CINCINNATI —The Reds Hall of Fame & Museum announces that Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman will be inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2020.
Brennaman was selected as the sole inductee for the Class of 2020 by the Reds Hall of Fame Board of Directors.
“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.
Next year’s Reds Hall of Fame Induction Weekend presented by PNC Bank will include an on-field induction ceremony on Saturday, April 25 prior to the Reds vs. Arizona Diamondbacks game.
The 2020 Reds Hall of Fame Induction Gala presented by Clark Schaefer Hackett is scheduled for the evening of Sunday, April 26.
Brennaman, who will retire at the end of the season, will be the first broadcaster inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame, bringing the Hall’s membership ranks to 90 including 81 players, five managers and three executives.
“Marty Brennaman’s voice is virtually inseparable from the 46 years of Reds’ history immortalized through his calls,” said Bob Castellini, Reds CEO. “Marty’s talent has greatly contributed to the vitality of this franchise, making this a well-deserved honor for him.”
To commemorate Marty’s legendary career as a Reds broadcaster, the organization is planning several events to celebrate his final home games at Great American Ball Park September 24-26, 2019.
Visit reds.com/Marty for more information on giveaways and activities.
About Marty Brennaman
The 2019 season is Reds radio announcer Marty Brennaman’s 55th as a broadcaster, his 46th in Cincinnati. He will retire following this season. Brennaman joined the Reds radio team in 1974 and for 31 seasons (1974-2004) shared the 700 WLW Radio booth with Reds Hall of Fame pitcher Joe Nuxhall. Brennaman is only the eighth Major League Baseball broadcaster to work for the same team for at least 46 seasons, joining Vin Scully of the Dodgers (67 seasons, 1950-2016), Ralph Kiner of the Mets (52 seasons, 1962-2013), KC’s Denny Matthews (2019 will be his 51st, 1969), Mil’s Bob Uecker (2019 will be his 49th, 1971), Jack Buck (48, 1954-2001) & Mike Shannon (2019 will be his 48th, 1972) of the Cardinals and LA’s Jaime Jarrín (2019 will be his 47th, 1973). At 31 years together, Marty & Joe tied LA’s Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett for the longest running broadcast duo in baseball history.
Brennaman received the Ford C. Frick Award on July 23, 2000, in ceremonies at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The award is presented each year by the Hall of Fame to a broadcaster “for major contributions to the game of baseball.” Brennaman, Red Barber (WSAI, 1934-1938), Al Helfer (WSAI, 1935-36) and Russ Hodges (WFBE, 1932) are the only Reds announcers ever to receive the Hall of Fame’s prestigious broadcasting award.
Brennaman has been named Ohio Sportscaster of the Year 17 times, most recently in 2018. He won the Virginia Sportscaster of the Year Award 4 times while broadcasting basketball games for the American Basketball Association’s Virginia Squires, baseball games for the New York Mets’ Class AAA affiliate in Norfolk and football games for both Virginia Tech and William & Mary. He also has broadcast games during the NCAA’s men’s basketball tournament, including 15 regional tournaments and 11 Final Fours. On May 2, 2005 he was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in Salisbury, NC. On November 5, 2005 he was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago. In 1999 he was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. In October 2013 he was inducted into the Hampton Roads (VA) Sports Hall of Fame. In 2009 he was selected by the American Sportscasters Association as one of the Top 50 broadcasters of all time. In January 2013 he received the Tom Hammond Lifetime Achievement Award for Sports Broadcasting, presented by the Bluegrass Sports Commission in Lexington, Ky.
His son, Thom, also is a Reds broadcaster. Marty’s wife’s name is Amanda. He has 2 daughters, Dawn and Ashley, and 7 grandchildren, Dylan & Cal Venerus, Ella Mae & Luke Brennaman, Aidan & Tanner Shirley and Grace Koch.
Special broadcasts and giveaways planned in September
The Cincinnati Reds announce plans for the final weeks of Marty Brennaman’s 46-year career as the Reds play-by-play broadcaster.
“Having Marty Brennaman’s incredible career come to a close as we are concluding our 150th year of Reds baseball is pretty special,” said Phil Castellini, Reds President and COO.
Brennaman’s final game broadcast is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, September 26, 2019.*
“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 Marty Brennaman.
Some of the many activities at the ballpark include Marty visiting with fans on the concourses at Great American Ball Park before the games on September 3, 4, and 7.
For three games in September, Marty will appear at a temporary radio booth at Gapper’s Alley directly behind section 119, including a full game broadcast on Friday, Sept. 20.
• Game Broadcast: Friday, Sept. 20 at 7:10 p.m.
• Pre-Game Broadcast: Tuesday, Sept. 24 (gates open at 5:40 p.m.)
• Pre-Game Broadcast: Wednesday, Sept. 25 (gates open at 5:40 p.m.)
“The idea is to bring Marty out of the booth and amongst the fans at Great American Ball Park,” said Castellini. “Watching Marty host the radio pre-game show or call an inning will be an unforgettable experience for our fans.”
Final Regular Season Series, Sept. 24-26
As part of his final regular season series, Marty’s son, Thom Brennaman, will join him in the radio booth for the entire game broadcast on Wednesday, Sept. 25. And, for the games on Tuesday and Thursday, Sept. 24 and 26, Marty will be joined by his regular radio partner, Jeff Brantley.
“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,” said Brennaman.
At the game on September 26, the first 20,000 fans will receive a Reds transistor radio so they can hear Marty’s call of the game while in park.
“We are grateful to our partners at 700 WLW who are eliminating the delay for Marty’s final game which will allow fans in the park to hear Marty’s calls in real-time as they are watching the plays LIVE,” said Castellini.
Post-game on field “Marty-Party”: At the conclusion of the game on Thursday, Sept. 26, all fans will be invited onto the field at Great American Ball Park to take part in a special program honoring Marty, who will be on stage with Jim Day at the pitcher’s mound.
September 24-26 Giveaways
• Tuesday, Sept. 24 – Marty Brennaman Oversized Replica Ticket presented by Humana
Replica ticket from Marty’s first Reds broadcast on April 4, 1974, to the first 20,000 fans.
• Wednesday, Sept. 25 – Commemorative Marty Brennaman Print presented by Clark Schaefer Hackett
Print celebrating Marty’s selection as the 2020 Reds Hall of Fame Inductee to the first 20,000 fans.
•Thursday, Sept. 26 – Reds Handheld Radio presented by Kroger and Laura’s Lean Beef
Transistor radio with earbuds to the first 20,000 fans. Fans will be able to tune to 94.5 FM from their seats in the ballpark to listen to Marty’s farewell call.
