#22. Cinergy Field home of the Cincinatti Reds
Times visited: 1
Dates: 7/16/01 vs. Detroit (W: 9-1)
Ruben Rivera was known for 4 things in his major league career. #1 He was the cousin of legendary Yankees Closer Marinao Rivera. #2 He took some of Derek Jeter’s equipment in 2002 and sold them. #3 He’s know for what some people consider the worst base running play of all time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ94rkwdTvQ
Those three items are pretty well known among some baseball fans. The fourth item is only known to a handful of people. Ruben was responsible for me getting my hands on a major league baseball.
I was living in Indianapolis at the time and ended up scoring front row tickets to the Reds/Tigers game in Cincy. I ended up with more tickets than I exected so I had a few seats in the front by myself. Once the game started two ladies came down into the front row and we talked throughout the game. It was about in the third inning that I finally figured out why they were there. They knew one of the ball players. From time to time they would converse with Ruben Rivera of the Reds in Spanish. Apparently they met at an apartment complex that Ruben was looking at.
In the middle of the game Ruben tosses one of the girls a ball. Jealous, I asked the girls if I could get one, next thing I know Ruben tosses a ball my way. Even though this wasn't a game ball. After years and years of going to a game and coming close on a few occasions of getting a ball, I finally had one. I had the biggest smile in the ball park that night.
There was a baseball game that night and the Tigers got smoked by the Reds. Ken Griffey Jr. hit two homeruns although I missed one thanks to the very very slow service at the park that night. The stadium by the way was one of the old cookie cutter ballparks and since the new stadium was being built right next to it, part of the outfield of the current ballpark was removed so the new structure could be built.
After I visited this ballpark I would end up with baseballs at the nex 3 out of 4 ballparks I visited but on this warm summer night in July of 2001, thanks to Ruben Rivera. I finally got a baseball!