Reds promotional schedule: 1 item for each month we’re pumped about

May 9, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds mascot Mr. Redlegs performs at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds mascot Mr. Redlegs performs at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
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CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 12: Cincinnati Reds mascot Rosie Red flashes a Kiss Cam sign. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 12: Cincinnati Reds mascot Rosie Red flashes a Kiss Cam sign. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Let’s face it, part of the fun of enjoying Cincinnati Reds baseball is going to Great American Ball Park, socializing with some of your fellow Reds fans, enjoying some ballpark food, and taking home a souvenir. Am I right?

Sure, it’s always fun to watch your favorite team take home the W, but sometimes what gets you and your family to the ballpark is the promotional deals. As much as Reds Country may joke about it, Cincinnati has some of the best promotional giveaways in all of baseball.

As the Cincinnati Reds ready to welcome fans back to Great American Ball Park after an extended absence due to the coronavirus pandemic, the team has some really neat promotional opportunities lined up for the 2021 season. Let’s take a look, month-by-month, at the most exciting promos available during the upcoming season.

Reds promotional giveaway for April – Schedule magnet

Now, I really had to try hard to resist the Eric Davis FUNKO POP. After all, the Reds are kind enough to offer two different dates to collect the limited edition figurine. But with this year’s magnetic schedule comes a car magnet depicting the No. 8 to honor the late, great Joe Morgan, we had to include it as our favorite promo for the month of April.

The Reds will give away the magnetic schedule on April 1st Opening Day game versus the St. Louis Cardinals which is slated to begin at 4:10 PM. The schedule outlines all six months of Reds games. In addition, a car magnet with the No. 8 patch which all Cincinnati players will wear on their sleeves during the 2021 season to commemorate The Little General who passed away on October 11, 2020.

There’s also Tucker Barnhart Fathead giveaway for kids on April 5th and Amir Garrett Fathead giveaway on April 18th. The Reds are also offering a Jackie Robinson baseball card giveaway on Friday, April 16th. Jackie Robinson Day is Thursday, April 15th which is an off-day for the Reds.

GOODYEAR, ARIZONA – MARCH 14: Mike Moustakas #9 of the Cincinnati Reds prepares for a spring training game. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA – MARCH 14: Mike Moustakas #9 of the Cincinnati Reds prepares for a spring training game. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Reds promotional giveaway for May – Mike Moustakas bobblehead

Mike Moustakas didn’t have the biggest impact for the Cincinnati Reds after signing a four-year/$64M contract ini December of 2019. But, hopefully Moose will endear himself to the hometown fans during his second year in the Queen City.

Moustakas has a new position, taking over for Eugenio Suarez at third base after Geno was shifted to shortstop. On May 17th versus the San Francisco Giants and 22nd versus the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cincinnati Reds will be giving away Mike Moustakas bobbleheads, presented by PNC Bank.

The bobblehead features the left-handed hitting slugger with the bat resting over his shoulder, ready to blast the incoming pitch over the fence into the moon deck in right field. Moustakas is being counted on to be a force in the middle of the Reds batting order this season. Last season, Moose slugged .468 while launching eight home runs and racking up 27 RBIs.

In addition to the Mike Moustakas bobblehead giveaways, the Cincinnati Reds are giving away tote bags on May 1st and 5th. Kids can also take home Shogo Akiyama Fatheads as part of a promotion on May 2nd. Sorry Star Wars fans, there’s nothing on the schedule for May 4th. No reason for the lack of promotions, there are.

CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 4: Fans pose for photos next to a statue of former Cincinnati Reds great Ted Kluszewski. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 4: Fans pose for photos next to a statue of former Cincinnati Reds great Ted Kluszewski. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Reds promotional giveaway for June – Queen City Sluggers bobblehead

The Cincinnati Reds will give away a Shogo Akiyama bobblehead twice during thee month of June. Th first is available during a weekday game versus the Milwaukee Brewers on June 9th and the second on June 12th versus the Colorado Rockies. However, another giveaway features three of the greatest Reds home run hitters of all-time.

In a bobblehead giveaway the team is dubbing “The Queen City Sluggers”, will feature George Foster, Ted Kluszewski, and Eugenio Suarez; the top three single-season home run hitters in team history. All three sluggers have a bat resting on their shoulder with Foster flanked by Suarez and Big Klu.

In terms of all-time home run leaders in franchise history, Johnny Bench takes the cake. The greatest catcher of all-time had 389 career blasts while suiting up for the Reds. Frank Robinson racked up 324 round trippers while donning a Cincinnati uniform, Joey Votto ranks third on the all-time list with 295. There’s an outside chance Votto could catch Robinson this season, but that’s a stretch.

Kluszewski’s 251 career big flies best Foster (244) by just seven. Kluszewski and Suarez have each hit 49 home runs in a season during their careers with Geno putting up 49 bombs in 2019. Foster has the franchise record of 52 home runs, a record he set in 1977. The Queen City Sluggers bobbleheads are available on June 24th and 26th.

May 19, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of fireworks on display after the game of the Colorado Rockies against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
May 19, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of fireworks on display after the game of the Colorado Rockies against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Reds promotional giveaway for July – Fireworks, fireworks, and more fireworks

While it’s not much of giveaway, few things over the summer are more fun than watching fireworks on the Fourth of July as a way to celebrate our country’s independence. The Cincinnati Reds put on a heckuva show every following every Friday night home game, but during the month of July, it takes on a special meaning.

The Cincinnati Reds are at Great American Ball Park for Friday evening home games during the month of July. The first of the postgame fireworks shows will take place on July 2nd following the game versus the Chicago Cubs. The Reds will give away patriotic themed t-shirts the following the night as well.

After a road trip to Kansas City and Milwaukee, Cincinnati will return to GABP following the All-Star break and host the Brewers for a three-game set. Fans will once again be able to take in the festivities following Friday evening’s game, as the second of three Fireworks Fridays will be underway.

Finally, division-rival St. Louis comes to town on July 23rd. What better way to blast into the final two months of the 2021 season than by watching fireworks on the banks of the Ohio River following the game.

Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman smiles during pregame ceremonies.
Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman smiles during pregame ceremonies. /

Reds promotional giveaway for August – Marty Brennaman pennant

One of the unfortunate events that Reds fans missed out on in 2020 was the chance to see Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame. Brennaman hung up his microphone after 46 years on the job and was slated to be immortalized in the Reds Hall of Fame.

However, the coronavirus pandemic required the Reds to push back Marty’s induction to the 2021 season. Brennaman’s induction is scheduled for July 17th, but it seems as the though the team will be taking the celebration well into the month of August, as Cincinnati will be giving away a commemorative pennant on August 21st when the Miami Marlins come to town.

For years, Marty and Joe were Cincinnati fan’s go-to for play-by-play of their hometown team. Marty Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall comprised one of the greatest broadcasting duos perhaps we will ever hear. Who could forget thee iconic call of Pete Rose’s 4,192nd hit at Riverfront Stadium?

The ball club will be giving away a pennant with Marty Brennaman’s signature catchphrase, “And this one belongs to the Reds!” Not to be outdone, Joe Morgan Day will be in full swing on Sunday, April 8th when the Reds give away a Joe Morgan hat as part of promotion to celebrate the Hall of Fame second baseman.

Former Reds shortstop Barry Larkin walks between practice fields.
Former Reds shortstop Barry Larkin walks between practice fields. /

Reds promotional giveaway for August – Barry Larkin dual bobblehead

Okay, we’re all excited about Barry Larkin joining the Cincinnati broadcast team, right? Well, it just so happens that one of the final promotional giveaways of the 2021 season will be a Barry Larkin dual bobblehead, celebrating the Hall of Famer’s 30-30 season in 1996.

Larkin was always a speedster on the base paths. No, he wasn’t a burner like Rickey Henderson, but Larkin had enough speed to be dangerous. Over his career, Larkin racked up 379 stolen bases, averaging 28 steals per season.

Barry Larkin was also a skilled hitter, and wasn’t afraid to show off his power. Larkin hit double-digit home runs in nine of his 19 seasons in the big leagues; a rare feat for a shortstop during his day. However, during Larkin’s magical season of 1996, the then 32-year-old smacked 33 home runs.

Larkin was the first-ever shortstop in major league history to hit 30-plus home runs and record 30-plus stolen bases in a single season. On September 22, 1996, Larkin lifted a drive over the wall in left field, his 30th home run of the season to go along with the already 36 stolen bases.

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Larkin will be in the broadcast booth on a nightly basis, but on September 4th, the Cincinnati Reds will treat their fans to a dual bobblehead to commemorate one of the 12-time All-Star’s highest achievements.

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