Saturday, January 29, 2000

Temperature's rising with Reds fever

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'99 enthusiasm rolls into 2000 at RedsFest

BY JOHN ERARDI
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Ryan Santoro, 7, inspects Reds Hall of fame display. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

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        The hot-stove league was burning Reds-hot Friday. RedsFest, the fourth annual winter gathering at the downtown Albert B. Sabin Convention Center, was pulling in fans like never before.

        Even as early as the 4:30 p.m. opening, there were an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people inside the hall. At 6 p.m., it looked like 5,000 to 6,000.

        “Man, look at that line for Barry Larkin and Eric Davis!” said one of the clerks in the memorabilia sales area. “You can't get near those guys.”

        The event was benefiting from decent weather (unlike last year), a terrific '99 season (96 victories) and no conflict with any major sporting events on TV (the Super Bowl is Sunday).

        RedsFest wraps up from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. today. Admission is $5 for kids and $7 for adults.

Sean Casey greets fan. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Friday was a night for getting autographs, having your photograph taken with players, eating peanuts and hot dogs, and listening to Reds general manager Jim Bowden talk about prospective trades.

        People queued up nearly the entire length of the center for Messrs. Larkin and Davis. Some fans waited nearly 20 minutes for the autograph of first baseman Hal Morris, who also played on the 1990 World Championship team that was being honored.

        “It's a great turnout,” said Pat McCaffrey, Reds director of season-ticket sales.

        “Our (2000) ticket sales are going good, too. It's great to see. The excitement we saw (at the end of the '99 season) is carrying over like we hoped it would.”

Redsfest schedule

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