Celebrate Like It's 1990

In 1990, the Cincinnati Reds started the season in first place and ended the season in first place as they capped off their wire-to-wire year by sweeping the reigning and defending world champion Oakland Athletics to win their fifth World Series in franchise history. This year is the 25^th anniversary of that fabled run to the title for the Redlegs, and both the Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will be celebrating it all season long with a few special festivities planned for this weekend.

On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from April through August, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will be giving out bobbleheads of members of the 1990 World Series Championship team. A different member will be given out each month while supplies last with a Todd Benzinger bobblehead kicking off the promotion during the month of April. Benzinger was the first baseman for the team and caught final out of the World Series. That is not all that is going to happen at the Hall of Fame and Museum as I have also read online that there will be a few events happening there this weekend such as autograph signings and 1990 Reds related exhibits.

The Cincinnati Reds will be celebrating the 1990 team that weekend as well. Events are scheduled to kick off on Friday, April 24, as the team will be giving out a free commemorative 1990 World Series Championship print to fans. Also, a free 1990 World Series replica ring will be given out to fans who purchased a special view level ticket package. Based on what I have read, everybody at the game will get the print while only those who purchased the special ticket package will get the replica World Series ring. The game is also a “Fireworks Friday” game, and I would not be surprised if the 1990 team is honored on the field before the fireworks start, and if the Reds made the theme of the fireworks display related to 1990 in some fashion.

On Saturday, April 25, the Reds will be giving out a free triple bobblehead of the “Nasty Boys” to the first 25,000 fans in attendance. The nodder features 1990 Reds relief pitchers Norm Charlton, Rob Dibble, and Randy Myers, known collectively as the “Nasty Boys,” as bobbleheads on a single base. Based on pictures I have seen online and on television, this nodder looks fantastic and could not only be the most sought after bobblehead of the year, but one of the most sought after Reds bobbleheads of all time.

At the time I write this post, there have been reports that most of if not the entire 1990 Reds team will be in Cincinnati for the reunion. I believe it has been confirmed that the “Nasty Boys” will be back as will Billy Hatcher since he is the current first base coach for the Reds. I would love to see guys like Eric Davis, Barry Larkin, Paul O’Neill, and the manager, “sweet” Lou Piniella all come back for the reunion.

I will be attending both games to attain the print, the replica World Series ring, the bobblehead, and if I’m lucky, a few autographs from the 1990 Redlegs that I do not yet have. It is sure to be a great weekend that can only be made better by some wins by the Reds.

Go Redlegs!