CINCINNATI — The grand marshal for this year's Findlay Market Reds Opening Day Parade will be Reds Hall of Famer and fan favorite Chris Sabo. Two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip will join Sabo as an honorary grand marshal.
Sabo was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2010. Sabo is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who broke into the scene in 1988, helping the Reds win a World Series in 1990.
Reds Hall of Fame and Museum director Rick Walls spoke about Sabo at Friday's announcement after speaking about Reds legend Pete Rose, who died in September.
"He played the game like Pete Rose did and he talks about how he looked up to Pete," Walls said about Sabo. "Pete managed him and I think that is kind of meaningful this year in the first season we won't have Pete with us."
Walls said Sabo's pillars are what Reds fans like in a player which is hustle, hard work and determination.
Sabo was an All-Star in his first season and became one of only eight players in Reds history to win the Rookie of the Year Award.
He was also the head baseball coach of the Akron Zips.
"He's a great ambassador for baseball, he is a great ambassador for the city," said Walls. "It is exciting and fitting that he is going to be the grand marshal this year."
The Opening Day Parade will kick-off at noon on Thursday, March 12 followed by the Reds and San Francisco Giants game at 4:10 p.m.
