Freaking Out About Cincinnati’s Opening Day with Randy Freking

In this special episode, Dan Carruthers and Randy discuss plans for the 2024 Opening Day celebration of the Cincinnati Reds, the history of Opening Days since 2018 - three of which were indeed strange ones - and their personal experiences on the holiday.  Opening Day Eve Party: http://openingdayeve.com/ Official Website for Randy Freking: https://www.freakingoutabout.com  Randy Freking’s Book on The History of Opening Day: https://www.amazon.com/Cincinnatis-150-Year-Opening-Day-History/dp/1732749329 Freaking Out About Cincinnati’s Opening Day: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/GS1003177798

This episode explores the tremendous growth of Cincinnati’s Opening Day “ceremonial holiday” as the Banks entertainment district added to the spectacle. Good Reds teams early in the decade helped, but the growth in the party continued despite several “rebuilding” years. Your host, Randy Freking, is the author of “Cincinnati's 150-Year Opening Day History: The Hoopla Started with a Parade” and co-author of “@Titanicstruggle: The Best of MARTY BRENNAMAN” Get your copies at openingdaybook.com and BestofMarty.com

This episode explores Opening Days from 2001 to 2010, featuring Ken Griffey’s tenure after he joined the team in 2000, a new ballpark, new owner Bob Castellini, and growing optimism. Your host, Randy Freking, is the author of “Cincinnati's 150-Year Opening Day History: The Hoopla Started with a Parade” and co-author of “@Titanicstruggle: The Best of MARTY BRENNAMAN” Get your copies at openingdaybook.com and BestofMarty.com

This episode explores the craziest decade of Openers, starting with a World Series ring ceremony and advancing through an Easter Sunday debacle, the death of an umpire during an opener, to the arrival of Ken Griffey, Jr. in 2000! Your host, Randy Freking, is the author of “Cincinnati's 150-Year Opening Day History: The Hoopla Started with a Parade” and co-author of “@Titanicstruggle: The Best of MARTY BRENNAMAN” Get your copies at openingdaybook.com and BestofMarty.com

Relive the Opening Day celebrations as the Big Red Machine was dismantled, Marge Schott became the Mother of Opening Day, and Pete Rose played in his last Opener! Your host, Randy Freking, is the author of “Cincinnati's 150-Year Opening Day History: The Hoopla Started with a Parade” and co-author of “@Titanicstruggle: The Best of MARTY BRENNAMAN” Get your copies at openingdaybook.com and BestofMarty.com

From 1963 - 1978, the most popular player of the Big Red Machine, Pete Rose, started in each of the 16 years. From Rose’s remarkable debut in 1963, the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr,, the  last Opener in Crosley Field, the introduction of a new parade route to the Riverfront, to Hank Aaron’s historic home run in 1974, these 16 years are perhaps the most interesting Openers in Reds history. Your host, Randy Freking, is the author of “Cincinnati's 150-Year Opening Day History: The Hoopla Started with a Parade” and co-author of “@Titanicstruggle: The Best of MARTY BRENNAMAN” Get your copies at openingdaybook.com and BestofMarty.com

This episode highlights the 17 years following World War II, with a series of “firsts” on Opening Day, from television to the integration of baseball, the first female to throw the first pitch on Opening Day, to the influence of communism on the team’s official nickname. Your host, Randy Freking, is the author of “Cincinnati's 150-Year Opening Day History: The Hoopla Started with a Parade” and co-author of “@Titanicstruggle: The Best of MARTY BRENNAMAN” Get your copies at openingdaybook.com and BestofMarty.com

This episode features the historic introduction of the Findlay Market Parade, and the tumultuous Opening Days during the Great Depression and World War II. Through it all, our greatest holiday not only survived, but it also flourished. Your host, Randy Freking, is the author of “Cincinnati's 150-Year Opening Day History: The Hoopla Started with a Parade” and co-author of “@Titanicstruggle: The Best of MARTY BRENNAMAN” Get your copies at openingdaybook.com and BestofMarty.com

This episode examines the continuing impact of Frank Bancroft on Cincinnati’s holiday, and the introduction of Tally Ho Parties, from the late 19th century through the end of World War I. Your host, Randy Freking, is the author of “Cincinnati's 150-Year Opening Day History: The Hoopla Started with a Parade” and co-author of “@Titanicstruggle: The Best of MARTY BRENNAMAN” Get your copies at openingdaybook.com and BestofMarty.com

In this episode, we will explore the first seven years when Opening Day took hold as a special day and celebration in Cincinnati, and one year -1888 - when, horror of horrors! - the Red Stockings were scheduled to open on the road! Your host, Randy Freking, is the author of “Cincinnati's 150-Year Opening Day History: The Hoopla Started with a Parade” and co-author of “@Titanicstruggle: The Best of MARTY BRENNAMAN” Get your copies at openingdaybook.com and BestofMarty.com