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Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks because Cincinnati Reds baseball is back! The winners of five World Series titles, one American Association pennant, nine National League pennants and ten division titles; start the 2013 season April 1st. In Cincinnati it’s not just the start of the baseball season but a holiday celebrated with electricity and unity across the entire Tristate area.
On opening day you will see a river of red as people make their way to Great American Ball Park. You will see people at area restaurants and bars watching the game and live bands playing to kick off the season. People not able to get off work will still wear red and the game can be heard in offices, cars and even walking down the street. The nostalgia, history and hope are felt more on this day in Cincinnati than any movie about America’s favorite pastime can reflect.
The history of professional baseball and our beloved Cincinnati Reds started in 1869 when the Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first openly professional ball team where ten players were salaried. The team acquired the nickname because of the main feature to their uniforms which were long red stockings which were exaggerated when worn with the short white trousers.
Those red stockings and white trousers were first donned at Union Grounds which is where the first professional team played from 1869 until 1870. The park could seat up to 4,000 spectators and was located where Union Terminal train station is today. From 1876 to 1879 they played at Avenue Grounds which held 3,000 fans and from there they went to League Park which had a covered grandstand and uncovered seats along the first and third bases. After a major fire at League Park renovations were made including a new grandstand, field level seats and also box seats. After the renovations League Park was then called Palace of the Fans and the facility was used from 1902 through 1911. In 1912 the Reds moved to Redland Field which would later be named Crosley Field and where MLB history was made when the first night game was played. Located at the corner of Western Avenue and Findlay Street Crosley Field was also the host to the first World Series Championship team. In June of 1970 Riverfront Stadium was completed and the Cincinnati Reds left Crosley Field for the new stadium which could seat more than 52,000 fans and would become the home of the Big Red Machine. In 1996 Riverfront Stadium was renamed Cinergy Field although the Reds would move once again in 2003 to their current home Great American Ball Park which pays tribute to the Reds rich history and seats 42,036 fans.
On April 1st 2013 at Great American Ball Park the fans will once again be buying peanuts and Cracker Jacks and rooting for our home team. Everyone at Key Magazine would like to wish all the fans a happy Opening Day and to all the Reds Players and members of this great organization a winning season.