Earlier this week, I read that the New York Mets will be honoring the ’86 World Champions and while I really didn’t care for that team (or any Mets team) I appreciate the effort. I always enjoy seeing their Old-timers Day and the joy that the players and fans share.

Every year, I look at the various teams that will be celebrating landmark anniversaries, but only concern myself with champions from my lifetime. One team that has special albeit negative significance in my baseball viewing is the ’76 Reds. Fifty years ago, the Big Red Machine’s run ended with their second straight WS triumph (over the Yankees). Long before 24/7 coverage of pro sports, the Big Red Machine was the most hyped team in the 70’s. They were far more wholesome than the A’s of Oakland. The Reds were not big and Red when they lost to the Orioles in ’70 and the A’s in ’72 even though they had a few common denominators (Rose, Perez and Bench to name but a few). The Reds faded until they got boxed out in the ’81 strike-shortened season.

A little context; the 1975 World Series between Boston and Cincinnati was the first WS that my non-baseball fan friends talked about at school. At home, we talked about and watched the Pirates-Orioles and Oakland’s threepeat, but It wasn’t a thing at school. The smaller market Reds lost enough of their stars to free agency after the ’76 season, but nobody was talking small market v big market, partially because some of the big spenders weren’t exactly big market teams.

Unfortunately, the 1976 WS marked the beginning of the Yankees mini run which extended to 1978 and back-to-back triumphs over the Dodgers After going through the Reds upcoming promotional schedule for 2026 I found out they aren’t doing anything to mark the ’76 team.

However, they will be honoring the four newest members of the Reds Hall of Fame. While no fan of the Reds, I highly recommend a visit to their museum if you attend a game at Great American Ballpark(GABP) or Cincy if you are in town on an off-day. One can learn about a franchise’s history by checking out their HOF, wall of fame or similar honors. Some teams have very specific criteria, and different voters. The more interesting halls honor folks from different eras each year. This year’s class is quite diverse: Lou Piniella, Reggie Sanders, Brandon Phillips and Aaron Harang. The inclusion of Harang is puzzling, but I’m sure he’s in for legitimate reasons. Editor’s note: His numbers in Cincy really don’t warrant it, but that’s what’s cool about their Hall. Personally, I can’t wait to hear what Phillips has to say. He was one of the first players to embrace social media and connect with fans.

Obviously, these days are great marketing tools for the club and often serve as soft landings for guys who have had strained relationships with the team. See Sammy Sosa and the Cubs.