Aligning the All-Star Game

On July 14, for the fifth time in Major-League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game history (the game, which pits the best of the National League versus the “junior circuit” American League, began in 1933), Cincinnati will serve as the game’s host. The previous “Queen City” All-Star games took place in 1938 and 1953 at Crosley Field, a beloved icon of Cincinnati’s past, and the 1970 and 1988 contests occurred at Riverfront Stadium, an antiseptic, multi-purpose venue that represented stadia trends of that era (its greatest celebration came in December 2002, when it was imploded). The most memorable of the games occurred in 1970, when hometown hero and Cincinnati Red Pete Rose barreled over Cleveland Indians catcher Ray Fosse to score the winning run for the National League.

The home team’s current stadium, Great American Ball Park, aptly synthesizes historic charm and conveniences expected by modern fans. Several features provide local color: the Power Stacks, which resemble smokestacks and serve as launching points for fireworks when the home team hits a home run or wins; mosaic-tile murals that feature such legendary Reds teams as the Big Red Machine; and a sign that quotes the sign-off phrase routinely spoken by the late Joe Nuxhall, a beloved former Reds pitcher and broadcaster, “Rounding Third and Heading for Home”, faces downtown Cincinnati.

Of course, an event as momentous as the MLB All-Star Game requires ample special-event signage. On May 14, the Cincinnati Planning Commission unanimously approved the installation of approximately 20 signs, which began on June 1, on Cincinnati landmarks to promote the event. The signs feature the visage of Mr. Redlegs, the team’s mustachioed mascot that references the team’s legacy as the first professional-baseball squad, which was founded in 1869. According to the Cincinnati Business Courier, the sign to be installed at Union Terminal, the city’s historic train station that’s been transformed into the Cincinnati Museum Center, will be installed by securing vinyl signage onto wooden blocks and fastened with stainless-steel hardware. At presstime, the signs’ fabricator hadn’t been revealed.

To enhance the spectator experience during the game, the Reds partnered with local corporate titan Procter & Gamble to subsidize the installation of a second, LED video display to be installed by the All-Star Game. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported the 30 x 90-ft. display will enable fans sitting in the 7,500 seats where the main scoreboard isn’t visible to keep up with stats and scores of other games. The team is also seeking to install an additional board outside its Hall of Fame museum; this project is still pending city approval.

For Cincinnati and small professional sports markets like it, hosting the All-Star Game is an especially vital event. I’m not sure what triggered Cincinnati’s selection as the 2015 venue, but the year does provide a confluence of anniversaries. It represents the 75th anniversary of the Reds’ 1940 World Series triumph over the Detroit Tigers, the 40th anniversary of its legendary victory of the Boston Red Sox in the 1975 Series, the 30th anniversary of Rose breaking Ty Cobb’s record for most hits by a MLB (an unlikely contributing factor, as Rose is banned from MLB for betting on games), and the 25th anniversary of its 1990 World Series sweep over the heavily favored Oakland Athletics.

Whatever the reason for Cincinnati’s selection, it’s my fervent hope that the Queen City embraces its days in the limelight. By nature, Cincinnatians tend to be unduly reserved and disinclined from bragging about the city (the other major city I’ve lived in, Atlanta, stands as its diametric opposite — extroverted and a bit cocky; usually, the boasting has been justified). I hope we reverse that trend; let the signs create a festive atmosphere, and the people of Cincinnati, replete with can-do spirit and civic pride, close the deal of making a solid impression on the world’s baseball fans. This, by extension, will create a favorable image of Cincinnati as a desirable place to visit, host major events, and, in general, do business. Which, ultimately, will create more opportunities – and, more signs.
 

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