Tuesday, April 06, 1999

It's quiet opener for Schott

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BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Marge Schott gets hug from country music star Loretta Lynn, who sang the national anthem and threw out the first pitch. | ZOOM |

        If Monday was Marge Schott's last Opening Day as Reds general partner, she went out quietly.

        She was on the field with her dog, Schottzie 02, for the pregame ceremonies, but she kept mostly in the background. She was there for the start of Findlay Market parade, but she didn't ride in it.

        Schott spoke briefly with reporters. She was asked if she were melancholy about the possibility of this being her last Opening Day as Reds president.

        “It might be, yeah,” she said. “It's sad, real sad.”

        But she added that she's had a good run. “I've gone 15 years,” she said. “That's a long time. Opening Day will still be Opening Day, no matter who's in charge.”

        Schott did not sit in her seats by the Reds dugout.

        Schott's controlling shares of the team are up for sale, as mandated by Major League Baseball.

        She has two outside bids and one bid from the limited partners to buy 5.5 of her 6.5 shares.

        Schott bought the team in December 1984. But her time as owner has been marked by controversy, and she is now serving a second suspension imposed by Major League Baseball for making insensitive racial remarks.

        MLB has set a June 30 deadline for her to sell the club.

        When asked which was her favorite Opening Day, Schott said:

        “The first one, '85, with Pete (Rose).”

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