Reds Hall of Fame establishes Gene Bennett Chapter in Portsmouth
The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum presented by Dinsmore is proud to announce the establishment of the Gene Bennett Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Chapter.
The new chapter is named in honor of Bennett, a native of Wheelersburg, Ohio, who spent 58 years in the Reds organization as a player, scout cross-checker and Special Assistant to the General Manager. Among the players scouted and signed by Bennett were Reds Hall of Famers Don Gullett, Barry Larkin and Chris Sabo, plus Paul O’Neill, one of the stars of the 1990 World Champion Reds. Bennett died in 2017 at the age of 89.
The Gene Bennett Chapter will be formally established in a ceremony in front of the Portsmouth baseball mural on Saturday, July 27, at 2 p.m. Bennett’s daughter, Cathy, and other members of the Bennett family will be in attendance along with Reds Hall of Famer Ron Oester
After the ceremony, the chapter will host a Reds Watch Party at the Portsmouth Buffalo Wild Wings located at 1611 Chillicothe Street. (Reds vs. Tampa Bay Rays, 4:10 p.m.)
Oester will be available for a meet and greet and Q&A session at Buffalo Wild Wings from 2:30-4 p.m. Cost will be $10 for Reds Hall of Fame Members and $20 for non-members. Membership packets will also be available during the meet and greet and watch party.
The Gene Bennett Chapter combines the previously established Hall of Fame chapters in Portsmouth and Ironton, Ohio, Morehead, Ky. and Huntington, W.Va. This Gene Bennett Chapter is part of the Reds Hall of Fame Chapter network that includes Lexington, Indianapolis, Grove City, NE OH, Dayton, Wally Post in North Eastern OH, Joe Nuxhall Chapter in Hamilton/Fairfield.
The Reds Hall of Fame & Museum Chapters is a network of Reds fans and baseball enthusiasts who come together to help promote the past, present and future of baseball, all while being a member of the best team Hall of Fame in the country. The Chapters support and promote the mission of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum: Celebrating Greatness, Preserving History and Providing Inspiration. This is reinforced with functions for members of the Chapter in outlying areas in Reds Country attended by representatives from the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum with special guests including baseball authors, sportswriters or sports hosts and/or former Reds players. Chapter functions occur all year long. For more information and visit, https://www.mlb.com/reds/hall-of-fame/membership/local-chapters.
Driven by a mission to celebrate greatness, preserve history and provide inspiration, the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum at Great American Ball Park is the place where the story of Reds baseball comes alive each day. The Museum features 16,000 square feet of historical, interactive and educational exhibits, highlighting the rich and storied tradition of the Reds for fans of all ages. Since its inception, 93 individuals have been honored with induction. Plan your visit at RedsMuseum.org.
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