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Reds Broadcaster Marty Brennaman Says '19 Will Be His Final Season

Brennaman was awarded the Ford Frick Award from the Baseball HOF in '00GETTY IMAGES

This year will mark the "final season" in the Reds radio booth for play-by-play announcer Marty Brennaman, who has been the team's "lead broadcaster" since '74, according to John Fay of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. Brennaman made the announcement yesterday at the team's annual radio affiliate luncheon, stressing that he will "broadcast no games" in '20. He wanted to "delay the announcement until the final game of the season, so he could avoid a farewell tour," but the Reds "talked him out of it." Fay notes Brennaman has "won the highest honors a baseball broadcaster can," including the the Ford Frick Award from the Baseball HOF in '00. Brennaman for 28 years partnered with the late Joe Nuxhall until Nuxhall's retirement in '03, and their broadcasts were like "no other in baseball." The duo will be "forever linked in Reds lore." While he had "chances to move to bigger markets -- Boston and San Francisco among them" -- Brennaman has "immersed himself in the Cincinnati community." He is a "combination of celebrity and everyman" and is seen as an "approachable icon" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/17). In Dayton, Mark Schmetzer notes Brennaman is "healthy enough to keep working," but that good health is also the "reason he's retiring." Reds CEO Bob Castellini said that Brennaman’s last season coincides with the Reds’ and MLB's "celebration of the 150th anniversary" (DAYTON DAILY NEWS, 1/17).

REPLACING A LEGEND: The ENQUIRER's Fay notes Reds President & COO Phil Castellini will "lead the search" for a new lead radio broadcaster. Phil Castellini said, "We’ll continue to give opportunities to guys in that position -- it’s fluid. We’ll seek feedback from fans. We have till until the end of this season to find someone." Jeff Brantley will "continue as the radio analyst." Thom Brennaman, Marty's son, is currently the "lead television play-by-play man" on FS Ohio and will not "move to the radio to replace his father" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/17).

A STAPLE OF THE CITY: A CINCINNATI ENQUIRER editorial states that with Brennaman's exit, summers will "never be the same in the Queen City." He is "not only a broadcasting legend, he's a Cincinnati institution" (CINCINNATI.com, 1/16). In Cincinnati, Paul Daugherty in a front-page piece writes Brennaman's voice has been a "stitch in our fabric." For 46 years, he has been a "central part of the local conversation" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/17). MLB Network’s Chris Russo said Brennaman is “one of the great play-by-play guys you’re ever going to hear.” Russo: “He never, never, ever pulled the wool over your eyes. Told you the truth. He didn’t worry about who he was offending. He really was a straight shooter and a tremendous, tremendous play-by-play guy” (“High Heat,” MLB Network, 1/16). MLB Network’s Ron Darling said Brennaman has the “greatest pipes of any radio guy ever” (“MLB Tonight,” MLB Network, 1/16). 

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