For longtime Reds announcer Marty Brennaman, Thursday was an almost surreal day, "getting up and thinking about broadcasting my last baseball game." During the game, it was mostly business as usual, but after it was over, he got emotional before signing off.
Brennaman replaced the game recap on WLW with some things he had to tell fans. He told broadcast partner Jeff Brantley, "all the hullabaloo over me retiring has been misplaced." He says it's the fans he owes everything to. "When I came in 1974 and have maintained that love and affection throughout all these years, they're the ones that I should be giving back to."
And it wasn't long before Cincinnatians decided Marty was one of them. "To have lived in this city all the time that I have, and to have made all the friends that I have, and have a hand in raising three kids and three marriages and never ever lessen my love for this, I'm proud to say I'll be here until the day they pass muster on me for the final time."
Brennaman continued, "I'm proud to say I'm a Cincinnatian and for those who are here today and for those who are listening wherever they might be, just know how much you're loved and how much you're appreciated. That's all I got."
During the game, fans stood and applauded his 46 years of broadcasting Reds baseball. Even Ohio's governor came to the booth and gave Marty a proclamation, joking he could sell it at a yard sale.
The only bummer of the day was the Reds loss to the Brewers 5-3.
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