Campy's Editorial Page
R.I.P., Honey.
1928-2004
Farewell to a true Cincinnati icon.
(Photo by John Curley Jr./The Cincinnati Enquirer)
March 2004
By: Matthew McGowan
If there was ever one Cincinnatian that it seemed nearly everyone had a opinion on, it was Marge Schott.
Most people knew her as the owner of the Cincinnati Reds, a tenure marked with both triumph and tribulation. A pioneering businesswoman, she was the first woman to command a General Motors dealership. As owner of the Reds, she was known best for being a female ball club owner in a "man's world"; one who feuded constantly with her male limited partners and the rest of the "good old boys" club of Major League Baseball team owners, which ultimately led to her being forced to give up control of the Reds in 1999.
Though many people will remember her for her insensitive remarks and front office thrift, many more will remember her love for the fans, her willingness to spend money on players (while keeping ballpark prices among the lowest in MLB), and, perhaps most of all, her role in bringing a World Championship to Cincinnati in 1990. "People can say what they want, but until it happens again, the last world championship this ball club won was when she was the owner," Reds Hall of Fame radio broadcaster Marty Brennaman says. "She loved to win...for the most part during her watch she spent whatever it took when it came to putting personnel on the field to make this a better ball club."
But there was also another side of Marge that many people didn't know.
A sixth-generation native, Marge Schott loved Cincinnati like no other, and used her considerable wealth to make it a much better place. She was especially generous and good-hearted to the city's children, giving millions of dollars to Cincinnati's Children's Hospital, inner-city educational programs, local schools, The Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Cincinnati, and various other children's charities, just to name a few. She also loved animals, donating tons of time and money to local animal shelters and other animal charities. And of course, Marge was a most generous benefactor of the Cincinnati Zoo, one of the finest in the nation. "Selling the ball club was a blessing in disguise for the community as a whole," Brennaman says. "Look at all of the contributions she's made since then. She has never gotten enough credit for all of the money she's donated to causes in this city."
But as Paul Daugherty of The Cincinnati Enquirer said, "She was born 50 years too late. She lived her later life in a time when what she said was more important than what she did. Political correctness is a noose of feigned politeness that stifles much-needed discussion. We're afraid of saying the wrong thing now, so we don't say anything. Marge would have none of that."
That was Marge; what you saw was what you got. Cincinnatians knew this and loved her for it, even if they didn't always agree with or like what she was saying. Unfortunately, most folks around the country haven't got to see all the really great things this lady did for our city. Though she said a lot of ignorant and foolish things, her heart was almost always in the right place. And her actions spoke a lot louder than her words.
Cincinnati native and Reds Captain Barry Larkin had this to say about his old boss: "I think people will remember the good things about Marge...the parties she had to raise money for kids, her involvement with the zoo, her giving to minority programs. She gave to minority programs before her racist comments came out...I respected her...Her passing is unfortunate." Former Red and Cincinnati native Dave Parker adds, "The sad thing would be if she is remembered for what she said, rather than what she did...she did a whole lot of good for the Reds and Cincinnati. I think she was a product of her upbringing...she grew up with people who made those comments, too...but deep down, she was a good person. When you think of all the good she did for the zoo, the various charities, that's what she should be remembered for."
I couldn't agree more. Thanks for everything Marge. We'll miss ya, honey!
(Quote sources: ESPN and The Cincinnati Enquirer)
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