: The Woman Who Created Talk TV General Information: She was an up-front, real woman who rose from humble beginnings. Her daily live television show drew millions of viewers. Her mere mention of a product could turn it into a household name. This may sound like Oprah Winfrey, but it’s a description of Ruth Lyons, a pioneering broadcaster whose audience in 1960 equaled that of Winfrey’s today. With a mix of sentimentality and caustic commentary she ad-libbed her way through commercials and interviews with Hollywood stars. She ruled a broadcast empire and a famous charity all the while maintaining that she was simply a normal housewife and mother who happened to have a radio show. National magazines labeled her “The most influential housewife in America.” Her fame was such that throughout the 1950s and ’60s, tens of thousands showed up for her remote broadcasts and other personal appearances. 100,000 people tried to get tickets for a 1957 event in her honor. Before Oprah: Ruth Lyons, The Woman Who Created Talk TV, is the first complete biography of this pioneering broadcaster and tough businesswoman. It includes her life story complete with fascinating events that even she didn’t want the world to see. Follow Ruth through her days as a child growing up in Columbia Tusculum to her stretch on WLW, up to the death of her daughter. Find out who she was and how she became the hardest working and most philanthropic woman in the business. Written by Michael Banks, author of Crosley; Two Brothers and a Business Empire That Transformed the Nation.By edo
April 3, 2009 10:04 AM | Link to this
Ummm… the Reds are not the oldest team in baseball (the Braves and Cubs are the only two from the original National League in 1876)… we are home to the first professional team, but that team disbanded, the stars (George and Harry Wright) went to Boston… the current franchise can be traced back only to 1890… and the east side is what keeps Cincinnati from falling into the abyss… love Frank Robinson, you’re not so bad yourself… ed oBy Scott
April 3, 2009 2:14 PM | Link to this
I was a Reds fan until baseball realigned (I’m a Cubs fan and can’t root for teams in the same division) and opening day was always about the Reds. The parade, the pagentry. It was always special because the Reds/Cincinnati, however you want to argue it, has/had, whatever, the oldest pro team. They should play the first game, at home, at 12:15, on a Monday, without exception.By Zoomie
April 3, 2009 3:50 PM | Link to this
Opening Day in Cincinnati is the absolute best. I’ve seen them in Seattle, St. Louis, Milwaukee and Chicago and none comes close to Cincinnati. It was better years ago when the Reds opened the day before everybody else and even when they had the first pitch before the rest of the league. Too bad King Bud and the greedy owners moved the “opener” to Sunday night. Tradition be damned, there’s gold in that there TV. I don’t care who plays Sunday night — Opening Day will always be in Cincinnati, the first Monday in April. Period.By GP
April 3, 2009 6:54 PM | Link to this
Nobody cares about the Dayton Dragons. They should just go away. Minor league A baseball is a joke.By mark ervin
April 5, 2009 1:38 AM | Link to this
I sniffed Ruth Lyons panties back in 66. They smelled like Candy.