CINCINNATI -- Pete Rose wasn't forgotten Saturday when the Cincinnati Reds honored their 1975 World Series championship team. His name and single red roses were everywhere.
|  | | By placing a red rose on third base, Barry Larkin made sure Pete Rose was represented. |
More than a dozen banners fluttered from the various levels of
Cinergy Field and the crowd of about 40,000 repeatedly broke into
chants of "Pete! Pete! Pete!" as the Big Red Machine was honored
during on-field ceremonies Saturday before a game against
Minnesota.
"No, we haven't forgotten," broadcaster Marty Brennaman said,
after introducing other members of the '75 team lined up along the
first-base line. "No. 14 should be here and isn't."
Rose couldn't participate because of his lifetime ban for
gambling. Baseball made a one-time exception during the World
Series last fall, allowing him to be introduced as part of the
All-Century team.
Baseball wouldn't make more exceptions to the ban this year,
when Rose had hoped to participate in commemorations of his
championship teams in Cincinnati and Philadelphia.
Rose got the loudest ovation when Big Red Machine highlights
were shown on the video board before the '75 team was introduced.
Afterward, chief operating officer John Allen mentioned the team's
legacy.
"So again, thanks to this group and Pete Rose for the history
we have," he said, drawing a loud cheer.
Imitation No. 14 jerseys and banners that bore Rose's name and
took swipes at commissioner Bud Selig decorated the stadium. When
the '75 players ran out to their former positions, current Reds
shortstop Barry Larkin ran to third -- Rose's spot -- and put a
single red rose on the unblemished white base, delighting the
crowd.
Fans tossed several roses on the warning track as well, bringing
out the grounds crew to clean up.
Sparky Anderson and Dave Concepcion, the manager and shortstop
of the Big Red Machine, also were inducted into the team's Hall of
Fame. Both received tributes on the video board before receiving
plaques on the field.
"Twenty-five years ago, I knew how great they were," said
Anderson, who also won a World Series in Detroit. "But I realize
now the greatest bunch of people I have ever seen in any
professional sport was the 1975-76 Reds because they were so
professional and knew how to go about winning and knew how to
act."
The Reds wore 1975-style double-knit uniforms, all-red caps,
black shoes and pants pulled up to show off low-stirrup red socks --
the Big Red Machine's required garb.
Anderson threw a ceremonial first pitch to Hall of Fame catcher
Johnny Bench, a lob that made it on the fly. Concepcion, who
perfected the bounce throw to first base on artificial turf, then
purposely skipped his first pitch to Bench on one hop.
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