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A lot of younger board members may not understand just how different the Reds were (compared to most baseball franchises) back in the 60's and 70's. They really worked at expanding their radio coverage area and being the "people's team". That was largely due to the Powell Crosley radio influence, with much of the groundwork going back to the 30's 40's and 50's. They wanted to expand their radio network as far as they could. That was the reason for the caravans each winter, taking team members for publicity sessions to WV, Tenn, Indiana, etc. And it worked, as fans planned their vacations around coming to Cincinnati for games. Before TV money became the big driver it is today, the Reds had some of the best attendance numbers in baseball. They were able to support a payroll that most other teams simply could not (unless they had a rich owner willing to lose money.)

Their biggest rival in this approach was St. Louis, and the teams stole ideas from each other regularly. I believe the Cincinnati and St. Louis had the largest radio networks in baseball at the time, both far larger than the average.

Much of the team building credit should go to GM Bob Howsam. Holding onto players like Bench, Perez, and Rose. Trading for Joe Morgan. A little bit of good luck was involved too.

But all good things seem to end sometime. And when the Reds crashed, they crashed hard.

(09-12-2020 08:54 AM)ucbandguy Wrote:  A lot of younger board members may not understand just how different the Reds were (compared to most baseball franchises) back in the 60's and 70's. They really worked at expanding their radio coverage area and being the "people's team". That was largely due to the Powell Crosley radio influence, with much of the groundwork going back to the 30's 40's and 50's. They wanted to expand their radio network as far as they could. That was the reason for the caravans each winter, taking team members for publicity sessions to WV, Tenn, Indiana, etc. And it worked, as fans planned their vacations around coming to Cincinnati for games. Before TV money became the big driver it is today, the Reds had some of the best attendance numbers in baseball. They were able to support a payroll that most other teams simply could not (unless they had a rich owner willing to lose money.)

Their biggest rival in this approach was St. Louis, and the teams stole ideas from each other regularly. I believe the Cincinnati and St. Louis had the largest radio networks in baseball at the time, both far larger than the average.

Much of the team building credit should go to GM Bob Howsam. Holding onto players like Bench, Perez, and Rose. Trading for Joe Morgan. A little bit of good luck was involved too.

But all good things seem to end sometime. And when the Reds crashed, they crashed hard.

Not to mention the no facial hair policy.

Pretty much everything on TV draws fewer eyeballs these days. Sports has held up better than most. Compare viewership of top networks sitcoms over the years and you'll see some real drops.

(09-12-2020 11:07 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  Pretty much everything on TV draws fewer eyeballs these days. Sports has held up better than most. Compare viewership of top networks sitcoms over the years and you'll see some real drops.

But how much of top networks sitcoms ratings decline is due to exponentially increased options (including uncensored and commercial-free options)? Sure there's been some new sports competition but I'm not sure any have really made much of a dent with the possible exception of MMA. And that seems to have been largely offset by the decline in boxing. Just my impression of the situation.

(09-12-2020 12:45 PM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  

(09-12-2020 11:07 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  Pretty much everything on TV draws fewer eyeballs these days. Sports has held up better than most. Compare viewership of top networks sitcoms over the years and you'll see some real drops.

But how much of top networks sitcoms ratings decline is due to exponentially increased options (including uncensored and commercial-free options)? Sure there's been some new sports competition but I'm not sure any have really made much of a dent with the possible exception of MMA. And that seems to have been largely offset by the decline in boxing. Just my impression of the situation.

Increased options applies to sports as well. I love sports but I choose to watch a quality show from netflix or FX or whatever often on nights in the past where I'd have watched a game I had little real interest in. Sports undoubtedly has felt it less, but increased options definitely have caused ratings drops.

Sports wise I watch my teams as religiously as I always have (except the Cubs with no WGN broadcasts and less interest in baseball for me personally), but I watch a fraction of the games I used to watch where I have no rooting interest. It's not that I like the sports less it's that there are just more viewing options.

(09-12-2020 02:33 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  Sports wise I watch my teams as religiously as I always have (except the Cubs with no WGN broadcasts and less interest in baseball for me personally), but I watch a fraction of the games I used to watch where I have no rooting interest. It's not that I like the sports less it's that there are just more viewing options.

+1 I rarely watch games that don't involve UC, the Reds, or FCC. There's so much content nowadays that it all kind of blurs together. Growing up (41 yrs old) there was so much less sports you really felt like you couldn't miss things like Sunday night baseball or the NBA on NBC name of the week

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(09-11-2020 01:19 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Most folks remember the Reds won the 1975 and 1976 World Series. Some may remember that the Reds swept the '76 series against the Yankees. Not many remember the Reds also played in the 1970 and 1972 series. The latter they lost to the A's in seven games. They came close to winning three world titles in the decade.

Joe Rudi, Sal Bando, Reggie Jackson, Bert Campanaris (spell check), Rollie, Catfish Hunter, Vida Blue, Gene Tenace etc.

(09-13-2020 12:23 PM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 01:19 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Most folks remember the Reds won the 1975 and 1976 World Series. Some may remember that the Reds swept the '76 series against the Yankees. Not many remember the Reds also played in the 1970 and 1972 series. The latter they lost to the A's in seven games. They came close to winning three world titles in the decade.

Joe Rudi, Sal Bando, Reggie Jackson, Bert Campanaris (spell check), Rollie, Catfish Hunter, Vida Blue, Gene Tenace etc.

Tricky A's...

Making poor Johnny Bench believe that they were going to intentionally walk him then quick pitching while he stood there with his thumb us his @$$.

I hated those guys.