Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Reds baseball on radio will never be the same. Never

I was born in late October of 1973...meaning after the end of the Reds baseball season.  In April 1974, the Reds had a new voice in the radio booth...Marty Brennaman.  He joined Joe Nuxhall in the booth for their first season together, and it was the first of many.

As you might know, back when I was a child the Reds were not televised in every game.  If you wanted to follow along with the game (and we did) you listened to Marty and Joe on the radio.  I have vivid memories of summer days as a child, where my dad would be outside either working in the yard, or working on a vehicle, or doing some other project, and we would have the game on the radio.  These memories make me smile, and also bring a tear to my eye because I miss my dad so much.

Marty Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall were "Marty and Joe" from that first game in April 1974 until October 3, 2004 when Joe Nuxhall retired.  Folks, for the first 30 years of my life, I had only known "Marty and Joe" on the radio...literally my entire life at that point.  I was 31-years-old before I knew anything else.

And here we are fifteen years later.  Marty Brennaman announced his impending retirement prior to the season.  This is his last home stand, and he isn't traveling with the team to Pittsburgh this weekend, so these three games are it.  Honestly, I am sitting here fighting tears.  I am a die-hard Cincinnati Reds fan, and for FORTY-SIX years I've been able to listen to Marty Brennaman on the radio.  Announcers don't call games anymore like he does.  If something stinks, Marty tells it like it is.  I have no doubt part of my dedication to the Reds is because I got to listen to the talented duo when I was growing up.  I'm very, very grateful that part of the connection to my childhood has been maintained for so many year.  Reds baseball on the radio will never be the same.  Never.

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