Rob Butcher
Cincinnati Reds’ VP Media Relations

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 Brennaman’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), Kansas City’s Denny Matthews (2019 will be his 51st, 1969), Milwaukee’s Bob Uecker (2019 will be his 49th, 1971), Jack Buck (48, 1954-2001) and 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 and 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 Nov. 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.
About the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum presented by Dinsmore
Driven by a mission to celebrate greatness, preserve history and provide inspiration, the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum at Great American Ball Park is the place where the story of Reds baseball comes alive each day.
The newly renovated Museum features 16,000 square feet of historical, interactive and educational exhibits, highlighting the rich and storied tradition of the Reds for fans of all ages. Since its inception in 1958, 89 players, managers and executives have been honored with induction into the Reds Hall of Fame. Plan your visit at RedsMuseum.org.