By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The city that celebrates the annual return of baseball like no other did so Monday without one of its most colorful characters, former Reds majority owner Marge Schott.

PHOTO GALLERIES

• At the ballpark • Opening Day Parade

Schott, who died March 2 at age 75, was one of the biggest boosters of the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade.

Organizers of the 85th annual parade paid tribute to Schott by retiring her Reds jacket, which was framed and carried along the parade route.

"She had her faults, but she did a lot for the Reds and this city," said Larry Porter, 52, of Newport, who has attended the parade for the past 12 years. "I'm glad they are doing a tribute to her today."

Part of that tribute included Schott's sisters riding in her place during the procession. An elephant, sporting a Reds hat and a red cape, used its trunk to sound the siren that traditionally was rung by Schott to mark the official start of the parade.

The gesture was a fitting one considering Schott's contributions to the Cincinnati Zoo helped build a new elephant house in 2000.

Organizers also paid tribute to Schott's memory by marching 21 St. Bernard dogs along the parade route. Schott was known for her love of the dogs.

An estimated 30,000 fans - many clutching blankets to combat the chilly weather - lined sidewalks as marching bands, homemade floats and hand-shaking politicians snaked their way through Over-the-Rhine and past Fountain Square.

Dave Parker, a former Cincinnati Red and Pittsburgh Pirate and a seven-time All-Star, was the grand marshal.

Some onlookers arrived as early as 8 a.m. to stake out a location on Fountain Square. Some didn't have tickets to the game but simply came to soak up the atmosphere with their children.

Mickey Bryan, 34, drove from Columbus to take part in the daylong celebration.

"It's tradition. It symbolizes the start of spring," Bryan said.

A shivering Debbie Eichhorn, 30, of Colerain stood along Race Street, bundled up in blankets with her two children Josh, 6, and Kate, 11. Eichhorn said Opening Day is all about community and fresh hopes for a championship season.

"Hopefully the Reds will do something this year," she said.

Bill Ware, 30, of Colerain, said his father used to come downtown every year for the parade. Ware said he took over that tradition when his father died seven years ago.

Opening Day always has been special to David Malsbary, 59, of Delhi. But the festive day has taken on added meaning since his 36-year-old son, Dave, was diagnosed with brain cancer three years ago. The two have made a tradition of coming to the parade and the game.

"I enjoy every day I have left with him," David Malsbary said. "Each day is a blessing."

Dave Malsbary added: "I don't know how he does it, but every year he gets tickets. Every day I'm alive I'm happy. I just love the Reds and I love this city."

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E-mail kaldridge@enquirer.com