Here Comes the Big Red Machine

My Father’s Day gift came early, and it’s terrific. This week I’ve been watching a review copy of the 7-disc boxed set of the Big Red Machine's 1975 World Series. It’s awesome.
The “Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector’s Edition” ($69.95) -- due out Tuesday – has all 7 games, as broadcast by Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek on NBC. On the three games from Riverfront (Games 3, 4, 5), a very young Marty Brennaman is in the booth to add insights and call a couple of innings.
It’s such great fun seeing Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Pete Rose, Tony Perez, Ken Griffey (no need to call him Senior back then), Gary Nolan, George Foster as powerful young men in their prime. And to see Sparky Anderson and Klu in the dugout.
It’s cool to see Riverfront Stadium again – the faded hard plastic grass, the dirt cut-outs around the bases, the white line designating the end of the infield, even the goofy metric measurements on the outfield wall.
This boxed set is a magical trip back in time for Baby Boomer Reds fans.
The extras are cool too. My favorite is the clip from the team’s Fountain Square celebration, with Johnny Bench in a wide-lapel leisure suit, Tony Perez and family (was that Eduardo?), Pete Rose and Petey, and Commissioner Bowie Kuhn presenting the World Series trophy to Bob Howsam (wearing the bright red sports coat, of course). Disc 7 also has NBC’s coverage of the Reds victory celebration in the Fenway locker room; some NBC pre-game and post-game interviews; and recent comments by Rose, Bench, Morgan, Don Gullett, Sparky, Brennaman and others.
The box set will be in stores Tuesday (Barnes & Noble, Borders, Best Buy for sure). It’s also available at http://www.amazon.com and http://shop.mlb.com/home/index.jsp


Channel 19 news
Former Channel 5 news anchor Barbara Cain Brady hosts “Change the Outcome” (7:30 p.m. today, Ch. 19), a special about kids who have had surgery at Children’s Hospital Medical Center. “Change the Outcome” is a pilot for a possible series, says Marla Hurston Fuller, hospital community relations manager.