Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a new #Reds Bobblehead#RedsST #LetsGoReds #BobbleHOF #BobbleheadAddicts #MLB pic.twitter.com/PmOLrB6FrG

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) March 23, 2017

Autograph Page Update

#Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/ULDHSOD1kG With a New #Xavier Autograph#letsgox #LetsMarch #marchmadness #ncaa #BIGEAST #tourney17 pic.twitter.com/MukYzcODta

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) March 5, 2017

Cincinnati Reds Nutcracker Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds nutcracker.

Bengal Graphs 2016 Part 3

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shows the different autographs he has gotten from the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2016 NFL season.

Redsfest 2016 Day 1

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone vlogs about his experience at day 1 of Redsfest 2016.

My Redsfest 2016 Experience

Redsfest is the massive fan fest that the Cincinnati Reds hold every December. It is a great way for fans to meet some of their favorite Reds players of today as well as some of the future stars of tomorrow. Throw in a couple of legends from Reds teams of yesteryear and you have an epic weekend that is like heaven on Earth. I was fortunate enough to get to go to Redsfest again, and I will share my thoughts on this year’s edition in this post.

When it came to autographs, I did pretty well. I managed to get over 30 autographs from past, current, and future players. In terms of players signing autographs, the selection was pretty good. There was a good balance of players spanning many generations to get autographs from and the system of obtaining autographs that the Reds organized for fans worked well for the most part. I was able to get the signatures of Dave Parker, Glenn Braggs, and Nick Senzel among others.

The only autograph complaint I have is of how the Lou Piniella autograph signing was handled. It seemed that word had gotten out of when Piniella would be signing, and the line for his autograph booth was already full before it was officially announced that he would be signing autographs. This was really unfair as it prevented everybody from having an equal shot at getting Piniella’s autograph. Hopefully that does not happen next year.

I also really enjoyed the exhibits. There were some game used memorabilia to check out and buy, the Redsfest main stage with Q and A sessions and game shows, and the Reds Hall of Fame section with the World Series trophies and bobbleheads are just a few of the exhibits Redsfest had to offer. There is a lot to look at and immerse yourself in at Redsfest, and I highly recommend going on both days in order to get the full Redsfest experience.

You can see pictures from the event that I took as well as autographs that I got on the photo page and the autograph page on this site. You can also check out my Redsfest videos on the CFZ Vlogs playlist that can be accessed through the video page.

In conclusion, Redsfest 2016 was another great event that was well executed by the Cincinnati Reds. There were autograph opportunities, the chance to meet some of your favorite Reds players, and the two-day celebration of Redsfest is one that every true Reds fan should experience. Hopefully I can go again in 2017!

Mr. Red Bobblehead Review

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone reviews a Mr. Red bobblehead that was part of a 2002 credit card promotion.

Autograph Page Update

#Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/ULDHSOUCJg With a New #Bengals Autograph#WhoDey #LetsRoar #NFL #DALvsCIN #TNF #MNF #MLBPlayoffs #mlb pic.twitter.com/9iCD8pyVJv

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) October 5, 2016

Cincinnati Reds Get Your 'Stache On Garden Gnome Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes an SGA Cincinnati Reds Get Your 'Stache On garden gnome.

Reds Bobbles vs. Reds Hall of Fame Bobbles 2016

For the past few weeks, I have been going over the bobbleheads that the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum and the Cincinnati Reds gave to fans in 2016. Since I got every bobblehead that both the team and the hall of fame gave away to fans, I thought I would compare the lines of nodders and determine who had the better series of bobbles. I will look at the players featured, the appearance of the bobbles, and the overall quality of the nodders in determining which bobblehead series reigns supreme for 2016.

For players featured, the Cincinnati Reds introduced the bobblehead versions of two players who had not been immortalized as nodders in Zack Cozart and Eugenio Suarez. There were also three repeat player bobbles that had a unique twist to differentiate them from years past. They were nodders of Vottomatic who is the superhero version of Joey Votto, a Cincinnati Reds / Seattle Mariners Ken Griffey Jr. double bobblehead, and a Star Wars X-Wing pilot Mr. Redlegs bobblehead. The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum gave out bobbleheads of Gary Nolan, Jack Billingham, Jim Maloney, Lee May, and Pete Rose. For everybody but Rose, this was their bobblehead debut. The Rose bobble was of him being inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame while the other bobbles featured the Reds legends in their playing days. Since the Reds Hall of Fame featured more new players as bobbles than the Reds, I’m giving this round to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.

Next we will take a look at the overall appearance of the nodders. The bobbleheads that the Reds gave away looked great. Suarez and Cozart are in traditional Reds uniforms, Vottomatic is in a superhero outfit, Ken Griffey Jr. is featured in both his Reds and Mariners uniform, and the Star Wars Mr. Redlegs bobblehead features the mustached mascot of the Reds in an X-Wing spaceship. The Reds Hall of Fame bobbles feature the players in traditional Reds uniforms based on the era that the players were from with the Rose bobblehead featuring Rose in his red hall of fame induction jacket. Based on the uniqueness of the appearances of the Reds bobbleheads, I’m giving this round to the Reds.

With both the Reds and the Reds Hall of Fame claiming a point apiece, this round will determine which bobbleheads were of better quality as well as who is the bobblehead champion of 2016. The overall quality of the Reds bobbleheads was pretty good. The paintjobs on the players were decent for the most part and the heads bobbled pretty well. However, the paintjobs on the bases could have been better as the lettering for the names of the players looked a little splotchy on some bobbles. Also, the bats that are held in the hands of the Griffey Jr. bobble were pretty loose and would fall out easily. The Reds Hall of Fame bobbles feature quality paintjobs on both the players and the bases. The bat in Lee May’s hands fit snuggly, and Rose’s foot screw into the base to keep the bobble in place. Therefore, the quality round goes to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.

Based on a final score of 2-1, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum gave out the better line of bobbleheads in 2016. The players were featured were mostly new, and the quality of the bobbles were topnotch. The Reds bobbles had the better look, but the repeat players and shabby paintjobs on the bases and the loose bats on the Girffey Jr. bobblehead were the factors that gave the title of bobblehead champ to the Reds Hall of Fame. That is not to say that the Reds bobbles are bad as they are in fact really nice, but the Reds Hall of Fame bobbles were just better overall. If you are a Reds fan, I suggest picking up both lines of bobbleheads for your collection.

Go Redlegs!

Eugenio Suarez Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds SGA Eugenio Suarez bobblehead.

Cincinnati Reds 2016 Bobbleheads Review

In last week’s post, I wrote about the line of 2016 Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum bobbleheads. In this week’s post, I will look at the entire line of 2016 Cincinnati Reds SGA bobbleheads. This was the first time since 2013 that I got every bobblehead that that team gave away to fans. This was a really good line of bobbles that the team gave away to fans, and you will see why I think that in this post.

The first bobblehead the Cincinnati Reds gave out this year was of Vottomatic, the superhero version of Reds first baseman Joey Votto. Had this been another bobblehead of Votto in a regular Reds uniform, I would not have added it to my collection but since he is in a pretty cool superhero outfit, I thought it would make a great addition to my bobblehead collection.

The second bobblehead given out was a Star Wars X-Wing Fighter Mr. Redlegs bobblehead. In my opinion, this is one of the coolest nodders the team has ever produced. It features the mascot of the team in an X-Wing, which is an awesome concept. I’m a big fan of both the Reds and Star Wars, and this bobblehead is the best of both worlds.

The third nodder of the year was a Cincinnati Reds / Seattle Mariners Ken Griffey Jr. double bobblehead. This was a special bobblehead that was given out during the Seattle Mariners vs. Cincinnati Reds game because of Griffey’s hall of fame induction. “The Kid” is one of my all-time favorite baseball players so adding this bobble to my collection was a no-brainer. It looks awesome and is easily one of the best bobbleheads of Ken Griffey Jr. that I have ever seen.

The fourth bobblehead that the Reds gave away to fans was of shortstop Zack Cozart. Cozart is one of the best defensive shortstops in Major League Baseball today and has been a staple on the defensive side of the ball for the Reds for the past few years. He routinely dazzles with amazing snags, and his bobblehead has been long overdue. Being a defensive star, the Reds obviously chose to have Cozart in a fielding stance. I think the bobblehead is very cool and is a great bobble debut for the Reds starting shortstop.

The fifth and final bobblehead of the year was of Eugenio Suarez. The Reds acquired Suarez from the Detroit Tigers last year and his batting power made him an immediate fan favorite. This past season he was the new starting third baseman and while he struggled in the beginning, he got better as the season progressed and has become a pretty reliable player on the defensive side of the diamond. This bobblehead features him swinging a bat though, and it makes sense considering how his power is what made him known among Reds fans.

In conclusion, the 2016 Cincinnati Reds SGA line of bobbleheads is awesome. It features new players and unique twists on players who have already had bobbles. I hope the Reds continue this trend of either adding a unique feature to a player who has already had a bobblehead or by issuing nodders of players who have never had a bobblehead. Based on this year’s series of bobbles, the Reds are heading in the right direction.

Go Redlegs!

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update @ https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e With a New #Reds Nodder#LetsGoReds #ATOBTTR #Bengals #FCCincy pic.twitter.com/M41Tem2kh9

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) September 7, 2016

Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum 2016 Bobbleheads Review

With the month of August coming to an end, so to are the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum bobblehead giveaways. The Reds Hall of Fame gave out five bobbleheads this year. One bobblehead per month was given out to everybody who bought a general admission ticket to the Reds Hall of Fame on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from April to August. Every month I went to the Reds Hall of Fame and got the new bobblehead that they were giving out and in my opinion, this was the best line of bobbles the Reds Hall of Fame has ever produced. 

The first bobblehead they gave out this baseball season was of former Reds pitcher Jim Maloney. The nodder looks great and features Maloney in the classic pinstripe uniform that the Redlegs used to wear. The stance is of Maloney pitching, and the bobblehead has a great look overall.

The second nodder was of former Reds slugger Lee May. With May being known as the “Big Bopper,” this bobblehead was molded to showcase his slugging ability by having May hold a bat. It’s a simple bobblehead, but it still looks nice and is a great piece of Reds memorabilia.

Third on the list of bobbles was a special Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame induction Pete Rose nodder. This bobble featured the legendary “Hit King” in a red suit jacket standing in front of the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum logo. This was given out in June, the month that Pete Rose was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame, and it was the only bobble that year that had to be screwed into the base. This was the third bobblehead of Rose that the Reds have given out in the past three years, but considering how this was a Reds Hall of Fame induction bobble, I thought it was cool enough to get for my collection.

The fourth bobblehead of the year was of former Reds pitcher Jack Billingham. Like Maloney, the bobblehead of Billingham features him in the midst of his pitching motion, and the bobble pulls it off pretty well. Unlike the Maloney bobblehead, the nodder of Billingham is meant to be viewed from the side as that is where his name is on the base.

The fifth and final bobblehead the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum gave away with the price of admission in 2016 was of Gary Nolan. Being another pitcher, the Reds Hall of Fame could have had Nolan in the midst of his pitching motion like Billingham and Maloney. Thankfully they decided to go with a different pose and had Nolan simply standing on the base with his hand on the ball in his glove. It is different enough to separate it from the other Reds pitching bobbles yet similar enough to display that he is a pitcher.

In conclusion, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum 2016 bobblehead line is a great series of nodders that every Reds fan should have in their collection. All but Rose had not yet been featured as bobbles, and the quality of these nodders is top notch. Hopefully next year’s line of bobbles is just as good!

Autograph Page Update

#Autograph Page Update @ https://t.co/ULDHSOUCJg With 2 New #Reds Signatures#ATOBTTR #WhoDey #LetsRoar #Bengals pic.twitter.com/Wm1gfblDv2

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) August 18, 2016

The Last Bobblehead

Despite the tumultuous rebuilding season of the Cincinnati Reds, it feels that the 2016 campaign has flown by as final month and a half of baseball draw near. With the end of the season comes the end of the bobblehead giveaways. A few weeks ago I got my hands on the final Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum bobblehead as they gave out a nodder of Gary Nolan. With my 2016 Reds Hall of Fame set complete, which means there is only one more bobblehead to get before the season ends. That bobblehead is of Eugenio Suarez, and it will be given out by the Reds on the third of September.

Suarez has been a pretty good player for the Reds ever since he arrived last year. His batting ability is pretty good and even though he has struggled on defense, he has shown flashes of brilliance at the third base position. The bobblehead will focus on his hitting as it features him swinging a bat in the white, home Reds uniform. The picture of the bobblehead can be seen on the Cincinnati Reds promotional schedule.

I cannot wait to add the Suarez bobblehead to my collection. Suarez is a rising star on the Reds roster, and his bobblehead debut is an awesome giveaway item. Hopefully I can get to the stadium early enough to get my hands on the nodder and complete my 2016 Reds bobblehead set.

Gary Nolan Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Gary Nolan bobbleehad.

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a New #Reds Nodder#ATOBTTR #Bobblehof #BobbleheadAddicts #mlb pic.twitter.com/fyO8usRB5e

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) August 7, 2016

Bobblehead Page Update

#Bobblehead Page Update https://t.co/f6kg2Fon2e with a New #Reds Nodder#BobbleheadAddicts #BobbleHOF #LetsGoReds pic.twitter.com/L6z3BSX1Se

— Cincy Fan Zone (@CincyFanZone) July 17, 2016

Jack Billingham Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Jack Billingham bobblehead.