As Johnny Bench walked into RedsFest, he gave a sideways glance at a display near the entrance.
''I thought, 'Cooperstown,' '' he said.
Not quite, but Cincinnati's little slice of baseball's Hall of Fame.
John Allen, the Reds' acting chief executive officer and creator of RedsFest, says part of the idea of the event at the Albert B. Sabin Convention Center is to recognize the team's rich tradition.
The display that caught Mr. Bench's eye is the best example of that. It includes the Reds' 1975, 1976 and 1990 World Championship trophies. But the real prize of the display is the plaques of 49 members of the Reds' Hall of Fame.
RedsFest continues today 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults; $3 for children 12 and under.
The plaques' design mirrors those in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., where 38 Reds are enshrined. This is the first time the Reds collection has been on display to the public.
''I understand John (Allen) had to dig them out and dust them off,'' said Reds broadcaster and former pitcher Joe Nuxhall, like Mr. Bench a member of the Reds' Hall. ''It's a shame. They should have been displayed before this.''
Mr. Allen plans to remedy that.
''We'll bring them out at games on special occasions,'' he said.
At Friday's session, open to season-ticket holders only, about 2,400 people had passed through the turnstiles by 6 p.m.
The fans were impressed.
''It would be awesome to have (the plaques) out all the time,'' said Tony Wehby of Pleasant Ridge.
There's still work to do. Plaques have not been made for the newest members - Joe Morgan and former outfielder Jerry Lynch.
Mr. Allen is also talking about beginning to induct players again. No one has been inducted since Mr. Lynch in 1988.
In recovering team history, the Reds have some unanswered questions.
''I wonder what they did with my foot and handprints,'' Mr. Bench said. ''I haven't seen them since they fixed (the concourse at) the stadium.''
REDSFEST SCHEDULE
WHY REDSFEST?
