There are moments in baseball that transcend the game itself—stories that become legend, passed down through generations of fans. Sean Casey, the beloved former Cincinnati Reds first baseman, gave us just such a moment, and it recently got a well-deserved shoutout during a Reds broadcast at Wrigley Field.
As the Reds faced off against the Chicago Cubs in the series finale, Reds.TV announcers John Sadak and Chris Welsh set the stage. They discussed a new "Home Away From Home" bar near Wrigley, designed specifically to welcome fans of the visiting team. Welsh joked, "Sean Casey would be happy to know that there's a safe haven for Reds fans here." Sadak chimed in, "He might hop off a bus and give a friendly hello on the way out of town."
That playful banter sparked the retelling of an unforgettable story Casey himself shared back in February 2018 at the former Green Diamond Gallery in Montgomery. It was 2004, and the Reds were in Chicago with a chance to knock the Cubs out of playoff contention. After a hard-fought win, the team bus rolled out of Wrigleyville. But Casey wasn't ready to leave quietly.
"Every year at the bars, fans are screaming. This year the crowd is quiet," Casey recalled. He spotted a bar packed with Cubs fans and told the driver, "Let me out." Without hesitation, he sprinted into the bar, shouted "You guys suck!" at the stunned crowd, and bolted back to the bus—with beer cans flying past his head.
Back on the bus, his teammates were hanging out the windows, cheering him on. Barry Larkin, Adam Dunn, and the rest of the squad were in disbelief. "Casey, that's the greatest thing I've ever seen," Larkin said.
It's a classic baseball tale of passion, rivalry, and a little bit of chaos—the kind of story that reminds us why we love the game. Whether you're a Reds fan, a Cubs fan, or just a fan of a good story, this one is an all-timer. And for those of us who appreciate the spirit of the game, it's a perfect reminder to wear your team colors proudly—whether you're at the ballpark or just grabbing a cold one at the bar.