Staff Report

 

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds will try to celebrate a win against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the field while fans and former Reds’ greats will celebrate off the field.

The Reds have a big three-game weekend series with the Dodgers starting Friday night that includes a fireworks display and a 1970s era soundtrack after the game.

On Saturday, the Reds will unveil a statue of Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan at 10 a.m. outside of Great American Ball Park.

The starting eight members of the 1975-76 World Champion teams will be on hand marking the first time the “Great Eight” will appear together at GABP.

Morgan will be joined by Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, George Foster, Dave Concepcion, Cesar Geronimo and Ken Griffey Sr., who comprised the heart of the Big Red Machine teams that won six division titles, four pennants and two world championships during the 1970s.

Morgan’s statue will join previously sculptures that include Joe Nuxhall, Ted Kluszewski, Ernie Lombardi, Frank Robinson and Bench.

A two-time National League Most Valuable Player, Morgan holds the modern club record for stolen bases with 406 and he had 689 for his career.

The Great Eight will be introduced on the field prior to Saturday’s game and the first 20,000 fans will receive a free Joe Morgan No. 8 T-shirt courtesy of Rawlings.

The Reds also announced that Sunday’s game against the Dodgers has been moved from a 1:10 p.m. start to 8:05 to accommodate ESPN’s national broadcast.

Sunday’s Family Days offer will still be in effect. One member of the family pays full ticket price and may purchase up to three non-premium tickets at half-price in advance of game day only.