Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is a lifelong Cincinnati Reds fan who talked about his favorite team and love for baseball on a fan-run podcast recently.
Attorneys Randy Freking and Jack Greiner hosted the governor on their "We Love Our Team" podcast and asked him about his favorite Reds players, ballpark memories, and game day snacks.
Beshear, a two-time Democrat in a deep red Republican state, has been hinting at a presidential run for the past few years.
He hosts his own "Andy Beshear Podcast" and has been making the rounds on national shows and about national issues.
But in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, before people can consider anyone for president, they have to know all about a candidate's baseball preferences.
Here are a few questions the
hosts asked during their podcast:
If you could get into a time machine and reverse one decision that the Reds organization has made over the years, what would that decision be?
"I'm not Monday morning quarterbacking the decision because it looked like the greatest opportunity ever – and that was the Ken Griffey Jr. signing and contract. We didn't know that he'd have that many injuries. This was the best player in baseball, and when does the best player in baseball want to come and play for the Reds and even give them a little bit of a discount? But when you just look at how much of the payroll it was at a time when pitching was really at a premium … It just ended up being something that not only didn't work, but I think it made it hard for the Reds to be competitive."
What four Reds players would you have on your Reds Mount Rushmore?
"I think you got to have Tony Pérez and Johnny Bench, and then I'm gonna go Eric Davis, and, of course, my favorite player of all time … Barry Larkin. I mean, talk about someone who revolutionized the position of shortstop. … To win an MVP award at shortstop. It just totally changed what people thought about that position, and you know, seeing the backflip after Ozzie (Smith) retired was pretty special too."
What's your go-to ball park food?
"My go-to ballpark food has got to be the pretzel, preferably the hot pretzel. It was going to be the cheese coneys, but … there is a point in your life where multiple cheese coneys aren't necessarily a good idea. Maybe one, but multiple, it can have long-lasting effects."
What's one of your all-time favorite Reds moments?
"Game two, the 1990 World Series. I am behind home plate at the top seat of Riverfront Stadium, the very top seat. And you would think that's too far away to see. It's not. And it rained some in that game and we had the overhang. But watching the backup catcher in extra innings knock in the winning run in the World Series was just – what an incredible moment."
What would your walk up song be?
"So, in politics, believe it or not, you have walk-up songs. When you're taking the stage at different big events where there's enough production, they're able to do that. Mine is Tyler Childers' "Universal Sound," my favorite song. He also played it at my inauguration. Good guy that cares about his community, and it gets me in the right mindset every single time."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 5 things about Andy Beshear and his love for the Reds, baseball
