Hall of Famer Johnny Bench and former All-Star pitcher Rick Reed
take the lead in raising funds for new stadium.
On a beautiful October afternoon in downtown Huntington, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench was holding court in his dressing room tucked below the stage at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center. It’s one of those dressing rooms in the catacombs of the ornate theater where stars like Rudi Vallee, Smokey Robinson and Taylor Swift once prepared for their acts.
In walked former Major League All-Star pitcher Rick Reed, with his son Mason in tow. Rick came to this very theater as a kid to watch movies and now he was introducing his son to his childhood hero.
“He was my favorite player growing up,” said Reed of the 14-time All Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner. “Not many people know this, but all my numbers growing up in baseball had a ‘5’ in them because of Johnny Bench.”
The interesting part of the introduction is Reed never told Bench that he was a major league pitcher. That’s not his style. It was only when it was brought up in the conversation that Bench remembered Reed. The discussion then turned to Reed’s career in the majors (15 years) and his record (93-76). Bench remarked that anyone who pitched that long in the “bigs” and had a winning record is a really good pitcher. When Johnny Bench delivers a compliment to a baseball player — like a treasured autograph — you save that forever.
Later in the evening, Bench pledged $5,000 to the Herd Rises campaign because he’d been hearing the details of Marshall’s traveling baseball program and decided he wanted to help.
“You really need to have a showcase facility to recruit kids today,” said Bench. “You don’t want to be in a situation where recruits come in and see a baseball field they don’t want to play on, or their parents don’t want to come watch the games. A new stadium is a great opportunity for Marshall and I want to help because Coach Jack Cook deserves it.”
Upon hearing of Bench’s gift, Reed told Marshall University Athletic Director Mike Hamrick, “I can do better than that. I’m giving $1 million.”
Besides maybe Johnny Bench, no one has more love for baseball than Rick Reed. He grew up on the west side of Huntington and took to the game immediately. He was a star from Little League to his time at Huntington High and then on to his career at Marshall. In those days the Herd played at the old University Heights location off Norway Avenue. But Reed was never a complainer about the drive, or the digs, at the Heights.
“My first year there was ’85,” said Reed. “I didn’t think it was horrible. The way I approached baseball then and until the last day I was playing was this: If someone was willing to give me a uniform I didn’t care where the field was.”
Reed had a surprise pitch up his sleeve that fall day. He made an astonishing $1 million pledge to help with the new facility. Now, along with Jeff Montgomery and Dan Straily, 29 other former players have jumped on board, hoping to help the program get to the next level. That’s all part of an investment they’ve been hoping to make for a new baseball home.
“I’d always heard we were getting a new stadium,” said Reed. “I heard it when I played. I thought when that happens, I’ll get involved. My wife and I sat down with our financial guy and that’s how we came up with it.”
And just like his playing days in the big leagues, Reed delivers again.
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About the Author: Keith Morehouse is sports director at WSAZ NewsChannel 3. He is a two-time Emmy winner and received the West Virginia Sportscaster of the Year award in 1999, 2007 and 2012. He graduated from Marshall University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism.
Photos (from top):
Athletic Director Mike Hamrick holds a $5,000 Herd Rises donation from Cincinnati Reds legend and Hall of Famer Johnny Bench at a book signing. Bench was in town last October to speak at a Marshall Artists Series event.
Rick Reed and his wife, Dee, donated $1 million to the Herd Rises fundraising campaign. Reed attended Marshall from 1984 to 1985, playing one season under Head Coach Jack Cook before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He later pitched for the New York Mets from 1997 to 2001. During that time he played in the MLB All-Star Game twice.
Dan Straily pitched for Marshall University before being drafted by the Oakland Athletics. He played with the Baltimore Orioles in 2019.
Pitcher Jeff Montgomery was drafted from Marshall University by the Cincinnati Reds. He retired from the Kansas City Royals in 1999.
