The crack of a bat just hits different when it’s coming through a dashboard speaker. Honestly, there’s something almost spiritual about it. You’re driving down a backroad in Ohio or maybe sitting on a porch in Kentucky, and suddenly, that familiar hum of the crowd rises up through the static. Reds are on the radio, and suddenly, the world feels like it’s right where it’s supposed to be. For over a century, the Cincinnati Reds haven't just been a baseball team; they’ve been a constant audio companion for generations of fans across the Midwest.
Baseball is the only sport that actually works better on the radio than on TV. Seriously. Football is too fast, and basketball is too repetitive, but baseball has that perfect, slow-burn rhythm that lets a broadcaster paint a literal masterpiece in your head. When you hear the legendary Tommy Thrall or the veteran insight of Jeff Brantley, you aren't just getting a play-by-play. You’re getting the story of a season.
The Magic of the 700 WLW Signal
You can’t talk about the Reds without talking about "The Big One." 700 WLW is a beast. Back in the day, its 50,000-watt clear-channel signal was legendary for bouncing off the ionosphere at night. People used to claim they could hear Reds games as far away as the Caribbean or the deep reaches of Canada. It’s part of the lore.
While modern digital streaming has changed how we consume media, the core experience of the Reds on the radio remains remarkably tethered to this tradition. There’s a specific warmth to an AM radio broadcast that Spotify can’t replicate. It’s grainy. It’s nostalgic. It feels like 1975 and 2026 all at the same time.
Why We Still Tune In
Why do we do it? We have 4K television and instant highlights on our phones. Yet, thousands of people still prefer to sync up the radio broadcast while muting the TV.
It’s the intimacy.
Broadcasters like Marty Brennaman—who spent 46 years behind the mic—became members of the family. When he retired in 2019, it felt like a death in the family for some fans. He told the truth, even when the team was playing like garbage. That’s the "Reds on the radio" way. You get the unvarnished version of the game.
👉 See also: Sammy Sosa Before and After Steroids: What Really Happened
The Art of the Radio Call
Radio guys have to be different. They can't just say "base hit to left." They have to tell you how the sun is hitting the grass at Great American Ball Park. They have to describe the way the pitcher is sweating or how the catcher is adjusting his mask.
Think about the iconic phrases. "And this one belongs to the Reds!" It’s not just a tagline. It’s a verbal signal that the day is over and we won. It’s a sigh of relief.
In the modern era, the Reds radio booth has evolved, but it keeps that "front porch" feel. Tommy Thrall brings a crisp, modern energy, while "The Cowboy" Jeff Brantley provides the kind of southern-fried baseball wisdom that makes you feel like you’re sitting in the dugout with a bag of sunflower seeds. They argue about food. They talk about the weather. They happen to call a baseball game in between.
Technical Hurdles and the Digital Shift
Let's get real for a second: the way we find the game is changing. If you’re trying to catch the Reds on the radio via a smart speaker, you’ve probably run into the dreaded "blackout" or "rights restriction" message. It’s annoying.
Basically, the MLB holds the digital rights tight. If you want to listen on your phone, you usually have to go through the MLB app or a specific subscription service like iHeartRadio’s premium tier, depending on your location. But if you have a physical radio with an antenna? That’s still free. That’s still pure. There is a weirdly satisfying feeling in 2026 of using "old" technology to bypass a digital paywall.
The Sound of the Great American Ball Park
Every stadium has a sound. The Reds' home is unique because of the way the crowd noise carries over the Ohio River. On the radio, you can hear the boat whistles. You can hear the "Woo" guys (even if we wish we couldn't).
✨ Don't miss: Saint Benedict's Prep Soccer: Why the Gray Bees Keep Winning Everything
Broadcasters often mention the "GABP" dimensions. They talk about how the ball carries toward those "Power Stacks" in right-center field. When you listen to a home game, the audio mix usually favors the crack of the bat and the roar of the fans in the Diamond Seats. It’s immersive. You can almost smell the overpriced hot dogs and the humid Cincinnati air.
The Connection to the Big Red Machine
You can't mention the Reds on the radio without a nod to the 1970s. That's when the radio habit was cemented for most of the fan base. People would take their transistors to work, to the beach, or hide them under their pillows at night. Joe Nuxhall—the youngest player to ever appear in a Major League game—was the voice of that era. "Rounding third and heading for home" wasn't just a sign at the stadium; it was his sign-off.
That legacy is heavy. It’s why Reds fans are so critical of their broadcasters. We’ve been spoiled by greatness. We expect our radio guys to be as good as Joe and Marty. It’s a high bar, but it’s what keeps the quality of the Reds’ broadcast so much higher than your average small-market team.
How to Listen in 2026
If you’re trying to find the game right now, here’s the breakdown of how to get the Reds on the radio without losing your mind:
- The Classic Way: Tune your dial to 700 WLW if you’re in the tri-state area. It’s the flagship for a reason.
- The Affiliate Network: There are over 100 affiliate stations across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, and even Tennessee. If you're driving, just scan the AM/FM bands; you’ll hit a Reds affiliate eventually.
- Digital Streaming: Use the MLB At Bat app. It costs a few bucks a month, but it gives you the home and away feeds with no local blackouts for audio.
- Satellite: SiriusXM carries every Reds game. It’s great for long-haul truckers or fans living out of market in places like Florida or Arizona.
The Psychological Comfort of the Game
There’s a reason people keep the Reds on the radio during the background of their lives. It’s white noise with stakes. Life is chaotic. Work is stressful. The news is... well, the news. But the Reds? They play 162 games a year.
Every single day for six months, you can turn on that radio and know exactly what you’re going to get. You’re going to get the stats, the scores, and the slow, methodical pace of the game. Even if they’re losing, the consistency is comforting. It’s a tether to a simpler way of existing.
🔗 Read more: Ryan Suter: What Most People Get Wrong About the NHL's Ultimate Survivor
Small Details That Matter
Notice the sounds between pitches. The vendors shouting in the background. The organist playing a snippet of a song you haven't heard in twenty years. The way the crowd reacts to a foul ball that just misses the stands.
A good radio broadcaster notices these things too. They’ll tell you about the kid who just caught a foul ball or the legendary scout sitting behind home plate. These are the details that TV cameras often skip in favor of a commercial break or a flashy graphic. Radio stays in the moment.
Actionable Tips for the Best Listening Experience
If you really want to lean into the Reds on the radio lifestyle, you've gotta do it right. Don't just settle for tinny phone speakers.
Invest in a dedicated AM/FM radio. There are companies like C.Crane that make radios specifically designed for long-range AM reception. If you live on the fringes of the signal, a good antenna makes the difference between hearing the game and hearing static.
Try the "Delay Sync." If you’re watching the game on TV but want the radio audio, you’ll notice the radio is usually ahead of the TV by several seconds. You can use apps like "Radio Delay" on a PC or specific features in some high-end receivers to pause the audio and sync it perfectly with the picture. It’s a game-changer.
Check the Affiliate Map. Before you go on a road trip through the Midwest, download the Reds Radio Network affiliate map. It saves you the frustration of scanning through static while you're trying to hear a crucial late-inning rally.
Teach the Next Generation. Give a kid a radio. It sounds cheesy, but teaching a child how to follow a game through sound alone builds imagination and a deeper understanding of the sport’s nuances.
At the end of the day, having the Reds on the radio is a tradition that refuses to die because it’s fundamentally human. It’s storytelling in its oldest form. We don't just want to see the score; we want to hear the story of how we got there. Whether it’s a meaningless Tuesday night game in May or a high-stakes divisional battle in September, that voice coming through the speakers is the heartbeat of Cincinnati.