Pete Rose Jr. bats in his first major-league game. Pete Rose Sr. can be seen in the front row behind and to the right of Junior. (File photo) | ZOOM |

        It was a magical day at Cinergy Field when Pete Rose Jr. made his major-league debut.

        He was well-known to Reds fans, because he had hit the switch that released the wrecking ball into the bull's eye on the bleacher wall in right field that began the demolition of Crosley Field on April 19, 1972.

        He played in father-son games at Riverfront Stadium in the 1970s, and on Sept. 11, 1985, ran out of the Reds dugout to congratulate his father, Pete Rose Sr., on stroking hit No. 4,192 that broke Ty Cobb's all-time hit record.

        Pete Jr. had earned his September call-up to the Reds, because he hit .308 and belted 25 home runs at Double-A Chattanooga. His father was in a front-row box seat when Pete Jr. ran out to start the game at third base.

        Pete Jr. was wearing No. 14, the first time it had adorned the back of a Reds player since 1989, when Pete Sr. was banished from baseball.

        Pete Jr. went 1-for-3 in his debut. He had 14 at-bats that September, and got one more hit and struck out nine times. Also that day, Reds catcher Eddie Taubensee hit a home run over the right-field wall. A fan in the first row of blue seats tried to catch the ball, but instead lurched over the railing in front of his seat, falling 15 feet. The fan broke some bones in his back, his hand and elbow and four ribs.

        Pete Jr. was released last Friday by the Reds organization. Pete, 32, was hitting .229 in nine games at Chattanooga.

Reds 8, Cardinals 1 Reds box, runs Reds Q&A with John Fay DAUGHERTY: Austin's swinging has fans drooling Miller hits first, explains later Notes: At-bats getting better for Boone Cinergy Countdown No. 28: Sept. 1, 1997 Down on the farm Reds chatter Louisville 4, Syracuse 3 Baseball History - You could look it up Hermansen taking what might be last shot with Pirates MLB notebook NL roundup AL roundup John Fay's MLB power rankings Notes from Saturday's games

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Saturday's results

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