Hundreds of Tristaters are flocking to Cooperstown, N.Y., this weekend, where Sparky Anderson, Tony Perez, Marty Brennaman and Bid McPhee will be inducted Sunday into the Hall of Fame.

        “Cincinnati people are great Reds fans and they're really excited about this,” said Herb Reisenfeld, general manager of Provident Travel, which provided bus transportation for 325 fans who left Friday morning.

        “This is the first time in history you've got four (Reds) personnel being inducted at one time.”

        Another 173 will fly out of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on Sunday morning to join them for the inductions.

        Provident Travel's bus and chartered flight trip was booked in May and 120 people were on the waiting list Friday.

        Fans traveling with Provident paid $545 for the four-day bus trip, which includes hotel and meals. Those who opted to fly out Sunday morning and return that night paid $395.

        The last time Provident Travel offered a similar package was in 1989, when Johnny Bench was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Turnout was comparable for that trip, said Mr. Reisenfeld.

        Then there are the countless others traveling on their own.

        Tim Kern Sr., director of operations at Hamilton-based JTM Provisions, leaves by plane today for Cooperstown. He and other JTM employees will grill out for Provident guests Sunday, but he does not plan to miss the inductions.

        “I told my wife I didn't want to go just to work because I can work anytime,” said the Harrison man.

        “But this is Cooperstown and I've been a big baseball fan all my life.”

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