Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > March > 27 > Entry
Ruth Lyons’ 50-50 Club memories on Opening Day
A TRIBUTE TO RUTH LYONS, BOB BRAUN & GRANDMAS EVERYWHERE
===”LUDWIG AT LARGE” WANTS TO HEAR FROM EVERY CINCINNATI REDS FAN WHO REMEMBERS THE RUTH LYONS 50-50 CLUB! EMAIL ME YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES AT cludwig@daytondailynews.com AND I’LL PUBLISH THE BEST OF THE BUNCH ON MY BLOG===
I am in such a good mood that it’s scary. Absolutely scary.
For three reasons:
The Xavier Musketeers, yes, my Xavier Musketeers, beat West Virginia in OT in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 16 on Thursday night, March 27.
My blog, “Ludwig At Large,” is in its infancy —- less than two months old —- yet it has taken off like a kite in a hurricane.
Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds is Monday, March 31.
TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
Ahhh, Opening Day. There’s nothing like it. The only thing I love more than “The Game” is the pregame festivities, highlighted by the annual Findlay Market Parade.
If you’ve never been, go-Go-GO! Anchor yourself at Fountain Square at 11 a.m. Monday and enjoy an awesome trip down memory lane as 165 units of floats, marching bands & decorated automobiles, trucks & flatbed trailers grace the streets of the ‘Nati.
“Big Red Machine” center fielder Cesar Geronimo will serve as the 2008 Grand Marshal, and tributes are planned for the late, great Reds pitcher and broadcaster Joe Nuxhall both in the parade and in pregame ceremonies at Great American Ball Park.
An exhibit on the life & times of the “Ol’ Left Hander” is already on display at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.
“Joe is in everybody’s hearts this Opening Day,” said Neil Luken, coordinator of the annual parade, which kicks off at 11 a.m. and runs from Over-the-Rhine through Downtown, ending just past Fountain Square.
A lot of the floats will be paying tribute to Joe and his family.
A poster featuring Nuxhall as a past Grand Marshal will be sold with proceeds going to the Joe Nuxhall Educational Fund.
RUTH LYONS IS A SAINT
Somebody else is in my heart on each & every Opening Day. The Fab-You-Lous Ruth Lyons.
I know I’m dating myself here —- Yikes! I turn 54 in July! —- but how many of you fine folks out there remember The Ruth Lyons 50-50 Club?
I used to walk from my home at the corner of West Eight Street & Rosemont Avenue in the Price Hill section of Cincinnati to my grandma’s house, and watch Ruth Lyons on WLWT Channel 5.
Ruth, who should be canonized a saint for her charity, “The Ruth Lyons Children’s Fund,” retired in 1967 due to declining health. Bob Braun kept the ball rolling with the “Bob Braun Show,” which he hosted from 1967 to 1984.
The daily 90-minute show was the top-rated live entertainment/information program in the Midwest, and was syndicated throughout the heartland of America. It featured a live band, singers, and special guests including Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Johnny Carson, Paul Lynde, Red Skelton, Phyllis Diller and Dick Clark.
Politicians including Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, John Glenn, and Ted Kennedy were also guests.
‘RALLY ‘ROUND THE REDS’
There was Grandma Ludwig and her grandson, Charles A. “Chick” Ludwig, Jr. —- I was known as Chuckie & Charlie in those days —- hunkered around the TV.
I’d make my exit from the living room to the kitchen when “As The World Turns” came on. Grandma was a devout follower of the soap opera. I was a devout lover of her Bundt cake. I helped myself to the “Tang” in the fridge and endless pot of coffee on the counter.
When I close my eyes to sleep on Sunday night, Opening Day eve, I’ll think of grandma and Ruth Lyons, who used to sing every Reds fan’s favorite song, back in the day on the 50-50 Club:
“C’mon, let’s rally ‘round the Reds, boys, rally ‘round the Reds … we want a Pennant in September!”
To re-live some of those magical moments of our childhood, go to …
http://www.answers.com/topic/bob-braun?cat=entertainment
Until next time, this is “The Chickster” saying: Make Love, Not War; Give Peace a Chance; and Strawberry Fields Forever.
Contact Chick Ludwig at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com
Permalink | Comments (85) | Post your comment | Categories: General
Comments
By Carol Rogers
March 28, 2008 12:43 AM | Link to this
Hey Chick: I remember your Grandma Ludwig because she was my Mom. The family was always amazed at the way Grandma would keep score during the games of “The Big Red Machine”. Her score book looked like nothing you’ve ever seen. She loved Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and all the players and she loved Joe Nuxall. The games that wouldn’t be televised, she would sit with the radio to her ear and listen to the game. As for remembering Ruth Lyons, I played her Christmas Music CD while decorating my Christmas tree at my home in The Woodlands, Texas. I also remember going to The Ruth Lyons 50-50 Club show with MOm and thinking how great it was to be on TV. Cincinnati was blessed to have someone like Ruth Lyons who promoted the city with charm and grace and enthusiasm to make us all proud of our city. I wish I could be there for this opening day as the Cincinnati Reds take the field again. Good luck guys. Now let the games begin!!By Jerry Federle
March 28, 2008 7:39 AM | Link to this
Chick: So you’re 54?! That makes me even older than I thought. When I attended Our Lady of Lourdes grade school in the late 50’s we had to go home for lunch, since we had no cafeteria at school. This meant being home with my mom and siblings eating peanut butter and jelly AND watching Ruth Lyons daily. Ruth was an icon much as Oprah is today. When she spoke her legion of followers listened, purchased products or elected an entire baseball team as she encouraged her listeners to do. Had not the commissioner stepped in, the National League All-Star team would have been the Reds in 1956, directly attributable to Ruth Lyons encouraging her viewers to vote for her Reds. For those not old enough to remember her, just think Oprah today and you got it.By Pat Amshoff
March 28, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
Hi Chuckie,Chick, This is your cousin Pat. I just can’t get use to calling you Chick. I to would sit with Grama Ludwig watching the Ruth Lyons show, The Big Red Machine…Those sure were the good old days. Just wanted to say HI, and love this blog. Take care. PatBy Bob Keliher
March 28, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
Hey Chick, For all the Chick bloggers out there…I am the cousin of Chick who now lives in Florida. I too have profound memories of Grandma Ludwig and “The Big Red Machine”. I can still see her keeping score of each game. She loved the Reds and her family. I miss her!!!!By Joe
March 28, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
Great memories. Isn’t that what life is all about. I grew up in Trenton and am now 71. Waite Hoyt on the radio,Ruth Lyons in the early days of TV, and opening day in Cincinnati, nothing like it.By ms
March 28, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
How can you mention Ruth Lyons and leave out Paul Dixon?? While Ruth was way ahead of her time and top shelf..not even a mention of Paul Dixon…Skipper Ryle..Uncle Al or Bob Shreave?? All were Cincy landmarks…54 ?? Damn you are old!!!By Michelle
March 28, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
Yay for your blog, Chick! March Madness—The Mid Majors are neither Mid nor Major. Discuss. /end Cawfee Tawk voiceBy Pete
March 28, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
I do remember Ruth, and Bob Braun and I’ve never been to an opening day game. In fact, I’ve only been to one Red’s game in person, in 1964 (Pete Rose was playing…) where the big memory of the night was someone spilling a beer all over me, and I had chills the rest of the night. I forget who won the game. I loved the 50-50 Club, and even went to the show once, and got Bob’s autograph. (I’m not sure where it is now, since I’ve moved a couple of times since then.) A nice trip down memory lane, Thanks!By Michael A. Banks
March 28, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this
Hey, Chick, I remember 54 as a good time! I just watched my 57th go by. Speaking of Ruth and the Reds, she used to talk them up on WKRC back in the 1930s—when people thought women weren’t interested in baseball. —MikeBy Uncle Ken
March 28, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
Chick, it sure was nice to read your loving memories about Mom, the Reds and Ruth Lyons. I think about Mom everyday and Aunt Net makes bundt cake just like mom’s. I have about 10 pounds to prove it. Keep up the great work and know that I enjoy reading your blog. Blog, who would have every thunk.By Vera
March 29, 2008 7:18 AM | Link to this
My Mom was a big Ruth Lyons fan. We always watched her show. Even as late as 1988 her generosity touched our family. My son had to have an emergency apendectomy at Childrens Medical Center in Dayton and he received a stuffed animal from the Ruth Lyons’ Christmas Fund. She was a great lady.By smitty
March 29, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this
I too was a recipient of a gift from the Ruth Lyons Christmas fund while in the hospital. That meant so much to me. It was Christmas until Ruth Lyones kicked it off with her newest Christmas tune that she wrote. I hope everyone has the CD with her Christmas tunes. It begins the Christmas season in my household.By John
April 1, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
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