Eric Davis, the best Reds player of the 1980s, returned for a curtain call in 1996. | ZOOM |

        For all of the great moments of Eric Davis' career — and there were many, and none perhaps as symbolic of what he meant to the Reds as a leader than when he hit the Game 1 home run off Dave Stewart in the 1990 World Series — his favorite moment was his first one.

        “I'll never forget because I guess the Reds weren't expecting me to be called up (in 1984),” said Davis, smiling. “The team was in St. Louis and I had to wear a jersey that didn't have a name or a number on it.

        “I hit a groundball into the (third-base) hole and (Cardinals shortstop) Ozzie Smith dove, caught it back-handed, jumped up and threw me out. I thought, "Whoa, that's a hit in Triple A!' Ozzie said to me, "Welcome to the big leagues, son.'”

Davis acknowledges cheers from Reds fans Tuesday night. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        Davis, now an outfielder with the Giants, came up with the Reds and had his best years with them (1984-1991; 1996). He's retiring after this season. He was moved by the standing ovation he received Tuesday night, in his first at-bat of the Giants' series at Cinergy Field. And he knows he'll feel more of the same today in a ceremony before the game honoring him ... and again when it comes time to leave after the game.

        “It'll be emotional,” he said. “I always have special feelings when I come here. This is where it started.”

        It is ironic that Davis' last three games here will be on grass, because every other game he played here was on turf, and perhaps no player ever had it take more of a toll on his body than Davis — whose build has always been that of a Triple Crown winner ... of the equine variety. Skinny legs, buffed torso, not an ounce of fat.

        The kind of build that AstroTurf eats alive.

        The turf may have cost Davis a Hall of Fame career, because of all the games he missed. There has never been a player of Davis' speed who hit for his power. The problem was he couldn't do it everyday.

Davis started the Reds toward their 1990 World Series sweep by homering in the first inning of Game 1. | ZOOM |

        He had Hall of Fame talent. And it wasn't as though he squandered it. He went all out: brick walls and chain-link fences be damned.

        In 1986 (27 HR, 80 stolen bases) and 1987 (37 home runs, 50 stolen bases), Cincinnati had the most exciting player in baseball. Perhaps, no first full-year player ever made people's eyeballs strain their sockets the way Eric Davis did in 1986.

        What hurt Davis is that when he was in the five years of his prime as a Red, 1986 through 1990, he never played more than 135 games in a season. He never had more than 474 at-bats.

        As it is, he will end his career with 280-plus home runs and 350-plus stolen bases. With health, he'd have been a 400-400 man.

        He shrugs that off, knowing he got the most out of his ability without compromising in the way he played.

        At least Davis came to be appreciated by the fans in his return here as a Red in '96.

        “I think coming back here fixed a lot of things,” Davis said. “People got to see me as a person.”

        He doesn't blame the fans for misunderstanding him.

        “They know what they read,” Davis said. “Like that time the paper ran a story out front that said I had a drug problem and the Reds were considering trading me. Nobody even asked me about it. When the paper ran the retraction, it was buried inside.”

        Davis will take at least a year off and assess what he'd like to do with the second half of his life. Likely it will involve coaching. Certainly it will involve giving something of himself, both on the field and off. What distinguished him as a Red is that he was outspoken and active in the community, not just with money, but with time.

        “I'll never forget something Willie Stargell told me years ago,” Davis said. “If you have knowledge and don't share knowledge, you lose knowledge.”

MLB.com profile (click on 'Career Highlights' tab to review Davis' years with the Reds).

Reds 11, Giants 9 Bonds Watch: No homers SULLIVAN: Bonds' patience, performance unrivaled Reds honor Davis tonight Rijo's return closer No comeback for Soto Winchester takes Brower's start Brennaman backs Howsam for Hall Reds box, runs

Warrick, Dugans seek atonement
Dillon to start Friday
Sampras blames ball for loss
Tennis Masters schedule, results
Big stars out, rising stars in
Harlem native in tennis spotlight today
Kafelnikov speaks mind on game's future
Gambill has game and looks
Tennis Masters Notebook
Tennis Masters facts
Speedway smooths out bumps
Golf course spotlight: A.J. Jolly
Senior tourney will reward fan for ace

• Return to Reds front page...