DOCSLIB.ORG

2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report For the year ended The County of December 31, 2011 Hamilton, Ohio Issued by Dusty Rhodes Hamilton County Auditor This page intentionally left blank. 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 Issued by Dusty Rhodes Auditor Hamilton County, Ohio This page intentionally left blank. COUNTY OF HAMILTON, OHIO COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT Year Ended December 31, 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTORY SECTION PAGE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 1 LIST OF ELECTED OFFICIALS. 6 ORGANIZATION CHART. 7 FINANCIAL SECTION REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS . 9 MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS. 13 BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: Government-Wide Financial Statements: Statement of Net Assets. 36 Statement of Activities. 37 Fund Financial Statements: Balance Sheet—Governmental Funds. 38 Reconciliation of Balance Sheet—Governmental Funds—to Government-Wide Statement of Net Assets. 39 Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances—Governmental Funds. 40 Reconciliation of Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances— Governmental Funds—to Government-Wide Statement of Activities. 41 Statements of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance—Budget and Actual: General Fund. 42 Public Assistance—Special Revenue Fund. 43 Health and Human Services Levies—Special Revenue Fund. 44 Statement of Net Assets—Proprietary Funds. 46 Reconciliation of Statement of Net Assets—Proprietary Funds to Government-Wide Statement of Net Assets . 48 Statement of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Fund Net Assets—Proprietary Funds. 50 Reconciliation of Statement of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Fund Net Assets— Proprietary Funds—to Government-Wide Statement of Activities . 52 Statement of Cash Flows—Proprietary Funds. 54 Statement of Assets and Liabilities—Agency Funds. 56 Notes to the Basic Financial Statements. 58 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Combining and Individual Fund Financial Statements and Schedules: Combining Balance Sheet—Nonmajor Governmental Funds. 104 Combining Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances— Nonmajor Governmental Funds. 106 Schedules of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance—Budget and Actual: General Fund. 108 Public Assistance—Special Revenue Fund. 114 Health and Human Services Levies—Special Revenue Fund. 115 Motor Vehicle Gas Tax—Special Revenue Fund. 116 Health and Community Services Nongrants—Special Revenue Fund. 118 Health and Community Services Grants—Special Revenue Fund. 120 Community Development Block Grants—Special Revenue Fund. 121 Bond Retirement—Debt Service Fund. 122 General Obligation Nonvoted—Debt Service Fund. 123 Special Assessments—Debt Service Fund. 124 Combining Statement of Net Assets—Nonmajor Enterprise Funds. 126 Combining Statement of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Fund Net Assets— Nonmajor Enterprise Funds. 128 Combining Statement of Cash Flows—Nonmajor Enterprise Funds. 130 Combining Statement of Net Assets—Internal Service Funds. 134 Combining Statement of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Fund Net Assets— Internal Service Funds. 136 Combining Statement of Cash Flows—Internal Service Funds. 138 Combining Statement of Assets and Liabilities—Agency Funds. 142 Combining Statement of Changes in Assets and Liabilities—Agency Funds. 143 STATISTICAL SECTION STATISTICAL SCHEDULES: Net Assets by Component—Last Ten Fiscal Years . .. 147 Changes in Net Assets—Last Ten Fiscal Years . 148 Fund Balances of Governmental Funds—Last Ten Fiscal Years . 150 Changes in Fund Balances of Governmental Funds—Last Ten Fiscal Years . 151 Assessed Value and Estimated Actual Value of Taxable Property—Last Ten Fiscal Years . 152 Property Tax Rates—Direct and Overlapping Governments—Last Ten Years . 154 Principal Property Taxpayers . 156 Property Tax Levies and Collections—Real, Utility and Tangible Taxes—Last Ten Years . 157 Ratios of Outstanding Debt by Type—Last Ten Fiscal Years . 158 Legal Debt Margin Information—Total Debt Limit—Last Ten Fiscal Years . 160 Legal Debt Margin Information—Unvoted Debt Limit—Last Ten Fiscal Years . 161 Pledged Revenue Coverage—Metropolitan Sewer District—Last Ten Fiscal Years . 162 Pledged Revenue Coverage—Last Ten Fiscal Years . 164 Ratios of Net General Bonded Debt Outstanding—Last Ten Fiscal Years . 166 Demographic and Economic Statistics—Last Ten Fiscal Years . 167 Principal Employers—Current Year and Nine Years Ago . 168 Full-Time Equivalent County Government Employees by Function/Program—Last Ten Fiscal Years . 169 Operating Indicators by Function/Program—Last Ten Fiscal Years . 170 Capital Asset Statistics by Function—Last Ten Fiscal Years . 172 Introductory Section The County of Hamilton, Ohio This page intentionally left blank. August 29, 2013 To the Honorable Board of County Commissioners and Citizens of Hamilton County: I am pleased to present the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) of the County of Hamilton for the year ended December 31, 2011. This report contains the financial and statistical data that provide a complete and full disclosure of all material financial aspects of the County. Ohio Revised Code Section 117.38 and Ohio Administrative Code Section 117-2-03 require that the County produce annual financial statements pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The responsibility for the accuracy of all data presented and its completeness and fairness of presentation rests with the County Auditor’s Office and, specifically, the Department of Finance. To the best of management’s knowledge, this report contains the financial statements and other financial and statistical data that provide a complete and full disclosure of all material financial aspects of the County. All disclosures necessary to enable the reader to gain an understanding of the County of Hamilton’s activities have been included. This report represents the financial activity of the County in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) as set forth by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and other recognized authoritative sources, and is consistent with the reporting model as promulgated by GASB Statement No. 34, Basic Financial Statements—and Management’s Discussion and Analysis—for State and Local Governments. The County of Hamilton is required to undergo an annual single audit in conformity with provisions of the Single Audit Act of 1984, the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s Circular A-133, Audits of State and Local Governments. Information related to this single audit, including a schedule of federal financial assistance, the independent accountants’ report on internal control and compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and a schedule of findings and questioned costs are included in a separately issued audit report. The basic financial statements of the County as of and for the year ended December 31, 2011, included in this CAFR have been audited by the Ohio Auditor of State. The independent accountants’ report is located at the front of the financial section of this report. GAAP requires that management provide a Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A), a narrative introduction, overview and analysis to accompany the basic financial statements. The MD&A complements 1 this letter and should be read in conjunction with it. The MD&A appears immediately after the independent accountants’ report. Reporting Entity County of Hamilton was named for the former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, and was created by proclamation of Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the Northwest Territory, on January 2, 1790. The County was the second county formed in the State of Ohio, with Cincinnati as the County seat. The County is situated in the extreme southwestern corner of the State and covers an area of 407.4 square miles. The County encompasses 49 cities, villages and townships, of which Cincinnati is the largest. The County is the third largest in the State of Ohio in terms of population (802,374 per the 2010 U.S. Census). Located on the Ohio River, Hamilton County forms the core of the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan Area, which also includes the counties of Brown, Butler, Clermont and Warren in Ohio; Dearborn, Franklin and Ohio Counties in Indiana; and Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton and Pendleton Counties across the river in Kentucky. The metro area has a population of 2,130,151 which makes it the 27th largest metropolitan area in the country per the 2010 U.S. Census. The County has operated under the statutory form of government since its founding. As an agent of the State, County government serves the entire County in a variety of ways. The County’s legislative.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • ENERGY STAR Success Story: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati Reds
    ENERGY STAR Success Story: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati Reds Located on the winding banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, the Great American Ball Park is home to the Cincinnati Reds, baseball's first professional franchise. The ballpark, built next door to the Reds’ former home, Riverfront Stadium, officially opened for the 2003 season. Equally as enthusiastic as their hometown fans, the ballpark’s management team continues to improve the ballpark’s energy performance and is a leader among stadiums nationwide. Energy Management with ENERGY STAR The Cincinnati Reds were one of the first Major League Baseball teams to join ENERGY STAR as a partner in 2008 and use ENERGY STAR resources to track energy usage, improve energy performance, and communicate their efforts to staff and the public. Improving energy performance is an important environmental strategy for the Reds and they have received kudos from local officials and enhanced loyalty from fans for leading by example. The ballpark operations management team benchmarks the ballpark’s energy performance using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Portfolio Manager, an online energy tool to track whole-building energy intensity and greenhouse gas emissions. By inputting historical energy data going back to 2007, and ongoing monthly energy consumption and cost information, the Reds are able to measure progress and quantify improvements. To date, the ballpark’s energy intensity is 27 percent better than the national average for entertainment buildings1, even with an off-season construction project during the winter of 2009. As part of their energy management plan, the ballpark’s building operations management team implemented several energy conservation measures and integrated energy efficient technologies into the ballpark’s infrastructure.
    [Show full text]
  • A Whole New Ball Game: Sports Stadiums and Urban Renewal in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and St
    A Whole New Ball Game: Sports Stadiums and Urban Renewal in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis, 1950-1970 AARON COWAN n the latter years of the 1960s, a strange phenomenon occurred in the cities of Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis. Massive white round Iobjects, dozens of acres in size, began appearing in these cities' down- towns, generating a flurry of excitement and anticipation among their residents. According to one expert, these unfamiliar structures resembled transport ships for "a Martian army [that] decided to invade Earth."1 The gigantic objects were not, of course, flying saucers but sports stadiums. They were the work not of alien invaders, but of the cities' own leaders, who hoped these unusual and futuristic-looking structures would be the key to bringing their struggling cities back to life. At the end of the Second World War, government and business leaders in the cities of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and St. Louis recognized that their cities, once proud icons of America's industrial and commercial might, were dying. Shrouded in a haze of sulphureous smoke, their riparian transportation advantages long obsolete, each city was losing population by the thou- sands while crime rates skyrocketed. Extensive flooding, ever the curse of river cities, had wreaked havoc on all three cities' property values during 1936 and 1937, compounding economic difficulties ushered in with the Riverfront Stadium in Great Depression. While the industrial mobilization of World War II had Cincinnati. Cincinnati brought some relief, these cities' leaders felt less than sanguine about the Museum Center, Cincinnati Historical Society Library postwar future.2 In 1944, the Wall Street Journal rated Pittsburgh a "Class D" city with a bleak future and little promise for economic growth.
    [Show full text]
  • Cincinnati Reds'
    CCIINNCCIINNNNAATTII RREEDDSS PPRREESSSS CCLLIIPPPPIINNGGSS NOVEMBER 14, 2014 CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Cueto-for-Upton trade proposed by Sports on Earth writer David Clark Johnny Cueto for Justin Upton? It's one of five blockbuster trades that make sense, according to sportsonearth.com's Anthony Castrovince. From Castrovince: Neither of these clubs has the financial flexibility to be a major player in free agency, so here's a way for each of them to significantly address a pressing need in the trading game. Granted, I don't actually expect the Reds to move their ace in advance of a season in which they expect to contend. Walt Jocketty has made it pretty clear that's not his intent at all. Nor am I convinced John Hart will move his cleanup hitter, though he hinted this week that this is a stronger possibility than those rumors of him moving Evan Gattis. What I do know is that both Upton and Cueto are eligible for free agency next winter, and the odds of either remaining with his current club beyond 2015 seem slim, given the other contractual commitments their clubs have made. If either is to be moved, the best option might be to move them for pieces of immediate impact. The Reds need a productive left fielder who can get on base -- preferably in a short-term situation, before prospect Jesse Winker arrives (as soon as 2016). Upton runs notoriously hot and cold, but he's averaged 24 homers with a .357 OBP the last six seasons. He'd instantly augment and balance the heart of a lineup in which Joey Votto's knee woes and Jay Bruce's disappointing '14 are big concerns moving forward.
    [Show full text]
  • An Examination of the Effects of Financing Structure on Basketball Facility Design and Surrounding Real Estate Development
    Field$ of Dream$: An Examination of the Effects of Financing Structure on Basketball Facility Design and Surrounding Real Estate Development by James C. Cole, Jr. B.S., Business Administration, 1988 University of North Carolina Submitted to the Department of Urban Studies and Planning in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Real Estate Development at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology September, 1997 @1997 James C. Cole, Jr. All rights reserved The author hereby grants to MIT permission to reproduce and to distribute publicly paper and electronic copies of this thesis document in whole or in part. Signature of Author: Department of Urban SteLies and Planning August 1, 1997 Certified by: Timothy Riddiough Assistant Professor of Real Estate Finance Thesis Supervisor Accepted by: William C. Wheaton Chairman, Interdepartmental Degree Program in Real Estate Development I ~ Field$ of Dream$: An Examination of the Effects of Financing Structure on Basketball Facility Design and Surrounding Real Estate Development by James C. Cole, Jr. Submitted to the Department of Urban Studies and Planning on August 1, 1997 in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Real Estate Development ABSTRACT Spending on basketball arena development in the 1990's will likely exceed $3 billion. Historically, funding for these facilities has come from the public sector. However, the trend is shifting toward a portion, if not all, of the costs being funded by the private sector. This financing shift has implications for the design and siting of the facility as well as surrounding real estate activity and values.
    [Show full text]
  • Cincinnati Lights Lights Lights Lights Lights Lights Lights Lights Lights Lights Lights Lights Lights Lights Lights Lights Lights
    PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN OHIO CINCINNATI, LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTSCINCINNATI PUBLISHERS OHIO PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWINA PHOTOGRAPHICPORTRAIT LIGHTS PUBLISHERS FPO PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS 14660 digital art on disk 5 PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS WILLIAM MANNING The crown of this city, often referred to as the “QueenPROPERTY of OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS the West,” shines in all of its glory through the expressive photography of native Cincinnatian, William Manning. Each page is a colorful part of this quintessential portrait of America’s first “boom town” on the Ohio River. PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWINTWIN LIGHTSPUBLISHERS LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERSA PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY BY PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERSWilliam Manning PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHE PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS Cincinnati,OhioPROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY OF TWIN LIGHTS PUBLISHERS PROPERTY
    [Show full text]
  • Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings January 30, 2019
    Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings January 30, 2019 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1919-The Reds hire Pat Moran as manager, replacing Christy Mathewson, when no word is received from him while his is in France with the U.S. Army. Moran would manage the Reds until 1923, collecting a 425-329 record 1978-Former Reds executive, Larry MacPhail, is elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum 1997-The Reds sign Deion Sanders to a free agent contract, for the second time ESPN.COM Busy Reds in on Realmuto, but would he make them a contender? Jan. 29, 2019 Buster Olney ESPN Senior Writer The last time the Cincinnati Reds won a postseason series, Joey Votto was 12 years old, Bret Boone was the team's second baseman and the organization had only recently drafted his kid brother, a third baseman out of the University of Southern California named Aaron Boone. Since the Reds swept the Dodgers in a Division Series in 1995, they have built more statues than they have playoff wins. In recent years, a Dodger said he was sick of Kirk Gibson -- not because of anything Gibson had done, but because the team had felt the need to roll out the highlight of Gibson's epic '88 World Series home run, in lieu of subsequent championship success. Similarly, most of the biggest stars in the Reds organization continue to be Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Pete Rose and Tony Perez, as well as announcer Marty Brennaman, who recently announced he will retire after the upcoming season.
    [Show full text]
  • Cincinnati Reds'
    Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings September 20, 2017 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1956-Mt. Airy resident, James Denier, offers to sell 133 acres he owns at Compton and Pippin Roads in Groesbeck, to use as a site for a new stadium for the Reds. Eventually the Reds move from Crosley Field to Riverfront Stadium in 1970. MLB.COM Reds can't hang on to early lead, fall in extras By Mark Sheldon and Andrew Call / MLB.com | 12:04 AM ET + 82 COMMENTS CINCINNATI -- Trying to hang on to their quickly fading postseason hopes, the Cardinals needed an early comeback then some late clutch hitting. It added up to an 8-7 victory over the Reds in 10 innings on Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park. Dexter Fowler was responsible for two big St. Louis runs with a solo home run in the eighth inning and an RBI double in the 10th. Reds reliever Tim Adleman began the extra frame by hitting Kolten Wong with a pitch. Wong stole second base and scored the go- ahead run on Fowler's RBI double to right field. An RBI single by Paul DeJong provided insurance. Full Game Coverage Scooter Gennett tightened the game when he led off the bottom of the 10th with a homer to right-center field, his 26th of the season. But lefty Tyler Lyons got the last two outs for the save. Victories by the first-place Cubs and second-place Brewers meant no ground was gained in the National League Central standings. St. Louis remains in third place, six games out of first, with an elimination number of seven.
    [Show full text]
  • CINCINNATI , OHIO 'Tfe IIJ.Oatl,.D/,P~ OFFICIALUNIVERSITY OFCINCINNATI FOOTBALL REVIEW
    NCAA Member - ~ 2 2 u- 2 u- II. a 1-> m- II w > 2- NIPPERT ::J BEARCATS STADIUM OFFICIAL PROGRAM • 75 CENTS If you ever drank pure spring water ... you'll know why 8ur9ertastes so good! Brewed with Artesian Spring Water THE BURGER BREWING COMPANY , CINCINNATI , OHIO 'tfe IIJ.oatl,.d/,P~ OFFICIALUNIVERSITY OFCINCINNATI FOOTBALL REVIEW GENERAL INFORMATION The Cincinnati Football Program is published under the direction of the University of Cincin­ nati Athletic Department. Inquiry for advertising may be made of the managing editor, Howard New­ state, care of UC Athletic Department, 475-2635. Represented for national advertising by SPENCER MARKETING SERVICES , 370 Lexington Ave­ nue, New York, New York 10017. Athletic Offices are located in Laurence Hall, Phones: 475-2635 , 475-2636, 475-2637, 475-2638 and 475-2639. 1970UNIVERSITY OFCINCINNATI FOOTBALLSCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME Sept. 12-Tulsa Tulsa,Okla. 1:30 COT Sept 19-Dayton RiverfrontStadium 7:30 EDT Sept 26-William& Mary Williamsburg,Va. 1:30 EDT Oct. 2-TULANE NIPPERTSTADIUM 8:00 EDT Oct. 10-XAVIER NIPPERTSTADIUM 8:00 EDT Oct. 17-WichitaState Wichita,Kans. 1:30 EDT Oct. 24-0HIOUNIVERSITY NIPPERT STADIUM 1:30 EDT BandDay Nov. 7-NorthTexas State Denton, Tex. 2:00CST Nov. 14-LOUISVILLE NIPPERTSTADIUM 1:30 EST Homecoming Nov. 21-MIAMI(0.) NIPPERTSTADIUM 1:30 EST Nov. 28-MemphisState Memphis,Tenn. 1:30 CST ~74 CINCINNATI FOOTBALL PROGRAM GO BEARCATS ... go for those touchdowns and a winning season! U.S.GOV'T GRAOEO CHOICE KROGER TENDERAY BEEF BRAND goes all out to score, too, with beef lovers everywhere! Tenderay takes the guesswork out of buying beef! Always USDA Choice, grain-fed beef ..
    [Show full text]
  • “People Would Start Arriving Early to Get the Best Tables and Few Ever Left Early. They Began to Refer to Us As “The Showtime Two"
    Southeastern Indiana Musicians Hall of Fame James “Jim” Helms Musical Biography Jim Helms induction as a member of the Southeastern Indiana Musicians Hall of Fame follows a long career and wide range of experience in the areas of education, and TV entertainment as well as being a performing musician. His education career spanned 51 years including 35 years in secondary schools retiring as a high school principal, and an additional 16 years as a college chancellor. However he also has had a long career of some 60 plus years in music and entertainment along the way. Jim started on a ukulele at age 9, got his first guitar at age 12, and proceeded to learn and play it. He began playing with a country band, Dempsey Sims and the Melody Ramblers at the age of 14 and received his first ever pay of $10 per night. He continued to play with Dempsey Sims and the Melody Ramblers for several years off and on even while attending college. He had also started playing with a Cincinnati based rock and roll band, The Rendezvous, around age 16 and was often playing with the country band one night and the rock and roll band the next night. Dempsey Sims and the Melody Ramblers recorded at King Records in Cincinnati and for Starday Records in Nashville/Madison, Tennessee. The band also played live on WMOH radio in Hamilton, Ohio in the late 1950's and into the 60's. At that time Jim played mostly rhythm guitar, but also played some lead guitar, bass, and sang.
    [Show full text]
  • Religious Parody in the Iowa Baseball Confederacy
    An American Apocalypse: Religious Parody in The Iowa Baseball Confederacy ALLEN E. HYE I ust as with his first novel, Shoeless Joe, W. P. Kinsella has concocted in The Iowa Baseball Confederacy a rich mixture of local color, magic, baseball, love, and religion. Both novels use the national pastime to laud the power of human imagination and take the reader on fanciful trips through time and space, Shoeless Joe with a smooth, subtle tale of familial love, The /BCwith an intense, apocalyptic adventure of passion and death. To gain access to the secrets of Kinsella's apocalypse, the reader must be willing to suspend disbelief and trust that magic is possible in this life, that the immutable forces of time and death can be defeated. If not, he will not accept the outlandish premise of the novel: A man named Gideon Clarke attempts to prove the validity of an obsession inherited from his father, Matthew, namely that the 1908 Chicago Cubs, contrary to all surviving records, really did play a fantastic forty-day exhibition game against a collection of Iowa All-Stars. Seventy years after the fact, Gideon sneaks through a "crack in time" (7) to relive the epic struggle that took place in the tiny town of Big Inning on the outskirts of Iowa City. Once in Big Inning, Gideon encounters a cultural and religious maelstrom of obsession and intolerance, which swirls figuratively around the rainy ballgame as a literal flood begins to rise. The deluge, which recreates the punishing flood of Noah, destroys the fanaticism both of the players and of the spectators, and hope is offered only to those who develop a sense of tolerance and self-sacrifice.
    [Show full text]
  • The Cincinnati Reds
    The Cincinnati Reds: A History, an Era of Greatness, and Recollections of a Fan Dr. Anthony o. Edmonds Advisor Dirk D. Haire LD. 499 May 4, 1990 ;,,- - ) cincinnati. To most baseball fans this city represents the beginning of spring and the start of a new season. For being the nation's first professional baseball team and a charter member of the National League, the Cincinnati Reds are given the honor of hosting the opening game of each new National League season. since the original Red Stockings took the nation by storm, winning sixty-eight games against no defeats in 1869, cincinnati's baseball fortunes have vacillated between the best of times and the worst of times. Growing up in the middle Ohio Valley region, I, like many other children of the area, became a cincinnati Reds fan. This interest, for me, has grown into a passion. Over the years I have learned many things about the Reds and their history from my parents, my grandparents, friends, books, broadcasts, and other sources. In this thesis I will construct a brief history of the Reds and their importance to the city of Cincinnati. Then I will discuss the rise of the Big Red Machine and the powerful Reds teams of the 1970's, followed by a description of the dismantling of the Machine in the 1980's. The final section of this paper will reflect my own experiences of growing up in Reds' country. The origins of the present day Reds can be traced to July 23, 1866. On this date at the law office of Tilden, Sherman, and Moulton, the Cincinnati Baseball Club was established by local attorneys Alfred T.
    [Show full text]
  • Baseball World Series Game Tickets and Programs
    Baseball World Series Game Tickets and Programs TICKETS 1931 World Series Cardinals at Athletics - Game 5 Ticket Stub Pepper Martin HR [VG-EX] PSA AUTH [Grades Very Good - Excellent, only minor edge and corner wear] 1935 World Series Tigers at Cubs - Game 5 Ticket Stub HR Chuck Klein WP Len Warneke PSA AUTH [Grades clean VgEx] 1936 World Series Giants at Yankees - Game 5 Ticket Stub NYG 5-4 (10) HR Selkirk PSA AUTH [Grades GOOD, creasing, surface wear, sl paper loss on rev corner] 1939 World Series Yankees at Reds - Game 3 Ticket Stub HR Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey [VG] PSA AUTH [Grades VG due to rough tear line] 1942 World Series Cardinals at Yankees - Game 5 Ticket Stub HR Phil Rizzuto Red Ruffing vs Johnny Beazley [G-VG] PSA AUTH [Grades G-VG due to rough tear line] 1942 World Series Cardinals at Yankees - Game 5 Ticket Stub HR Phil Rizzuto Yankees Win World Series PSA AUTH [Grades F-G; creasing] 1943 World Series Cardinals at Yankees - Game 2 Ticket Stub HR Marty Marion SP Walker Cooper PSA AUTH [Grades G-VG, minor creasing, rough tear line] 1949 World Series Yankees at Dodgers - Game 3 Ticket Stub HR Roy Campanella, Pee Wee Reese WP Joe Page [VG] PSA AUTH [Light creasing, displays much nicer] 1950 World Series Phillies at Yankees - Game 3 Ticket Stub NY 3-2 Ferrick vs Meyer PSA AUTH [Grades F/G; uneven tear line, creasing] 1952 World Series Dodgers at Yankees - Game 3 Ticket Stub BRK 5-3 HR Yogi Berra, Johnny Mize WP Preacher Roe PSA AUTH [Fair-Good; Vertical crease, sl paper loss, toning on reverse] 1952 World Series Dodgers at Yankees
    [Show full text]