CINCINNATI

A dominant figure in Cincinnati in the 1950s was television icon Ruth Lyons.  A lot of things could be said about her but here is just one remembrance of mine.  It fits in with the start of the baseball season.

Major League Baseball, for many years, had sports writers vote and select the All-Star players for an exhibition game each year in mid-season.  It was a great honor to be named to that team. 

In an effort to increase interest with the fans, that practice was changed to allow the fans to vote.  This all coincided with the coming of the computer.  Computer cards were passed out and collected by ushers at each game.  On the cards was printed all the appropriate players at each position.  Fans voted by punching out a chad by their favorite players.  Provisions were made for those not able to vote at the game to vote by mail and write in names not on the cards.

In comes Ruth Lyons.  In 1957, she was sure the Reds had a championship team.  Every day on her daily TV show, she urged all her audience to vote for all Reds players.  She was broadcast on a local network that included Columbus, Dayton and Indianapolis. 

She taught her viewers how to do it.  She had lots of ballots for her studio audience.  She was the original ballot box stuffer.

To my recollection, eight of the nine players elected to start the All-Star game were Reds. Pretty neat!

The commissioner of baseball stepped in and said, "No way!"  He reduced the Reds starters to five in favor of the following:  Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Stan Musial and pitcher Curt Simmons.  Somehow, I think he was right. 

The great ballot box caper of 1957!  Right here in Cincinnati!  The rules were changed the following year to prevent this from happening again.
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