Monday, August 17, 1998

BY CHRISTINE WOLFF
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Pat Young and Chuck Weinschelbaum unpack the Beanie Babies as a line of people circle the stadium in the background. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

Eleven-year-old Kyle Bentley arrived minutes after sunrise Sunday at Cinergy Field, wanting to be first in line for the Reds' Beanie Baby Day.

He could have slept in; the early morning crush of Beanie Baby fanatics didn't happen.

Youngsters arriving as late as 2:30 p.m. Sunday -- more than an hour after game time -- received a free Beanie Baby without even a wait in line at the gate. There were enough floppy-eared, stuffed, red Beanie Baby dogs named "Rover" for just about any kid with a ticket who wanted one.

The 15,000 Beanie Babies promised as giveaways lasted so long that enterprising children were getting duplicates -- leaving the stadium, buying another cheap-seat ticket on the plaza and walking back through the gate for a second Beanie Baby.

Kendra Pierson, 10, of Beavercreek, OH, is all smiles after waiting in line and finally getting her Beanie Baby. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

"We're seeing a lot of the same faces," said a Cincinnati police officer about 2 p.m., while guarding 11 boxes of Beanies still stacked at Gate 3, three hours into the giveaway.

Still, Kyle, of Falmouth, Ky., was happy to be the first kid getting a Rover when Gate 3 opened at 11:15 a.m. He'll add it to his collection of 54 Beanie Babies.

And, yes, he'd sell Rover for the right price; Rover, a retired Beanie Baby, is worth $15-$30 to most collectors, and maybe more -- about $250-$350 -- with its Reds commemorative Beanie Baby Day card, said a dealer at Cinergy Sunday.