My dad has worn the same Reds sweater on Opening Day for 30+ years, including the day I was born (3/31/1998)! He passed away last night unexpectedly due to a heart attack. We are torn between wanting to bury him in this sweater, but also wanting to keep it.

We cannot find this for sale ANYWHERE online. We’re hoping to reach the Reds to see if they can help, or if you have one (XXL), I’d be honored to buy it from you. Thanks guys.

lol as I’m typing this, we’re sitting at his house and someone turned the tv on and it’s the Reds postgame show, something he watched religiously.

16 comments

  1. God’s peace to you and your family. May his memories bring you smiles after the sting of this loss subsides some. 🙏

  2. I’m commenting so hopefully someone can help you out brother. Love you I pray god be with you and your family during this time.

  3. Sorry for your loss, OP. I can’t help with the sweatshirt except to say that I gotta believe your dad would be so happy to know that his sweatshirt made it to more and more opening days. And October playoffs.

    We can’t take it with us where we go, but our family can carry it on.

  4. First, I’m so sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine the heartache but it sounds like you have amazing memories of him. Thoughts and luck to finding another sweater like that one, this community is amazing and I’d gladly send one for free if only I had one.

    For what it’s worth, thinking about myself as a Dad, I’d much rather my family keep something like this as a memory rather than bury it with me. You could fold it so the logo is centered and the shirt is a small square and put it in a shadow box surrounded by pictures of him, Reds tickets, etc. Would be great to hang on a wall and could be a conversation piece for friends or future family members.

    Just throwing it out as an idea, had a family member do something similar with piano keys from an old grandparent’s piano.

  8. I’m so sorry for your loss. I don’t know him but as a dad I bet he’d rather you keep it, wear it and maybe pass it on yourself some day.

  9. Tried Google Lensing it, and there’s a few things close on Etsy and some other sites, but not that exact one.  

    Good luck though, hope you track it down.

  11. Man, this made me sad, OP, and I am gutted for your loss.

    I believe that your Dad would want you to keep it, and keep the tradition alive, and keep it going to your kids if you have them, much more than he would want to be buried in it. I too lost my own father, and have been in the Army for 20+ years, lost a lot of friends. Almost always is the case where someone “leaves” something they love to someone they love, rather than want to “take it with them”. That said, OP, it is obviously a sensitive subject, and I would not want what I wrote to cause conflict if you are leaning the other way. Only your family knew your dad well enough to make the right call.

  13. I’m sorry for your loss friend. This may be a weird take… but I’m from Ky , and sometimes my family will make quilts , or bedding type things , pillows , etc. … a quilt would be cool. May take more of Dad’s old shirts.

    Im sure someone will laugh at my take here … but with family from Appalachia , I’m almost 50 and still have quilts my grandma made for me when I was 9. My mom will point to certain patches like “Oh that was Charles old shirt”

  14. So sorry for your loss, my dad and I have had so many memories surrounding the Reds and it’s special memories that can never be taken away. Cherish them and carry the passion with you and in honor of him.

  15. Might sound dumb. But you could call some consignment shops in Hamilton/Clermont/Butler counties and ask if they’ve seen one like it. There’s a few in Mason.

    I guess you could also look in Centerville/Springboro …lots of older REDS fans up there.

    Good luck.

  16. So sorry for your loss. Sounds like he was a great Dad. May his memory be a blessing.

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