As Marty Brennaman closes his illustrious 46-year career as the Cincinnati Reds play-by-play voice, the team announced plans to honor the broadcaster during his final month in the booth.
Celebrations begin the first week of September, when Brennaman will visit with fans on the concourses at Great American Ball Park before the games on Sept. 3rd, 4th and 7th. The Reds will also add a temporary radio booth for Marty to broadcast from Gapper’s Alley behind section 119 on Friday, September 20th, Tuesday the 24th and Wednesday the 25th.
On the 24th and 25th, Brennaman will host the pre-game show next to Reds fans, from the temporary booth, calling the entire game from the Gapper’s Alley location on Friday the 20th.
“The idea is to bring Marty out of the booth and amongst the fans at Great American Ball Park,” said Phil Castellini, Reds president and chief operating officer. “Watching Marty host the radio pregame show or call an inning will be an unforgettable experience for our fans.”
Marty’s son and Reds TV play-by-play voice, Thom Brennaman will join his father in the radio booth for the entire game on Wednesday September 25th. Marty’s regular radio partner, Jeff Brantley will be on the broadcast for Brennaman’s final game on the 26th. The iconic radio voice will not travel with the team to Pittsburgh for their last series of the season, instead closing his Reds career at home.
“It was important to me that my last regular season broadcast happened at home, so I won’t go to Pittsburgh with the team to finish the season,” said Brennaman. “I wanted my final game to be business as usual, doing the broadcast from the booth. It is going to be very emotional for me and I want to savor every moment,” the announcer added.
In addition to September’s celebration of the legendary broadcaster, Brennaman will also be inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame next year.
“Our Board of Directors felt strongly that Marty’s 46-years as the Reds play-by-play announcer along with his efforts supporting the communities throughout Reds Country, and his extensive list of awards and accolades was indeed extraordinary and deserving of his election to the Reds Hall of Fame,” said Rick Walls, Reds Hall of Fame Executive Director.
Brennaman will be the sole inductee for the class of 2020 into the Reds Hall of Fame which will take place with an on-field ceremony Saturday, April 25, prior to a home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Marty Brennaman joined the Reds radio booth in 1974 replacing Al Michaels, having never called a Major League Baseball game when he was hired, launching a 46-year Hall-of-Fame career.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.