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Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009

Reds announce schedule for Winter Caravan

CINCINNATI — The 2009 Reds Winter Caravan is scheduled to make 16 fan stops in five states covering four days and more than 3,000 miles.

The caravan kicks off Thursday, Jan. 22 and will include stops that will be open to the public along with Hot Stove stops at Reds on Radio Network affiliates.

The 2009 tour will consist of three separate caravans touring simultaneously. The stops open to the public will be free, and at each public stop the Reds will raffle off two tickets to the 2009 Opening Day game against the New York Mets on April 6.

The Winter Caravan provides fans with the opportunity to interact with Reds Manager Dusty Baker, President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Walt Jocketty, current and former players, broadcasters and other members of the front office staff.

At each stop, the group will field questions from fans, sign autographs and pose for photographs. Sales representatives will be on hand to discuss season tickets and group sales, and the Reds Hall of Fame, the Reds Community Fund and Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network also will attend selected stops.

In addition to the public stops, the Caravan will be visiting three hospitals: Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Kentucky Children's Hospital in Lexington, and The Children's Medical Center in Dayton.

The Southern Tour makes stops in West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee and includes Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman, Gold Glove-winning second-baseman Brandon Phillips, broadcaster Chris Welsh, 2007 No. 1 draft pick Devin Mesoraco, Reds Hall of Famer Lee May, VP and Assistant GM Bob Miller, Senior Special Assistant to the General Manager Gene Bennett (Thursday only) and Reds mascot Gapper.

The Northern Tour makes stops in West Virginia and Ohio and includes Jocketty, broadcaster Thom Brennaman, Reds Minor League Player of the Year Chris Valaika, Reds COO Phil Castellini, Reds Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Browning (Thursday and Friday), infielder Jeff Keppinger (Thursday and Friday), pitcher Mike Lincoln (Saturday and Sunday), former player and current coach Billy Hatcher (Saturday and Sunday) and Reds mascot Mr. Redlegs.

The Western Tour makes stops in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio and includes Baker, broadcasters George Grande and Jeff Brantley, outfielder Chris Dickerson, utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. (Thursday only), 2008 No. 1 draft pick Yonder Alonso (Thursday-Saturday morning) and the Reds newest mascot Rosie Red.

Reds CEO Bob Castellini will be making appearances at stops in Louisville (Thursday at Louisville Slugger Field), Lexington (Saturday at Fayette Mall) and Columbus (Sunday at Polaris Fashion Place).

Fans can visit www.reds.com/caravan for up-to-date information, maps and photos from the 2009 Caravan.

The schedule:

SOUTHERN TOUR FAN STOPS

Thursday, Jan. 22 — Charleston, W.Va. (Charleston Towne Center) , 3:15-4:45 p.m.; Huntington, W.Va./Ashland, Ky. (Fannin Motors) 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 23 — Bowling Green, Ky (Greenwood Mall), 7-8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 24 — Nashville (RiverGate Mall), 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Lexington (Fayette Mall), 6-8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 25 — Maysville, Ky. (Maysville Conference Center), 12:15 - 1:45 p.m.

NORTHERN LEG FAN STOPS

Thursday, Jan. 22 —Vienna, W.Va. (Grand Central Mall), 4:30-7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 23 — Athens, Ohio (The Market on State), 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 24 — Lima, Ohio (Lima Mall), 5-7:00 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 25 — Columbus, Ohio (Polaris Fashion Place), 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

WESTERN LEG FAN STOPS

Thursday, Jan. 22 — Louisville (Louisville Slugger Field), 4:30-7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 23 — Evansville, Ind. (Jillian's Billiards Club), 1-2:30 p.m.; Bloomington, Ind. (College Mall), 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 24 — Indianapolis (Castleton Square Mall), 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Muncie, Ind. (Stoops Automotive), 3-5 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 25 — Dayton, Ohio (National Museum of the USAF), 11:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m.