March 7, 2025 • 12 mins
Reds Hall of Famer Chris Sabo will be the Grand Marshal of this year's Findlay Market Opening Day Parade.
"Spuds" joined us on ESPN1530.
Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.
Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530.
Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listen
Get more: https://linktr.ee/MoEgger
Follow on X: @MoEgger
Instagram too: @MoEgger
"Spuds" joined us on ESPN1530.
Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.
Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530.
Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listen
Get more: https://linktr.ee/MoEgger
Follow on X: @MoEgger
Instagram too: @MoEgger
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We are twenty days away from Opening Day, Reds and
Giants at GABP. Hunter Green will get the opening day
start for Cincinnati. The Finlay Market Opening Day Parade Grand
Marshall this year will be Red's Hall of Famer and
nineteen ninety World Series champion and nineteen eighty eight National
League Rookie of the Year, Chris Sabo. Awesome to have
(00:20):
Chris with us tonight. So good to have you. Opening
Day nineteen eighty eight. You beat out Buddy Bell, You're
the starting third baseman. You beat the Cardinals that day,
a twelfth inning walk off hit. You had a single
in that game off Joe mcgreen. What else do you
remember about that day?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I remember Pete either the day or the day before
or two days before. We were in Louisville playing an
exhibition game or something, and Pete told me obviously would
start Opening Day, and I was thrilled, and I just
remember being so excited to play Opening Day. And I
don't think I slept it all the night four And
(01:01):
I do remember that hit. I don't remember any of
the other at bats. I do remember getting that hit
over the shortstop's head off Joe McGrain.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
All Right, the shorts. Thet is Ozzie Smith, right.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Uh yeah, I assume. So we played the Cardinals, So
I assume of Zazzie.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
You know, obviously it's it's your first opening day, and
so there's a lot of emotion and a lot of
stuff going on. When when did it hit you that
Opening Day in Cincinnati is a bigger deal than anywhere else?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Oh? I think right from the get go. I mean
I grew up in Detroit, and I don't remember parades
and stuff for the Tigers games. I do remember in
Detroit opening day was a big deal. I know my
grandma used to always go for Opening Day. She was
a waitress in Detroit, and she thought that was a
big deal. She loved those Tigers. But I guess all
(01:56):
the old guys that were from Cincinnati, Pete and and
Tony and Griffey Sr. Talked about how how they had
the big parade and the Reds are always the first
team that played, and uh so I always knew it
was very special. Uh. I was a big baseball history
type of guy, so I knew the Reds were the
first professional team. So uh I thought it was a
(02:17):
big deal.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Is your first opening day has to be your best
opening day memory? Is there any other opening day that
when you think of your career that stands out.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Well? Unfortunately, it's just the one where John McSherry died, uh,
which was terrible. But no, I really don't I remember
the first opening day. I do remember I hit a
home run on one of the opening days, but I
can't remember who was pitching, who we even played. I
(02:49):
do remember hitting the home run. I'm old, mo, I mean,
you sort of forget stuff, but but I always enjoyed it.
I I do remember that the weather was always good.
You know, it could be snowing the day before or
two days before and be really cold, but the weather
always sort of broke for our opening game, and the
(03:13):
crowd was buzzing, and it was always very exciting. Red
fans were great.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Hopefully the weather turns this year. We're twenty days away.
This will be an opening day that is unique because
you know, obviously hovering over it and the start of
the baseball season, here is the passing of Pete Rose
on September thirtieth last year, and I know the Reds
are gonna honor him with Pete Rose Night in May,
which which will be awesome and appropriate. Obviously, that is
(03:40):
your first big league manager. How would you describe Pete
as a manager?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I love Pete, obviously. I was actually with him the
day before he died in Nashville. I was with all
those guys and I got the chance to talk to Pete,
and you know, twenty four hours later, you know, you know,
he passed away. But I owe everything to the Pete.
Pete believed in me when maybe some others didn't in
the organization of the higher ups in the minor league
(04:11):
farm directorships. But Pete believed in me, gave me my chance.
I give myself credit. I took advantage of my opportunity.
But if it wasn't for Pete, I wasn't had that opportunity.
So he always held a special place in my heart,
and I always enjoyed being around him. He always made
me laugh. If you know Pete, he was always very upbeat,
(04:33):
and even the day I met him in Nashville, he
was still the same old Pete looked a little frail,
but he was still the same old guy, cracking jokes.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Chris Sables with us the grand Marshal of this year's
Finley Market Opening Day parade. You go from Pete rose
to Lou Penela in nineteen ninety. What was playing for
Lou like in comparison to playing for Pete?
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Well, tell two different guys. I mean, uh, Pete was
pretty calm. Believe it or not. He was intense, but
he was he was calm. He you know, where Lou
was was a firecracker. I mean every day something, something
set him off. I just think that's the way he
was wired. And uh, which I liked. I was sort
of the same way back then. I had a short temper,
angered quick. Uh. Fortunately as you get older that sort
(05:20):
of calms down a little bit. But Uh, I love Lou,
I was. I had him for three years and I
was sad to see him go. Ill understand why they
let him go. Uh, But things happened, and uh, he
was very enjoyable. I mean he kept you, uh kept
you entertained. That's the best way I can put it.
Because he's always getting upset.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
So the reds Now have Terry Francona as their manager,
A guy who's going to be in Cooperstown as a
manager one day. Uh, I'm sure your paths have crossed.
What do you know about Terry Francona?
Speaker 2 (05:54):
I actually played with h Terry Francona, and my first
big league spring training was in Tampa when he used
to be an old Alopez field there in Tampa, and
uh uh, Tito was on Tito was on that team. Uh,
at least for spring training. I don't know if he
made the team out of spring. I got cut I
(06:16):
got sent down the Triple A after a couple of weeks.
But uh, I remember him. He was He's always cutting
it up in the locker room. He was a veteran
by then, and uh, but I wouldn't say we were buddies.
You know. I was a young whipper snapper and he
was a he was a veteran. So back then the
veterans sort of gave it to the young guys pretty good.
(06:37):
And uh uh I was no exception. I got it
pretty good from all those guys. Parker, uh, frank ConA,
and you name it.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Uh yeah, you mentioned Dave Parker.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Now he was he was in Oakland by the time
you made your big league debut.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
But but you were with him.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
He gets to Cooperstown and frankly, I think it's way
over due this summer.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Do you have a story of the Cobra.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Oh my god. Me and Dhim go way back. We
used to play rocketball every morning and at the old
Scandinavian Help Club in Montgomery, me and him had some
epic battles. That's what I did to stay in shape
in the office. He was to play rocketball every day.
So so it was me, you know, five ft eleven
against old, big, old Parker, and we had epic battles.
(07:27):
And I will say this, I agree with you. It's
well overdue. You look at his numbers. It's ridiculous. He
should have been in a decade ago. But that's another story.
I'm glad he got in. But Parker was great to me.
I mean as a rookie in that same spring training
I was talking about. He treats me great. He gave
me some tips, he read me, which was fine, but
(07:50):
he helped me out. I really appreciate it. And I
got to, like I said, I got to know him
very well playing racketball every morning. So I'm very happy
for him. And uh, I'm looking forward to that uh induction.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Yeah. Same.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Here Chris Sabo with us for another minute of So
the Grand Market Grand Marshal of this year is Finley
Market Opening Day parade. I I have followed your post
playing career and you've You've done coaching, You've done some
coaching at the professional level, the collegiate level, You've been
involved in UH Baseball United.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
What is your level of involvement in baseball now?
Speaker 2 (08:28):
No? None, none right now. Uh. I was coaching last
year at State College of Florida in UH in Bradenton. Uh.
Unfortunately I developed some souldier issues. I had to get
my shoulders operated on. UH. So that's really put me back.
But fortunately I'm coming out of it. So UH, I'm
hoping by the next uh, you know cycle in the summer,
(08:52):
I can get back in the coach and I really
enjoy it. But but I enjoyed the physical part of
it too, throwing batting practice, hitting tungos along with the teaching.
So I'm looking forward to getting back into it. I'm
not into the retirement thing and not doing I love golf,
but I can't play golf every single day. It's just
too barring. So I'm hoping to get back into coaching
(09:15):
and hopefully someone out there is going to hire some
sixty three year old guy. We'll see.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah, well, I certainly hope so I will say this,
there haven't been many father daughter pairings that I've had
a chance to interview, and we've had Annie on the show,
and as she does a terrific job on the Reds
TV broadcast, what is it like watching your daughter be
a part of the broadcast for the team that you
obviously played with.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Well, first off, I'm glad the Reds thought enough of
her to bring her back, and we're all excited about that.
That just means it gives me an opportunity to come
up to Cincinnati and help out with Annie and the
baby and stuff like that. But yeah, it's the same way.
I have three daughters and they played sports, and it's
the same way watching any on TV as watching sports,
(10:04):
I get nervous. I was never really nervous playing you know,
hockey or baseball or golf. I enjoyed the butterflies and
that kind of stuff. But watching your kids, it's it's
a different story. You get nervous for him. And I'm
the same way watching Annie. I mean I watched, you know,
whenever she's on, I got I get the baseball package,
(10:24):
so I watch all the Reds games, and yeah, I
get nervous. I think She does a good job, but
you're you know, she's competitive like me. She keeps, you know,
wants to do better and get better. So I'm really
fortunate to be able to watch her, and I'm glad
the Reds brought her back. It's it's great. She was
born and raised in Cincinnati and obviously loves the red
(10:46):
so it's it's a good deal.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
All right. So you watch her, which means you're watching
the club.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Give me some impressions of what you know about the
Reds as we get set for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Yeah, I mean, you know, I'm the same way when
I played. I'm bullish. Uh you know, when I played,
I thought we were gonna win it, win it all
every year. Uh. You know that's the way I think.
And I'm bullish on the Reds again. You know, it's
two hundred games count spring training. You gotta stay healthy. Uh.
My favorite player is McClain, So I'm glad. You know,
(11:19):
I was so disappointed he got hurt last year. It
gets him. I really enjoy watching him play, and uh,
I think he's gonna be a key for the Reds.
I mean he's sort of like a little engine that
could and we need those. I mean, obviously Ellie's is
a superstar and and some of these other guys, but uh,
you need the steers and you need the mcclaims of
the world to keep it all going too. So uh,
(11:42):
I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to see,
uh what they can do. And uh, you know, it's
getting those playoffs and once you get in the playoffs,
you never know what the heck is gonna happen.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Yeah, no question about that. Hopefully this is the year
it gets started an opening day. Opening Day begins with
the Filly Market Opening Day Parade. The Great Chris Sabo
this year's Grand Marshall. I know you got a run.
I can't thank you enough for the time. Awesome to
have you. I hope we can do it again down
the road.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Thanks so much, Thanks Bow and we'll see you Opening
Day
We are twenty days away from Opening Day, Reds and
Giants at GABP. Hunter Green will get the opening day
start for Cincinnati. The Finlay Market Opening Day Parade Grand
Marshall this year will be Red's Hall of Famer and
nineteen ninety World Series champion and nineteen eighty eight National
League Rookie of the Year, Chris Sabo. Awesome to have
(00:20):
Chris with us tonight. So good to have you. Opening
Day nineteen eighty eight. You beat out Buddy Bell, You're
the starting third baseman. You beat the Cardinals that day,
a twelfth inning walk off hit. You had a single
in that game off Joe mcgreen. What else do you
remember about that day?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I remember Pete either the day or the day before
or two days before. We were in Louisville playing an
exhibition game or something, and Pete told me obviously would
start Opening Day, and I was thrilled, and I just
remember being so excited to play Opening Day. And I
don't think I slept it all the night four And
(01:01):
I do remember that hit. I don't remember any of
the other at bats. I do remember getting that hit
over the shortstop's head off Joe McGrain.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
All Right, the shorts. Thet is Ozzie Smith, right.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Uh yeah, I assume. So we played the Cardinals, So
I assume of Zazzie.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
You know, obviously it's it's your first opening day, and
so there's a lot of emotion and a lot of
stuff going on. When when did it hit you that
Opening Day in Cincinnati is a bigger deal than anywhere else?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Oh? I think right from the get go. I mean
I grew up in Detroit, and I don't remember parades
and stuff for the Tigers games. I do remember in
Detroit opening day was a big deal. I know my
grandma used to always go for Opening Day. She was
a waitress in Detroit, and she thought that was a
big deal. She loved those Tigers. But I guess all
(01:56):
the old guys that were from Cincinnati, Pete and and
Tony and Griffey Sr. Talked about how how they had
the big parade and the Reds are always the first
team that played, and uh so I always knew it
was very special. Uh. I was a big baseball history
type of guy, so I knew the Reds were the
first professional team. So uh I thought it was a
(02:17):
big deal.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Is your first opening day has to be your best
opening day memory? Is there any other opening day that
when you think of your career that stands out.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Well? Unfortunately, it's just the one where John McSherry died, uh,
which was terrible. But no, I really don't I remember
the first opening day. I do remember I hit a
home run on one of the opening days, but I
can't remember who was pitching, who we even played. I
(02:49):
do remember hitting the home run. I'm old, mo, I mean,
you sort of forget stuff, but but I always enjoyed it.
I I do remember that the weather was always good.
You know, it could be snowing the day before or
two days before and be really cold, but the weather
always sort of broke for our opening game, and the
(03:13):
crowd was buzzing, and it was always very exciting. Red
fans were great.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Hopefully the weather turns this year. We're twenty days away.
This will be an opening day that is unique because
you know, obviously hovering over it and the start of
the baseball season, here is the passing of Pete Rose
on September thirtieth last year, and I know the Reds
are gonna honor him with Pete Rose Night in May,
which which will be awesome and appropriate. Obviously, that is
(03:40):
your first big league manager. How would you describe Pete
as a manager?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I love Pete, obviously. I was actually with him the
day before he died in Nashville. I was with all
those guys and I got the chance to talk to Pete,
and you know, twenty four hours later, you know, you know,
he passed away. But I owe everything to the Pete.
Pete believed in me when maybe some others didn't in
the organization of the higher ups in the minor league
(04:11):
farm directorships. But Pete believed in me, gave me my chance.
I give myself credit. I took advantage of my opportunity.
But if it wasn't for Pete, I wasn't had that opportunity.
So he always held a special place in my heart,
and I always enjoyed being around him. He always made
me laugh. If you know Pete, he was always very upbeat,
(04:33):
and even the day I met him in Nashville, he
was still the same old Pete looked a little frail,
but he was still the same old guy, cracking jokes.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Chris Sables with us the grand Marshal of this year's
Finley Market Opening Day parade. You go from Pete rose
to Lou Penela in nineteen ninety. What was playing for
Lou like in comparison to playing for Pete?
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Well, tell two different guys. I mean, uh, Pete was
pretty calm. Believe it or not. He was intense, but
he was he was calm. He you know, where Lou
was was a firecracker. I mean every day something, something
set him off. I just think that's the way he
was wired. And uh, which I liked. I was sort
of the same way back then. I had a short temper,
angered quick. Uh. Fortunately as you get older that sort
(05:20):
of calms down a little bit. But Uh, I love Lou,
I was. I had him for three years and I
was sad to see him go. Ill understand why they
let him go. Uh, But things happened, and uh, he
was very enjoyable. I mean he kept you, uh kept
you entertained. That's the best way I can put it.
Because he's always getting upset.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
So the reds Now have Terry Francona as their manager,
A guy who's going to be in Cooperstown as a
manager one day. Uh, I'm sure your paths have crossed.
What do you know about Terry Francona?
Speaker 2 (05:54):
I actually played with h Terry Francona, and my first
big league spring training was in Tampa when he used
to be an old Alopez field there in Tampa, and
uh uh, Tito was on Tito was on that team. Uh,
at least for spring training. I don't know if he
made the team out of spring. I got cut I
(06:16):
got sent down the Triple A after a couple of weeks.
But uh, I remember him. He was He's always cutting
it up in the locker room. He was a veteran
by then, and uh, but I wouldn't say we were buddies.
You know. I was a young whipper snapper and he
was a he was a veteran. So back then the
veterans sort of gave it to the young guys pretty good.
(06:37):
And uh uh I was no exception. I got it
pretty good from all those guys. Parker, uh, frank ConA,
and you name it.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Uh yeah, you mentioned Dave Parker.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Now he was he was in Oakland by the time
you made your big league debut.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
But but you were with him.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
He gets to Cooperstown and frankly, I think it's way
over due this summer.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Do you have a story of the Cobra.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Oh my god. Me and Dhim go way back. We
used to play rocketball every morning and at the old
Scandinavian Help Club in Montgomery, me and him had some
epic battles. That's what I did to stay in shape
in the office. He was to play rocketball every day.
So so it was me, you know, five ft eleven
against old, big, old Parker, and we had epic battles.
(07:27):
And I will say this, I agree with you. It's
well overdue. You look at his numbers. It's ridiculous. He
should have been in a decade ago. But that's another story.
I'm glad he got in. But Parker was great to me.
I mean as a rookie in that same spring training
I was talking about. He treats me great. He gave
me some tips, he read me, which was fine, but
(07:50):
he helped me out. I really appreciate it. And I
got to, like I said, I got to know him
very well playing racketball every morning. So I'm very happy
for him. And uh, I'm looking forward to that uh induction.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Yeah. Same.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Here Chris Sabo with us for another minute of So
the Grand Market Grand Marshal of this year is Finley
Market Opening Day parade. I I have followed your post
playing career and you've You've done coaching, You've done some
coaching at the professional level, the collegiate level, You've been
involved in UH Baseball United.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
What is your level of involvement in baseball now?
Speaker 2 (08:28):
No? None, none right now. Uh. I was coaching last
year at State College of Florida in UH in Bradenton. Uh.
Unfortunately I developed some souldier issues. I had to get
my shoulders operated on. UH. So that's really put me back.
But fortunately I'm coming out of it. So UH, I'm
hoping by the next uh, you know cycle in the summer,
(08:52):
I can get back in the coach and I really
enjoy it. But but I enjoyed the physical part of
it too, throwing batting practice, hitting tungos along with the teaching.
So I'm looking forward to getting back into it. I'm
not into the retirement thing and not doing I love golf,
but I can't play golf every single day. It's just
too barring. So I'm hoping to get back into coaching
(09:15):
and hopefully someone out there is going to hire some
sixty three year old guy. We'll see.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah, well, I certainly hope so I will say this,
there haven't been many father daughter pairings that I've had
a chance to interview, and we've had Annie on the show,
and as she does a terrific job on the Reds
TV broadcast, what is it like watching your daughter be
a part of the broadcast for the team that you
obviously played with.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Well, first off, I'm glad the Reds thought enough of
her to bring her back, and we're all excited about that.
That just means it gives me an opportunity to come
up to Cincinnati and help out with Annie and the
baby and stuff like that. But yeah, it's the same way.
I have three daughters and they played sports, and it's
the same way watching any on TV as watching sports,
(10:04):
I get nervous. I was never really nervous playing you know,
hockey or baseball or golf. I enjoyed the butterflies and
that kind of stuff. But watching your kids, it's it's
a different story. You get nervous for him. And I'm
the same way watching Annie. I mean I watched, you know,
whenever she's on, I got I get the baseball package,
(10:24):
so I watch all the Reds games, and yeah, I
get nervous. I think She does a good job, but
you're you know, she's competitive like me. She keeps, you know,
wants to do better and get better. So I'm really
fortunate to be able to watch her, and I'm glad
the Reds brought her back. It's it's great. She was
born and raised in Cincinnati and obviously loves the red
(10:46):
so it's it's a good deal.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
All right. So you watch her, which means you're watching
the club.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Give me some impressions of what you know about the
Reds as we get set for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Yeah, I mean, you know, I'm the same way when
I played. I'm bullish. Uh you know, when I played,
I thought we were gonna win it, win it all
every year. Uh. You know that's the way I think.
And I'm bullish on the Reds again. You know, it's
two hundred games count spring training. You gotta stay healthy. Uh.
My favorite player is McClain, So I'm glad. You know,
(11:19):
I was so disappointed he got hurt last year. It
gets him. I really enjoy watching him play, and uh,
I think he's gonna be a key for the Reds.
I mean he's sort of like a little engine that
could and we need those. I mean, obviously Ellie's is
a superstar and and some of these other guys, but uh,
you need the steers and you need the mcclaims of
the world to keep it all going too. So uh,
(11:42):
I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to see,
uh what they can do. And uh, you know, it's
getting those playoffs and once you get in the playoffs,
you never know what the heck is gonna happen.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Yeah, no question about that. Hopefully this is the year
it gets started an opening day. Opening Day begins with
the Filly Market Opening Day Parade. The Great Chris Sabo
this year's Grand Marshall. I know you got a run.
I can't thank you enough for the time. Awesome to
have you. I hope we can do it again down
the road.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Thanks so much, Thanks Bow and we'll see you Opening
Day
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