The Crosley Field memorial site will be formally dedicated and open to the public Wednesday morning.
The memorial site, which was originally announced in August 2014, is on the campus of City Gospel Mission (1805 Dalton Avenue) and festivities start at 11 a.m. Wednesday. The site is free to visit.
Reds historian Greg Rhodes will lead a guided tour at 11:30 a.m. to the media and the public.
After the tour, lunch will be provided courtesy of Queen City Sausage.
“The purpose of the project is to acknowledge and preserve the history of the field that means so much to the Reds, fans and city, offering a chance for visitors to experience that history in a significant way,” City Gospel Mission president Roger Howell said.
The project cost is being funded mainly by the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. The public can purchase a personalized brick to be a part of the special plaza.
Packages start at $175 and include a keepsake brick in addition to an installed brick. Bricks can be ordered at redsmueum.org/bricks.
In 2015, City Gospel Mission moved to the property that was the Cincinnati Reds’ home from 1912 to 1970 (originally Redland Field).
Baseball had been played at the corner of Findlay Street and Western Avenue since 1884.
For three years, City Gospel Mission has been working with the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. The main feature of the memorial site is a 17-foot-by-50 foot mural depicting the ballpark circa mid-1950s by Keep Cincinnati Beautiful. The mural started in Apriland Johnny Bench was among those who helped to paint.
In addition to the mural features include:
- A self-guided tour for visitors (brochures in the lobby of City Gospel Mission)
- Replica left-field foul pole and right-field foul pole
- Replica light tower
- Photos provided by the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum
- A plaza with replica seats and commemorative bricks
- Base markers
- Memorabilia for purchase
