Scott Rolen Bobblehead

This is the 38th bobblehead to make its way into my collection. A total of 30,000 bobbleheads were distributed to fans on June 12, 2010 when the Reds faced the Royals in interleague play. For those interested, Cincinnati defeated Kansas City by a score of 11-5. I've never seen Rolen as a true Reds player, probably due to the fact that he spent so many seasons with the Phillies and Cardinals. I will admit that his veteran presence in the clubhouse during the 2010 season was a factor in the Reds winning the National League Central division that year.

Devin Mesoraco Bobblehead

This is the second catcher bobblehead to make it into my collection (the first being Johnny Bench). 25,000 fans received one of these when the Reds hosted the Pirates on August 1, 2015. For those interested, Cincinnati defeated Pittsburgh 4-3. This marks the 37th bobblehead to enter my collection. While I admit that I like the design (much better than the standard batting bobblehead) I wish they would have included the catcher's mask on Mesoraco's helmet. That would have really been icing on the cake. I'm down to needing just three more bobbleheads for my collection, an Eric Davis bobblehead that was sponsored by Dr. Pepper and given out to fans in 2002, a Scott Rolen bobblehead sponsored by Kroger that was distributed on June 12, 2010, and a Todd Frazier bobblehead sponsored by the Ohio Lottery that was given out on July 3, 2013.

Zack Cozart Bobblehead

25,000 of these nodders were given out to fans on July 16, 2016 when the Reds hosted the Brewers. For those interested, Cincinnati was pummeled by Milwaukee 9-1. The Reds lone run was an RBI by Adam Duvall. Cozart just wrapped up his sixth season as the Reds shortstop. This is the 36th bobblehead to enter my collection. While not my favorite, I do appreciate that they decided to use a fielding pose instead of a batting pose for Cozart. I'll probably call it quits on the bobbleheads once I hit 40 since I'm starting to run out of room storing them. 

2016 Topps Cincinnati Reds Team Set

37 cards total in the base set and update set.

48 J.J. Hoover
59 John Lamb
176 Brandon Phillips
199 Jay Bruce
221 Ryan LaMarre
222 Homer Bailey
292 Todd Frazier
292SP Todd Frazier
328 Anthony DeSclafani
333 Keyvius Sampson
372 Zack Cozart
373 Tucker Barnhart
426 Joey Votto
426SP Joey Votto
437 Michael Lorenzen
462 Jumbo Diaz
497 Devin Mesoraco
584 Adam Duvall
585 Raisel Iglesias
609 Billy Hamilton
612 Cincinnati Reds Team Card
632 Ramon Cabrera
671 Tony Cingrani
685 Kyle Waldrop
686 Brandon Finnegan
689 Eugenio Suarez
US28 Alfredo Simon
US29 Jon Moscot
US34 Cody Reed
US34SP Cody Reed
US54 Adam Duvall
US68 Adam Duvall
US73 Scott Schebler
US216 Robert Stephenson
US216SP Robert Stephenson
US219 Tim Adleman
US246 Jay Bruce

1962 Cincinnati Reds Autographed Team Ball

23 signatures on this baseball: Fred Hutchinson, Dick Sisler, Jim Turner, Reggie Otero, Pete Whisenant, Cookie Rojas, Jim Brosnan, Gordy Colemen, Wally Post, Vada Pinson, Don Blasingame, Joey Jay, John Edwards, Marty Keough, Gene Freese, Eddie Kasko, Don Pavletich, Hank Foiles, Frank Robinson, Jerry Lynch, Don Zimmer, Bob Purkey, Leo Cardenas.

Ticket to a Coronation!

In addition to collecting cards, I always like to add pieces of Cincinnati Reds history to my collection. Whether it's a piece of astroturf or stadium seats from Riverfront Stadium, or even World Series tickets from a championship year, it's always great to memorabilia of significant importance as it relates to the Reds. I've been searching for quite some time for a ticket from a game held at Riverfront on September 11, 1985 but didn't have much luck in locating one in my price range. After a lot of patience one finally appeared on eBay for a price that I thought was reasonable. I'm extremely excited that this ticket is now in my collection. So, what was special about September 11, 1985 you ask? It's the night that Pete Rose recorded hit 4,192 to surpass Ty Cobb as the leader of all-time hits in major league baseball to be crowned the "Hit King". I think this will complement my Pete Rose PC nicely.

Aroldis Chapman Bobblehead

I recently purchased this bobblehead of former Reds closer Aroldis Chapman. This makes the 35th bobblehead in my collection and my first Coca-Cola sponsored nodder. There were 25,000 of these nodders that were distributed to fans on June 4, 2014 when the Reds hosted the Giants. For those interested, Cincinnati lost to San Francisco 3-2.

I'll admit that it's tough seeing the "Cuban Missile" in blue pinstripes. Every time I saw Chapman pitch for the Reds I was enthralled with the speed of each pitch and the radar gun registering triple digits. When the club dealt Chapman to the Yankees last off season it was a tough pill to swallow, especially since it appeared then didn't get much for him. But I learned to live with it since he was in the American League and my Reds didn't have to face him on a regular basis. You can imagine my disappointment when it was announced in the middle of the season when it was announced that the Cubs had acquired him from New York. It's not that I dislike Chapman, it's that I dislike the idea of having the Reds face their former flamethrower. Now that the regular season has wrapped up and the post season begins tonight I will be rooting for the Cubs to win the World Series. Going more than 100 years without a championship is rough for any team. Once the post season is over, I'll be hoping that Chapman finds his way back to the American League where he won't pitch against Cincinnati as much.