Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

With the 150th anniversary of the Cincinnati Reds and the birth of professional baseball next year, it’s time for a history lesson.
And what better history lesson about the Reds than the famous Big Red Machine.
Doug Flynn — one of the team members — and team historian Greg Rhodes will be the featured speakers when the Ironton Chapter of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum holds an event from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday at Buffalo Wild Wings.
Cost for the evening is $10 for Reds Hall of Fame & Museum members and $25 for non-members. The price included one autograph and there is a $5 donation fee for each additional autograph. There is a limit of three total.
Food may be ordered off the Buffalo Wild Wings menu.
Walk-ins are welcomed but RSVPs are encouraged. Those planning to attend should email an RSVP to Ironton Chapter Leader Ginger Lilly at gingerb1967@roadrunner.com or call Sherry Rowland at (513) 765-7926.
Flynn was only 23 years old when he broke into the major leagues with the Reds on April 9, 1975. He was part of the Reds’ 1975-76 World Championship teams.
He won the third base job in 1975 while eventually becoming a utility infielder when Pete Rose switched from the outfield to allow George Foster to play left field.
Flynn played with the Reds for three years before being part of a trade with the New York Mets that sent Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver to the Reds.
He played five seasons with the Mets before finishing his career with the Texas Rangers, Montreal Expos and Detroit Tigers.
Flynn now fills in part-time on Reds’ broadcasts as well as the Reds Weekly series on Fox Sports Ohio. He also does games for the University of Kentucky Baseball on the SEC Network.
A native of Richmond, IN., Rhodes is a lifelong Reds’ fan who grew up rooting for the Reds during the 1950s and 1960s. His loved was enhanced by listening to the play-by-play and stories of former Reds’ radio announcer and major league pitcher Waite Hoyt.
Rhodes was named the executive director of the Reds’ Hall of Fame and Museum when it opened in 2004 and served in that capacity until retiring in July of 2007.
Rhodes has continued to serve as team historian and remains active in speaking engagements regarding the history of Reds’ baseball. He is the host of the Reds’ Radio Network pregame show.
He has co-authored six books on the Reds including Redleg Journal and Reds in Black and White. Both of those books won The Sporting News SABR Baseball Research Award.
Rhodes is a former Social Studies teach who worked for the Cincinnati Historical Society from 1987-92.
He helped plan the creation of the new history museum and the Museum Center, served as a president of the board of Historic Southwest Ohio, and was the chairman of the local chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research.
Rhodes is also a former president of the Cincinnati Red Stockings vintage baseball team.