Former Reds Owner CARL LINDNER JR., who "never shed the fierce competitiveness and loyalty that made him a hometown icon," died late last night at the age of 92, according to Cliff Peale of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. The billionaire investor "bought and sold Kings Island, the Reds, Provident Bank and the Enquirer." Peale notes perhaps the "most public role of his career was his ownership" of the Reds from '99-'05. Lindner "owned a minority stake both before and after that period but was the Reds' CEO for six seasons, and each of those years the team lost more games than it won." He approved the trade for KEN GRIFFEY JR. in '00, even "sending his private jet to bring Griffey to Cincinnati and then personally driving the hometown star back to Cinergy Field from Lunken Airport in his Rolls-Royce." But Peale notes as the Reds' losses mounted, Lindner "never spoke publicly to fans and privately bristled at talk-radio criticism." His majority ownership ended in late '05 when Lindner "sold a controlling stake in the Reds to a group headed" by current President & CEO BOB CASTELLINI (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 10/18).
LOOKING BACK: The AP's Janet McMillan notes when Lindner took over the Reds in '99, he "ended MARGE SCHOTT's rocky 15-year reign as owner." In contrast to Schott's "grandstanding, Lindner stayed mostly in the background" (AP, 10/18). In Cincinnati, Paul Daugherty writes, "It would be a stretch to say he failed as Reds owner." Daugherty: "Baseball economics being what they were and are, failure is far more likely than not in a little place such as Cincinnati. Lindner didn't fail entirely. But his stewardship was hardly successful." Daugherty recalls, "By Opening Day 2003, Reds fans were booing Lindner during pregame festivities." Daugherty writes Lindner "believed local ownership of the Reds was vital. He thought the ballclub needed stability, in the wake of Marge Schott's tumultuously eventful run" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 10/18).
