Press Clippings November 27, 2017 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1962-The Reds to the Phillies for . Owens will appear in 19 games for the Reds, going 0-2, with a 5.31 ERA, 42.1 pitched, with four saves and 29 MLB.COM Reds Community Fund impacting kids all year Executive director Frank proud of RBI, UYA alums who signed to play in college on June 7

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | November 25th, 2017 + 2 COMMENTS CINCINNATI -- The Reds Community Fund works year-round to reach boys and girls of all backgrounds who not only want to want to play , but also earn achievements away from the field. The fund's longtime executive director, Charley Frank, was particularly thankful for one day in 2017: June 7.

It was on that day when 33 kids from the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program and the P&G MLB Urban Youth Academy took part in the team's first college signing day. Of those 33 at the event inside , 14 were going on to play or . And one graduate, R.J. Barnes from Sycamore High School, was selected in the 34th round of the by Cincinnati.

"We celebrated 33 kids that had been through the program and graduated high school. Many of them are going on to college for the first time in their families' history," Frank said.

In an elite educational program modeled partly after an initiative by the White Sox, the students received attention beyond coaching on the field and funding for travel and equipment. They received ACT and SAT testing preparation, etiquette skills training and training to create resumes and sharpen interview skills. In 2017, the program had two teams. The plan is to grow the enhanced training program to 11 teams for baseball and softball players between 14-18 years old.

Among those present at the signing ceremony were Reds chief operating officer Phil Castellini and reliever . The day gave Frank and the Reds Community Fund another indication of how the Urban Youth Academy has evolved in just three years. "While we've always been in this universe of tens of thousands of kids being touched, now we've seen this filter," Frank said. "Every spring, our goal is that there will be 30-50 kids that are Major League citizens, ready for life, that have really been touched by the programs, the resources and staff of the academy, the community fund and the Reds."

Later that night as the Reds played the Cardinals, donated all of its pregame, in-game and postgame commercial time for the Reds Community Fund to its annual telethon. Stories of the students from signing day were told throughout the evening, along with the other baseball and philanthropic work that is done by the RCF.

More than $120,000 in charitable donations was made during the telethon. Four years ago, the telethon generated $15,000.

"The telethon has become one of our more remarkable fundraisers," Frank said. "That day was monumental for us. It was such an effective day in both raising awareness and fundraising. Tying those two programs together and being able to tell the stories of many of those young men and women in real time was phenomenal."

Two more college-bound high school seniors and alumni from the RBI program also won scholarships from MLB Charities, as part of the "RBI for RBI" Scholarship Fund. Since 2014, seven of the 48 MLB scholarships awarded have gone to graduates of the Cincinnati-area RBI program or Urban Youth Academy.

Once again, the Reds Community Fund also led a "community makeover," with hundreds of volunteers descending in the Evanston neighborhood to work at Hoffman Fields. With the help of the Cincinnati Zoo, Kroger and Procter & Gamble, two smaller fields behind the school were converted into one bigger and better field. Nearby at the Evanston Recreation Center, an outdoor playscape was installed and a learning center was dedicated. There was even a new zip line added. More than $500,000 worth of improvements were made.

"It's really the first of its kind in the city," Frank said. "That's one of the biggest things we do, year-in and year-out." In the past 12 years, the Reds Community Fund has renovated over 200 sites totaling over 400 baseball and softball fields. "A big part of field renovation is to make sure we're in touch with each neighborhood," Frank said. "We're the only team, really, that keeps maintenance involved in the equation. It's a very challenging task but a big priority to us."

Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from 2001-05. Follow him on @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of or its clubs. CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Paul Daugherty: Sorry, , there's no wrong way to vote for Hall of Fame Paul Daugherty, [email protected] Published 6:30 p.m. ET Nov. 22, 2017

Joe Morgan has made a plea, lit a fire and made us think. Think? We Hall of Fame voters are sports writers, many of us. We don’t think.

Morgan blasted an e-mail Tuesday morning, to all media members with a HOF vote. He urged us to keep “known steroid users" out of Cooperstown:

Players who failed drug tests, admitted using steroids, or were identified as users in Major League Baseball’s investigation into steroid abuse, known as the , should not get in.

This is a worthy request and a noble goal. At least for some voters. The young Philistines who disagree won’t be swayed by Morgan’s letter. The older guys will say, “Damned right." The great divide on this issue generally skews along generational lines.

More: Reds legend Joe Morgan to Hall of Fame voters: 'Steroid users don't belong here'

I wanted to talk to Morgan about this. I called him twice Tuesday. He didn’t answer or call back. I’d have asked him if he considered amphetamines performance-enhancers, and if he used them. Greenies were the PEDs of the old school. They were so plentiful and easily available in clubhouses, they should have put ‘em in Pez dispensers.

Morgan barely addresses the biggest issue. never failed a drug test. Nor did . Some voters will say without a positive test or a confession, they will not judge a player simply for being a suspect. It’s a fair point.

Morgan’s advice? Let your conscience be your guide. Gee thanks, Joe.

That’s a big ask for anyone with a conscience.

I will never vote for Bonds, Clemens, A-Rod, etc.

But I voted for . I voted for . Each was a suspect.

Gary Sheffield is a Mitchell man. I voted for him, too.

Why?

If I had a perfect answer, I’d offer it. I don’t.

So, Doc, what you suspect, not what you know, influences your vote.

That’s absolutely correct.

I suspect that head sizes don’t magically increase. I suspect that players get better as they age, but only to a point before it goes the other way. I think common sense is relevant here. This isn’t a court of law. It is a court of opinion. I voted forever for . He didn’t get in. Why Morris? Because he had borderline HOF credentials. And he pitched the best game I’ve ever seen in person. Should one game influence a vote? Probably not. But again, my vote. My opinion.

And by the way, to all who scream that a Hall without Bonds and Clemens is willfully ignorant of an entire era: Much of the Hall of Fame is given to artifacts, photos, displays and the like. That part is called “the museum." As in “The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum." Another part of the Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring the individuals enshrined. That part is called the Plaque Gallery.

Bonds and Clemens are in the museum portion of the Hall, where they belong. Not in the Plaque Gallery, where they don’t. Think of them as museum pals with Pete.

“The cheating that tainted an era now risks tainting the Hall of Fame," Morgan wrote. “Steroid users don’t belong here. What they did shouldn’t be accepted."

Morgan shrugs off an entire rogues gallery of racists, womanizers, spitballers and a suspected murderer, . To Morgan, they were “colorful characters, some of whom broke or bent society’s rules in their era."

It’s interesting what some of us get religion about. That detracts from Morgan’s point. But only a little. Morgan is not some grumpy OG, lecturing us on how great the game used to be. He saw a problem and, being Joe Morgan, he said something about it. Even if he is a few years late. Bonds and Clemens have been on the ballot five years.

He wrote the letter on Hall letterhead. If those who the place are as interested as Morgan in maintaining its purity, or whatever, they should ban PED users, admitted and highly suspected.

Don’t put it on the media to decide. It’s your Hall of Fame. If you don’t want the likes of Bonds and Clemens, say so. Don’t have Morgan do your dirty work.

Meantime, we voters will toil on. I think I’m right in doing it the Morgan way. I’m not sure, though. Nobody is. WCPO Fay: 9 reasons Cincinnati sports fans should be thankful John Fay 3:48 PM, Nov 22, 2017 3:55 PM, Nov 22, 2017

CINCINNATI — What follows is the obligatory “What We Have To Be Thankful For” column coinciding with Thanksgiving. In this case, it’s nine things that Cincinnati sports fans have to be thankful for:

1. : You’re seeing the greatest hitter in Reds history plying his craft on an everyday basis. Votto started all 162 games last . For a player to do that on a team that is hopelessly out of it shows he loves the game.

The season Votto had was unbelievable. He got on base in all but 12 games. He defies the all-or-nothing approach that permeates today’s game. He cut down his strikeouts and increased his power.

And he seems to be embracing his team-leader, face-of-the-franchise status. What he did with Superbubz, the 6-year-old with cancer, was a beautiful moment in a dark season.

2. UC hoops: The Bearcats are deep, talented and entertaining. Jacob Evans III, Cane Broome, Jarron Cumberland, Justin Jenifer and Keith Williams are really good perimeter players.

Gary and Kyle provide inside presence and are all-round good guys.

3. XU hoops: Muskies fans should thank Trevon Bluiett for sticking around for his senior year. UC is pretty stacked, but Bluiett is the best player in town.

He seems to be able to make the big shot just when the Muskies need it.

The Big East season should be great fun to watch. So should the Shootout Dec. 2 at Cintas Center.

4. NKU hoops: The Norse are the other I program in town — and they made the NCAA Tournament last year.

5. A.J. : He’s the best wide receiver in Bengal history for my money. He also does things the right way - the outburst at Jacksonville notwithstanding.

It’s pretty amazing every week when the opponent’s defensive coordinator says, “We can’t let A.J. Green beat us’’ and he does it consistently.

6. FC Cincinnati: That folks are engaged in the fight shows you the passion for pro soccer in this town. FC Cincinnati has done a wonderful job of making its matches fun fan experiences.

I’m not a soccer guy, but I enjoy Futbol Club Cincinnati games, er, matches.

7. High school football: I covered some of St. X’s run to the state championship last year. After one of the Bombers’ improbable comebacks, Steve Specht said: “Seven bucks for this? You’ve got to be kidding me.”

As far as for the buck, high school football is where it’s at. Winton Woods-LaSalle was a classic Friday, as was Colerain-St. X.

8. Great American Ball Park: It is a great place to watch a baseball game. It’s really hard for a baseball stadium to stand out these days because there are so many new ones. Heck, is the second oldest park in the .

I don’t know where I’d put Great American on my list. PNC is is No. 1 for me, followed by a lot of first runners-up. But I do know that Great American is great place to take in a game.

I like to sit up high where you get the river views.

It is so much better than Riverfront/Cinergy, the stadium of my formative years.

9. The Thanksgiving Day Race: It’s one of the oldest races in the U.S. It went from a race of elite college runners to a community run/walk.

It’s kind of like a family reunion. Only in this case, it’s not family but friends. You bump into people you haven’t seen in years and everyone is in good mood after having burned all those calories pre-gorging.