Mike Stahl gets his picture taken with Pete Rose. (Brandi Stafford photos | ZOOM |

        Mike Stahl drove down from St. Henry, Ohio, northwest of Dayton near the Indiana border. It took him a couple of hours to get here from the hometown of Wally Post, a Reds star of the 1950s.

        Mr. Stahl was here in the hunt for Reds stars of the 1970s. He carried with him a gym bag loaded with autographed baseballs. He stood in line and got Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Dave Concepcion. One more to go — Cesar Geronimo.

        “It's always been my favorite team,” said Mr. Stahl, referring to the Big Red Machine teams of the 1970s, after getting Mr. Rose's autograph and heading for the line in front of Mr. Geronimo.

IF YOU GO

• What: Big Red Machine 2000 Baseball Show.   • Where: Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center.   • When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.   • Admission: $5.   • Reds players: Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, Ken Griffey Sr. and George Foster will be at the show from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

        Mr. Stahl was among hundreds of baseball fans, collectors and dealers at the Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center Saturday purchasing autographs from players from the Reds team of the 1970s.

        They brought with them everything from team photos to the backs of plastic seats from Cinergy Field. Autographs ranged from $25 to $39 each.

        “We realize the Big Red Machine is important in this city as well as the rest of the country,” said Charles Sotto, promoter with CEI Sports in Pleasant Ridge, which put on the event. About 100 exhibitors staffed booths brimming with sports memorabilia. Baseball cards shared space with team photos, bats, autographed baseballs, yearbooks, jerseys and caps.

Danny Larsen gets his picture taken with Joe Morgan. | ZOOM |

        Dan Bolster and his sons, Derrick, 10, and Daniel, 7, drove from Dundee, Mich., to get Mr. Rose's signature on a pair of baseball bats.

        “We want Pete Rose, that's what we came here for,” said Mr. Bolster, as they waited in line. “And probably Johnny Bench” today.

        “No, we got to get Senior,” said Derrick, referring to Ken Griffey Sr., who will be one of four Reds stars appearing today.

        Greg Meyer of the Eastgate area of Clermont County brought the back of a red seat from Cinergy Field, which he purchased last week from O'Rourke Wrecking Co., the company demolishing part of the stadium.

        “It's different,” said Mr. Meyer, who carried the seat like a museum piece. The red plastic shone with the silver signature of Pete Rose.

        “Definitely Pete, that's why I came,” Mr. Meyer said.

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