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Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame
When Great American Ballpark opened in 2003, it was a nice ballpark,
but it seemed to be missing something unique, something that would bring fans down for a day instead of just for a game. With
the opening of the team's Hall of Fame, they got that element.
The Reds' Hall of Fame is easily the most complete team hall of fame
in baseball. It encompasses nearly an entire three story building on the stadium's west side.
The museum visit starts with a five minute video about the Reds. The
Reds and the city of Cincinnati have one of baseball's most interesting histories, and the museum certainly covers about all
of it. A few of the exhibits are interactive, like the speed pitch game and a booth where fans can pretend to be Reds' announcers.
The museum includes a large number of elements and it is easy for a dedicated baseball fan to spend a couple hours in the
building.
The main problem with the museum is its focus on the wrong events and
the wrong heroes. The museum fails to note a few important facts about Reds history: The Cincinnati Reds founded in 1869 were
disbanded 11 years later. The current franchise was founded in 1882. Also, the museum dedicates but a footnote to the fact
that Pete Rose actually broke the hit record with hit 4,190, not 4,192 as was previously thought. The whole focus on Rose
is disturbing itself. A franchise with such an impressive history should not dedicate its most prominent locations to a mediocre
player and a notorious jerk, not to mention someone banned from baseball.
At the end of the museum is the hall of fame. With triumphant music and
hanging plaques that seem to float in the air, there is a clear sense of Reds' history, yet at the same time a lack of real climax
to this portion of the museum. The hall leads into the team shop, where attractive but overpriced displays lure many visitors
into spending tens of dollars on merchandise they don't need. Still, the selection at the team shop is good, and it is easily
accessible from the street and the ballpark. The museum is, even with his flaws, on par with other museums like the Louisville Slugger Museum in nearby Louisville. It is definitely worth a visit.
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