It was a great week to be a Reds fan – a message from Enquirer Editor Beryl Love

Full disclosure: I’m a big Reds fan. It’s the one thing for which I toss aside all journalistic objectivity.

They’re my team through thick and thin – even when there’s more thin than thick and wins are harder to come by than a Westsider who thinks Pete Rose deserves his banishment from baseball.

How intense is my fandom? Consider the evidence:

Opening Day is my favorite day of the year. Back when people did such things, I camped out the night before tickets went on sale to make sure I got good seats.

When I lived near D.C., I proudly wore my Johnny Bench jersey at Nationals Park when the Reds were in town.

I was that kid who fell asleep listening to Marty and Joe on the radio when the Reds were on a west-coast swing.

And during the pandemic, I decided to make a spreadsheet of my Reds bobblehead collection and go after the ones I was missing. (Stadium giveaways only. And maybe some Reds Hall of Fame-issued bobbleheads. OK, maybe all the Hall of Fame ones.)

As a gift, my wife gave me cocktail glasses she found on eBay from Johnny Bench’s old Home Plate restaurant on Colerain Avenue. Why? They’re kind of necessary when you have a Reds-themed bar in your home … am I right?

You get the idea.

Whether you’re a passive follower or all-in like me, it was a great week to be a Reds fan. For the first time in more than 20 years, a player in a Cincinnati uniform was named National League Rookie of the Year.

Congratulations, Jonathan India.

As an Enquirer subscriber, you were able to read what we’re calling “an oral history” of India’s amazing season, compiled by our lead Reds beat writer Bobby Nightengale. One of my favorite passages, one that gives great insight as to the kind of player India is, came from Reds Manager David Bell:

“It really stands out how much Jonathan loves to play the game. I’ve actually been told we have to watch him because he’ll play (through injuries) no matter what.”

If there’s one thing Reds fans appreciate, it’s heart and hustle.

Bobby Nightengale brings that same dedication to covering the team. He's prolific. Throughout the season and even during the off-season, he’s your source for all things Reds. The insight he provides only comes from being there. At home. On the road. In the clubhouse. Building trust from the players and giving you stories that go beyond the scores and stats.

Thank you for subscribing and making this work possible.

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

And go Reds – only 83 days until pitchers and catchers report!

Enquirer Executive Editor Beryl Love writes a weekly newsletter for subscribers. Email him at blove@enquirer.com.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Enquirer Editor and Reds fan Beryl Love on Jonathan India Rookie of the Year