The Cincinnati Reds community on Thursday was mourning the reported loss of Jesse Jackson, the team’s longtime television stage manager, who reportedly died earlier this week. Jackson was a fixture in the Reds’ broadcast team for over 30 years.
Veteran Reds television analyst Chris Welsh broke the news Wednesday in an X post, calling Jackson “his best friend.”
“So sad to lose my best friend, Jesse Jackson,” Welsh posted. “He brought a smile to everyone he met and was the best stage manager of all time, working Reds, Bengals, Bearcats, Musketeers, every sport, for more than 50 years. Such a kind, caring and gentle man. RIP my friend.”
Hours later, the longtime broadcaster and former MLB pitcher once again used his X account to pay a heartfelt tribute to Jackson.
“Jesse Jackson passed away this week. He was our stage (manager) for Reds TV for more than 30 years,” he posted. “His job was to keep order in the booth and be sure guests weren’t making too much noise while we were on the air. So, instead of telling people to quiet down, he would say in a deep base tone ‘STAND BY.’ The booth would go silent. We commemorated that saying a few years ago with his own T-shirt. Love you, Jesse.”
Many Cincinnati television personalities joined Welsh in paying tribute to Jackson. Reds play-by-play announcer John Sadak reposted Welsh’s second post on X, and others wrote their own farewells.
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Among them was news anchor Tanya O’Rourke, who highlighted Jackson’s characteristic kindness.
“I am so very sorry to hear this,” she posted. “I loved Jesse! He always had a smile, a hug and kind word for me. He worked with my dad when he worked on Reds broadcasts way back in the day. Heaven got a good guy. Glad he will be watching down on all of us.”
The host of “The Morning Show” on WLW-AM in Cincinnati, Thom Brennaman, joined in the tributes, recalling Jackson’s joy.
“Jesse … I wish I could see your smile and hear your laughter for another day but God has His plans, and I know you’re (OK) with that,” Brennaman wrote. “Will miss you so much . You were such a beautiful man. I love you Jesse.”
For colleagues, Jackson was more than just a stage manager — he was a mentor, a friend, and a calming presence in the high-pressure environment of live sports broadcasting. His death marks the end of an era for Reds television, where his voice and guidance were as much a part of the gameday rhythm as the crack of the bat or the roar of the crowd.
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