Despite Rain, Fans Whoop It Up for the Reds

CINCINNATI —  Capping a weekend-long celebration that was 14 years in the making, baseball fans brought umbrellas and brooms to Fountain Square for a rally today to honor the World Series champion Cincinnati Reds.

Despite a steady rain, more than 12,000 people jammed the downtown square to welcome the Reds, who arrived in open convertibles for their season farewell after sweeping the Oakland A’s.

“I don’t care how wet it is. It’s a beautiful day,” said Edith Staub, who eschewed umbrella and slicker. “It’s exciting. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Chris Neeley, another of the drenched faithful, said this year’s celebration seemed bigger than the last time the Reds won the World Series--twice in the mid-1970s

“I was here in ’75 and ‘76, and I didn’t see anything like this,” Neeley said. “This is wild.”

Police Lt. Gary Glazier estimated the crowd at 12,000 to 15,000 for the noontime celebration. More stood along the five-block parade route to the square, the traditional site for civic celebrations.

Reds owner Marge Schott thanked the Reds fans for their support.

“It’s been five long years for all of us,” she said, referring to the years she has controlled the Reds. “We won this for the fans. I thank you for hanging in there with us.”

Manager Lou Piniella, the first manager to sweep a World Series in his first year with a team, attributed the championship to “hard work, dedication and a will to win.”

“I’m really proud of our team, proud of our fans and proud of the city,” Piniella said. “They played their hearts out and they’re world champions.”

When the Reds were introduced individually, most thanked the fans and said how happy they were to be world champions. “I love you all,” said Jose Rijo, the World Series MVP and two-game winner.