Cincinnati sojourn - wishing our CBM would open soon

by Cajuncub on Jul 30, 2007 11:14 AM CDT

Last Saturday evening, my wife and I enjoyed a most memorable game between the Cubs and the Reds on a beautiful Saturday evening in Cincinnati. This is probably the closest major league town to our current home in Nashville, and the drive was an easy one. Our seats in the club section were secured a couple of months ago before the current Cubs winning run when the price was right. A small army of Cubs fans keep us company in the section as we watched Lee and Soriano dump a few into the opposite seats. But even though the location was very comfortable with actual attendants to ferry your specific food and drink choices to your seats, the venue can never come up to the class and character of Wrigley Field.

However, the Great American Ballpark does have one thing on our home field and town. The Reds Hall of Fame and Museum provides a fitting tribute to the Cincinnati Reds. As a baseball history buff of long standing, the museum was a highlight of our trip - to be later upstaged by the convincing Cubs win on the field. Currently, the first floor is a monument to Pete Rose celebrating an anniversary to his hitting streak. Banished from Hall of Fame, this will likely be his most celebrated legacy on display to the "ages."

The third floor holds items of more interest to me. The earliest days of the franchise are on display here. Displays on the 1919 World Series are special, and bring back last week's discussion on the "importance" of statistics in judging teams and players. The 1919 display makes the assertion that the Reds would have won the series even without the highjinks of the Black Sox! A range of statistics was presented on the 1919 Reds, demonstrating their argued superiority to the Black Sox!

Leaving the facility, I could not help but wish for a speedier completion of the Chicago Baseball Museum. Chicago is certainly due for such a facility, and the sooner the better. Can anyone provide a realistic time line for the opening of the Chicago Baseball Museum?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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You talking about something at Wrigley?

The structure to the west of NW of Wrigley has been tabled but is mentioned in recent Trib story on "Are Cubs worth $1 billion"

It would be a Cubs museum not a Chicago baseball museum something like that would have to "split the difference'' betwen North and So. sides and wind up downtown, no>??

I hope it happens either way; team sees it as significant future "revenue generator'' but not sure how great it will be for fans of Chicago baseball history.

by writerinwrigley on Jul 30, 2007 11:26 AM CDT reply actions

Not At Wrigley

No, I had heard about a museum honoring all baseball in Chicago. Check out www.chicagobaseballmuseum.org. As I'm not in Chicago, I have not heard the details on this. Is it a viable proposal for downtown?

by Cajuncub on Jul 30, 2007 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Made the trip to Cincy on Sunday with my son

and had a great experience. Beautiful ballpark, with wonderful access and parking ($15 and was able to walk out of the parking garage and take an escalator into the ballpark).

I thought the food choices were ok. Nothing really unusual, although I wish I had been more hungry- would have like to have tried the Skyline Chilidogs. I was pleased to not see a sushi stand like I did in Cleveland last year. Somehow that's just wrong at a ballpark. Typical pricing, $6.50 beers, $4 bottled water and sodas, $4.50 hot dogs, $5.50 if you actually want beef in your hot dog.

I had forgotten to bring my hat, and with an ever-growing bald spot and very hot day, had to buy one inside. I was surprised to be able to find just one cubs hat at the stands in the ballpark. With the Cubs fans appearing to be equal to the number of Reds fans, it seems like they could have done more business if they had Cubs items as well.

Having so many Cub fans there made it a great atmosphere. The Cub fans were very demonstrative, but not obnoxious, and the Reds fans were great sports. Next destination, either Pittsburgh or Milwaukee.

by davidalanu on Jul 30, 2007 12:43 PM CDT reply actions

Cincinnati Hospitality

Say what you want about the Marge Schott era but when she was the owner, the fans got first rate treatment in terms of pricing and hospitality.

Concession prices were more than fair and below league average.

Parking was 3 bucks outside of Riverfront/Cinergy Field in an actual parking lot. Plenty of ushers who actually took you to your seat and even wiped the seats off for you (whether they were wet or not) before you sat down.

She always let the kids in attendance on the field to run around after games too. Really unique.

There's always next year.

by BJ Simpson on Jul 30, 2007 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions

How far is it to Cincy from Nashville?

I live in Nashville and am pretty sure that Atlanta is closer- Takes me around 3.5 to 4 hours to get to Turner Field from here. Sounds like a fun trip to Cincy though.

by LT on Jul 30, 2007 12:46 PM CDT reply actions

Atlanta vs Cincy

The distance from Nashville is about the same (approx 250 mi) as I've been to Turner Field too. It's just the Atlanta traffic that is such a nightmare. The access to the Great American Ballpark is superior.

by Cajuncub on Jul 30, 2007 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions