10/01/2024
This one hurts. I’ve always believed that Ken Griffey Jr, Johnny Bench, and Frank Robinson were the most naturally talented Reds in history. But Pete will always be Mr. Red, and my favorite Red, it’s not even a contest. Born and raised in Cincinnati, he would go on to play for and manage his hometown team. They became known as the “Big Red Machine”, the greatest team in baseball history (Feel free to stop by the store if you wanna argue). Along the way, he earned the nickname “Charlie Hustle”, won 3 World Series, played in 17 All-Star games at 5 different positions, won the 1973 NL MVP, and swatted 4,224 hits the most MLB history. Over the years I got to sit down and talk with Pete almost 20 times. My love for sports memorabilia and dream of owning a store was born the first time I met him in 2008. I even traveled to Cincinnati for his Reds Hall of Fame induction ceremony and statue unveiling. Thanks, Pete for being so accessible to fans, being an idol, and being a friend. Rest in Peace.
