COLUMBUS, OH – FOX Sports Ohio is pleased to air the Pepsi MAX Field of Dreams Game on Saturday, May 19 at 4:30pm, or following Reds Live postgame show after the Reds-Yankees game.

The baseball game took place this past Saturday, May 12 at Huntington Park. It featured a dream team of MLB legends, including Johnny Bench, Frank Thomas, and Reggie Jackson, playing six innings against the winner of the Pepsi MAX Field of Dreams contest, Columbus resident Tim Wisecup and his ten friends.

Last fall, fans had the chance to visit mlb.com/pepsimax to vote for which of four finalists they wanted to host the Pepsi MAX Field of Dreams Team, and now Wisecup will have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play ball against the starting Dream Team comprised of:

• Catcher – Johnny Bench
• First Baseman – Frank Thomas
• Second Baseman – Edgar Martinez
• Third Baseman – Wade Boggs
• Shortstop – Ozzie Smith
• Outfielders – Reggie Jackson, Rickey Henderson, Dave Winfield
• Pitcher – Pedro Martinez
• Relief Pitcher – Dennis Eckersley

Appearances were also made by Joe Charboneau, Lenny Barker, and Kent Mercker.

FOX Sports Ohio’s telecast on Saturday, May 19 will be a one-hour version of the game. It will air at 4:30pm, or following the Reds Live postgame show after the Reds-Yankees game. George Grande called play by play and David Maezhold and Natalie Taylor served as dugout reporters, interviewing MLB legends and Wisecup.

In addition to the May 19 broadcast, replays will air on the following dates:

• May 20 at 7pm
• May 26 at 3pm
• June 2 at 12pm

Friday, May 11, 2012 – Cincinnati Reds vs. Washington Nationals, 7:10 p.m.

• Fireworks Friday: Postgame fireworks featuring a “Girls Night Out” soundtrack, presented by Furniture Fair. (Fireworks begin 15 minutes after game ends)
• Girls Night Out: Pregame activities in the Fan Zone include a chocolate dipping station, free massages by Massage Envy, free jewelry cleaning by Richter & Phillips and more. Presented by Biz & Oxydol.
• Reds Tote Bag: Free Reds tote bag to the first 10,000 ladies.
• Free Agent Friday: Start your weekend with happy hour drink specials, DJ Sab and more in the Fan Zone starting when gates open at 5:40 p.m. Free Agent Fridays are presented by The Banks Bar Association.
• Reds Tweet Up: Over 400 fans of the Reds on Twitter will be enjoying the game from the Mezzanine. Follow @Reds on Twitter and join the conversation at #RedsTweetUp.
• Flying Pig Night: Pregame ceremonies will honor the participants of the 14th Flying Pig Marathon. Female winner Rachel Bea of Kenwood will throw out a ceremonial first pitch.
• Univ. of Cincinnati Night: Over 800 University of Cincinnati students, faculty, staff and alumni will be in attendance. Dr. Gregory Sojka, UC Clermont College Dean, will throw out a ceremonial first pitch.

Saturday, May 12, 2012 – Cincinnati Reds vs. Washington Nationals, 7:10 p.m.

• Votto Bobblehead: Bobblehead commemorating Joey Votto’s first Rawlings Gold Glove Award free to the first 25,000 fans, presented by The Ohio Lottery.
• Jay Bruce at Kroger Newport: Jay Bruce will sign autographs from Noon to 1 p.m. for the first 300 fans in line at the Kroger Marketplace in Newport, Ky. (Autographs only, no photos.)
• World famous blogger (as indicated by the amount of non-English email she receives) Amanda from Red Hot Mama will be in attendance in the Champion’s Club.

Sunday, May 13, 2012 – Cincinnati Reds vs. Washington Nationals, 1:10 p.m.

• Jay Bruce Cereal Bowl: Jay Bruce cereal bowl and spoon set free to the first 8,000 kids 14 and younger, presented by New York Life.
• Meijer Family Days: Sundays are family days at the ballpark. One member of the family pays full price and may purchase up to three non-premium tickets at half-price in advance of game day only. Excludes Outer View Level and Kroger Bleachers.
• Happy Mothers Day: First 200 moms plus one guest can participate in a special pregame Mother’s Day parade. Fans interested in participating should arrive early and check in at the Fan Zone.
• First pitch: Shirley Larkin, mother of Barry Larkin, will throw out a ceremonial first pitch.
• MLB Breast Cancer Awareness Day: Tina Amrhein from Brookville, Indiana, will be the Honorary Captain of the game. Tina is the Reds winner of MLB’s 2012 Honorary Bat Girl Contest, a campaign to recognize fans who have been affected by breast cancer and demonstrated a commitment to fighting the disease. Tina and her family are guests of the Reds at today’s game.
• Bruce’s Battalion: Jay Bruce is carrying on the tradition of honoring local military families with the Bruce’s Battalion ticket program. At each Sunday home game Jay sponsors a group in the Sun Deck and each guest gets a ticket to the game, a custom camouflage Reds cap and concessions vouchers. Families interested in participating can contact: bruce@reds.com
• Live Mascot Race: Reds mascots Mr. Redlegs, Rosie Red, Mr. Red and Gapper will participate in a live mascot race during the middle of the fifth inning.

Other Highlights:

• George Foster Bobblehead at the Reds HOF: The 2012 Big Red Machine bobblehead series, presented by Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, continues in May with the release of the George Foster bobblehead…free with full-price paid admission to the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in May while supplies last.
• Reds Camps: Sign up now for the official Reds baseball and softball summer camps, presented by Safeco Insurance. Locations include Cincinnati, Dayton, Indianapolis, Lexington, Louisville and Columbus. Each camp features 30 hours of instruction and campers are given a full Reds uniform, trip to GABP and four Reds tickets. More info at reds.com/camps.
• Kroger Meal Deal: $8 Kroger Meal Deal: Hot dog, 16 oz. Coke product, bag of chips and Diamond Foods Kettle Chips.
• Mr. Red’s Smokehouse: The featured menu items at Mr. Red’s Smokehouse this homestand is a Presidential Burger.

I’m taking off my “Reds blogger” hat for a minute and putting on my “Indianapolis resident” hat long enough to tell you that next Thursday’s Indianapolis Indians game against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs will be televised on the MLB Network.

May 10, 11:05 a.m. ET, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Triple-A Philadelphia Phillies) at Indianapolis Indians (Triple-A Pittsburgh Pirates)

I believe I have some former coworkers going to the game, so I’m hoping to catch a glimpse of some really wacky software developer antics on the broadcast.

You might also be interested to know that the Minor League All Star game will be televised as well:

July 11, 7:00 p.m. ET, 25th Annual Triple-A All-Star Game

Hopefully I’ll be able to put my Reds blogger hat back on for that one.

There’s been a loud buzz emanating from Cincinnati since the rumor of a contract extension for Cincinnati Reds’ slugger Joey Votto broke at the beginning of the week. And now the Reds have made it official with a press release and a press conference.

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Walt Jocketty today announced the signing of All-Star 1B Joey Votto to a 10-year contract extension through the 2023 season with a club option for 2024. Votto had been signed through 2013 as part of a 3-year contract he received in January 2011, when he avoided arbitration.

“We recognize the historical significance of this signing. Ownership has committed to Joey, and we anticipate that he will continue to be one of the best players in baseball for the next decade or so,” Jocketty said. “He wants to stay here, and we want him here. We have shown we are committed to building a solid foundation from within the organization.”

Added team President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Castellini, “Joey not only is one of the game’s best players, but on the field and in the community he represents himself, the organization and our city with extraordinary professionalism and dignity. We certainly are proud to be able to keep him in Cincinnati for 12 more years.”

Selected by the Reds in the second round of the June 2002 first-year player draft, since his 2007 debut the National League’s 2010 Most Valuable Player ranks among Major League Baseball’s offensive leaders in almost every statistical category. Votto, 28, is a 2-time NL All-Star (2010, 2011), a Sporting News NL All-Star (2010) and the only Reds first baseman ever to win a Rawlings Gold Glove Award (2011). In the Sporting News’ 2011 poll of baseball executives was rated the fourth-best player in baseball behind Albert Pujols, Troy Tulowitzki and Felix Hernandez.

Three times in the last 4 seasons Votto was voted by the local chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America the Ernie Lombardi Award as the Reds’ Most Valuable Player (2008, 2010, 2011).

It was coming down to the wire, but the Cincinnati Reds finally released the schedule of events and entertainment during their opening week of baseball for the 2012 season. The best events encompass an exhibition game the day before opening day, opening day, opening night, and then opening Sunday.

Spring Showcase Exhibition Game – Tuesday, April 3 – Reds vs. Futures, 7:10 p.m. (Gates open at 5 p.m.)

• Batting Practice: Fans can see the Futures team, comprised of the top prospects in Reds minor league system, take batting practice from 5-5:50 p.m., followed by Reds players taking batting practice from 5:50-6:40 p.m. The pregame activities will include live mics on Reds coaches and players as well as broadcasters conducting interviews.
• Autographs: The Reds Futures will be signing autographs from 6-6:30 p.m. on the Terrace Level concourse. Twenty players are scheduled to participate including Billy Hamilton, Neftali Soto, Ryan LaMarre and 2012 first round draft choice Robert Stephenson.
• Ceremonial First Pitch: One lucky fan will be randomly chosen from the crowd on-hand to offer up a ceremonial first pitch at 6:45 p.m.
• Gold Glover: Reds minor league catcher Tucker Barnhart will receive his Rawlings Gold Glove during pregame ceremonies. Barnhart won the award in Rawlings inaugural selection of the Minor Leagues top defensive players at their positions last year.
• Behind-the-scenes access: Fans will have the opportunity to tour the tunnels beneath Great American Ball Park and take a photo in front of the Reds Clubhouse entrance.
• Tickets: All game tickets to the Spring Showcase are deeply discounted and start at $5: reds.com/showcase
• Kids free at HOF: Fans 12 and under get free admission to the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum with a Spring Showcase game ticket.

Opening Day – Thursday, April 5 – Reds vs. Miami Marlins, 4:10p.m. (Gates open at 1:40 p.m.)

• 93rd Findlay Market Opening Day Parade Grand Marshal: Aaron Boone, former Reds infielder and current ESPN broadcaster, will serve as the Grand Marshal of the Findlay Market parade, which begins at 1 p.m.
• Ceremonial First Pitch: Retiring Hamilton County Sheriff Simon L. Leis Jr. will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
• National Anthem: Award-winning singer/songwriter Rodney Atkins will sing our National Anthem.
• Honorary Captain: U.S. Senator Rob Portman will serve as the Honorary Captain of the Game.
• Game Ball Delivery: Miss Ohio Audrey Bolte will deliver the official Game Ball to the mound during pregame ceremonies.
• Moment of Remembrance: The Reds will honor former owner Carl H. Lindner and local victims of the March tornado outbreak with a special Moment of Remembrance.
• American Flag: U.S. Air Force Active Duty Recruiters from the 338th Recruiting Squadron at Wright Patterson Air Force Base and local Future Airmen will hold the giant American flag during the National Anthem.
• God Bless America: Hamilton Country Sheriff’s Court Service Officers James Whitacre and Jeffrey Whitacre will sing God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch.
• Take Me Out to the Ball Game: Bob Kevoian from the nationally syndicated “Bob and Tom Show” will lead the crowd in singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game during the seventh-inning stretch.

Opening Night – Saturday, April 7 – Reds vs. Miami Marlins, 7:10 p.m. (Gates open at 5 p.m.)

• First Pitch: Josh Hutcherson, star of “The Hunger Games” and Northern Kentucky native, will throw out a ceremonial first pitch.
• National Anthem: Eben Franckewitz, “American Idol” season 11 contestant and Loveland native, will sing the National Anthem.
• Players in the Fan Zone: Reds players will walk a red carpet in the Fan Zone along with Eben Franckewitz, Miss Ohio Audrey Bolte and Miss Teen Ohio Kendall Fein from 5:20-6:10 p.m.
• 2012 Kroger Calendar: The first 20,000 fans will receive a 2012 Reds Calendar, presented by Kroger.
• Gold Gloves: 2011 NL Rawlings Gold Glove winners Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto will be recognized during pregame ceremonies.
• Silver Slugger: 2011 NL Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger winner Brandon Phillips will receive his award during pregame ceremonies.
• Rusty Griswolds: 80’s cover band The Rusty Griswolds will perform from a stage on the right field porch during inning breaks and after the game.
• Postgame Fireworks presented by TriHealth: The Rusty Griswolds will play live during the post-game fireworks show featuring Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks.

Sunday, April 8 – Reds vs. Miami Marlins, 1:10 p.m. (Gates open at 11:40 a.m.)

• Easter Sunday: The Easter Bunny will be available for photos with fans in the newly remodeled Fan Zone from Noon to 1:30 p.m. The photo opportunity is free of charge.
• Reds Easter Tin: The first 8,000 kids 12 and under will receive a Reds Easter Tin filled with red and white jelly beans, presented by Meijer.
• National Anthem: Gloriana, the Academy of Country Music Awards Top New Vocal Group of 2010 will sing the National Anthem.
• Meijer Family Days: Sundays are family days at the ballpark! One member of the family pays full price and may purchase up to three non-premium tickets at half-price in advance of game day only. Excludes Outer View Level and Kroger Bleachers.