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Photo by Sports Editor Jeffrey Reynolds
Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame play by play broadcaster Marty Brennaman signed autographs and talked with fans.
The caravan has for years taken members of the Reds baseball franchise such as major league players and coaches, minor leaguer prospects, front office management personnel, broadcasters, Reds Hall of Fame members and team mascots on a four state promotional tour to meet with fans and provide a warm-up for the upcoming major league baseball season.
This year was no different.
The Reds Caravan came to Charleston yesterday where they spent nearly two hours signing autographs, taking pictures and just talkin’ baseball in general with an estimated 700 Reds fans at the shopping mall.
The Caravan, which is divided into three different travelling groups, brought it’s Southeast Caravan to Charleston. Members of this year’s caravan were long-time Hall of Fame Broadcast play-by play announcer Marty Brennaman, 15 year Television announcer Chris Welsh, 2007 No. 1 amateur draft pick catcher Devin Mesoraco, Hall of Fame first baseman Lee May, team vice president and assistant general manager Bob Miller , senior special assistant to the general manager Gene Bennett, current Gold Glove winning starting Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips and Gapper, one of the Red’s mascots.
For Brennaman, the Reds play by play announcer since 1974, it was a welcome visit to a state that has been a big supporter of Cincinnati Reds baseball. “We love coming to West Virginia because the fans here have always, through good times and bad, been loyal to this organization.” said Brennaman. “I think because the Reds were the first professional team and we have that tradition, the fans here in West Virginia follow us because they love that tradition. We always feel welcome in West Virginia.”
For Gene Bennett, a Reds scout since 1957, he to feels right at home here. “I ‘ve been coming to West Virginia to scout since ‘57 or ‘58.” Bennett said.” For years I came to Williamson and worked with Jim Van Zant and he’d coordinate and I’d run tryout camps for players at the ball park there in town. I guess Jim and I ran 5,000 kids through the tryout camps there. I remember Emory Mounts and others who tried out there and played big league ball. It was a nice community.”
Look for complete interviews with Bennett, Phillips, Brennaman and other caravan members in the coming days in the Daily News Sports section.
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