8 hours ago
I grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania and had never been in Cincinnati. I became a Bengals fan via the Cincinnati Reds.
I became a Reds fan in 1964, when they were making a last-minute run to catch up to the Philadelphia Phillies, who had built up a seemingly insurmountable lead in the pennant race but totally fell apart in the last two weeks (10 straight losses at one point, Bunning pitching on 2-days rest). The Reds didn't catch them (the Cardinals did), but they ran off 9 straight wins at one point and it came down to the last game of the season, and I was hooked. And what a team to get hooked on. Pete Rose and eventually Johnny Bench and Perez and Joe Morgan and the Big Red Machine. And, amazing, when nightfall came, I was able to pick up a radio station from Cincinnati on my tiny transistor radio, and spend many nights (including school nights, hiding under my blanket) listening to the games. Still remember staying up late to listen to Art Shamsky hit three homeruns in one night. Still brings joy to my heart thinking about those teams.
Through the Reds, I became a Cincinnati Royals fan (the Big O), and then the Bengals when their franchise got started.
I still live in Northeastern PA (well, moved back there, to my original property, to raise my family) and don't see many Bengals fans out here (area is Steelers, Eagles, Jets, and Giants), but every once in a while see one with the Bengals hat on.
I became a Reds fan in 1964, when they were making a last-minute run to catch up to the Philadelphia Phillies, who had built up a seemingly insurmountable lead in the pennant race but totally fell apart in the last two weeks (10 straight losses at one point, Bunning pitching on 2-days rest). The Reds didn't catch them (the Cardinals did), but they ran off 9 straight wins at one point and it came down to the last game of the season, and I was hooked. And what a team to get hooked on. Pete Rose and eventually Johnny Bench and Perez and Joe Morgan and the Big Red Machine. And, amazing, when nightfall came, I was able to pick up a radio station from Cincinnati on my tiny transistor radio, and spend many nights (including school nights, hiding under my blanket) listening to the games. Still remember staying up late to listen to Art Shamsky hit three homeruns in one night. Still brings joy to my heart thinking about those teams.
Through the Reds, I became a Cincinnati Royals fan (the Big O), and then the Bengals when their franchise got started.
I still live in Northeastern PA (well, moved back there, to my original property, to raise my family) and don't see many Bengals fans out here (area is Steelers, Eagles, Jets, and Giants), but every once in a while see one with the Bengals hat on.
