76 current and former Reds and more than 14,000 fans attend Redsfest

CINCINNATI -- FOX Sports Ohio Redsfest presented by PNC Bank drew more than 14,000 fans Dec. 6 and 7 the Duke Energy Convention Center.

"The weather certainly affected turnout for Friday based on the timing of when the snow fell," said Phil Castellini, Reds Chief Operating Officer. "But we were pleased with the crowd of over 10,000 on Saturday and I think everyone who ventured out had a great experience and got to connect with their favorite players." 

Over 22,000 fans attended in 2012.

Highlights from 2013 Redsfest include:

• 76 current and former players, coaches and broadcasters attended including Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Aroldis Chapman and new manager Bryan Price along with 2014 Reds Hall of Fame inductee Ron Oester.

• The local chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America named center fielder Shin-Soo Choo the Ernie Lombardi Award winner as the team's Most Valuable Player. Starting pitcher Mat Latos earned the Johnny Vander Meer Award as most outstanding pitcher and right fielder Jay Bruce received the Joe Nuxhall Good Guy Award.

• 7-foot-4 Harlem Globetrotters star "Stretch" Middleton teamed with Reds Minor League Player of the Year Seth Mejias-Brean to win the Celebrity Wiffleball Home Run Contest.

• Bill Kohler of Cincinnati outlasted over 570 poker players to win first place and the $11,000 top prize in the eighth annual Reds Community Fund Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament presented by Prestige A/V & Creative Services.

Proceeds from Redsfest benefit the Reds Community Fund and its baseball-themed outreach programs.

Visit Reds.com and Jamie Ramsey's Better Off Red blog at ramsey.mlblogs.com for video highlights and photos from Redsfest.

Redsfest 2014 is scheduled for Dec. 5 and 6 at the Duke Energy Convention Center.