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Pete Rose signed merchandise from “4192: The Crowning of the Hit King” at the Liberty Township Kroger Marketplace Feb. 22, 2011. The DVD was released that same morning. On April 18, Rose will be in town again, signing autographs at the Sports Gallery in West Chester. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

With the Major League Baseball season underway, the Sports Gallery in West Chester is gearing up for its busy season.

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart signed autographs for fans at the Sports Gallery in West Chester Township Tuesday, April 2, 2013. Afterward, he spoke about the team in 2013 and Ryan Ludwick’s injury. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

The local sports memorabilia shop already had current Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart come in this month and has another signing session scheduled for next Thursday, April 18 with two members of the Big Red Machine. The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. and will give fans an opportunity to have items signed by Pete Rose and Tony Perez.

Tickets (one autograph per ticket) range from $55-to-$75 for Rose’s autograph and from $45-$65 for Perez’s autograph. Each Rose ticket includes a free “Hit King” or “4256″ inscription, while each Perez ticket includes a free “HOF 2000″ inscription. Any other inscription from either player is an extra $15.

There will be a special pricing option. Instead of buying a $55 ticket for Rose and a $45 ticket for Perez to have them sign a mini-helmet, baseball or any flat item, a combo ticket that includes a signature from both players can be purchased for $90.

The Sports Gallery is working on getting other signing events this spring and summer.

Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey and catcher Ryan Hanigan will participate in a signing session Thursday, May 9 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tickets (one autograph from one player per ticket) are $25 each.

Fellow starting pitcher Mat Latos will host a signing session from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 23. Tickets (one autograph per ticket) are $30.

Prior to signing events or on the day of the event, the Sports Gallery will also have baseballs, bats, photos, cards, helmets and other Reds collectibles available for purchase. Furthermore, items can also be dropped off or mailed in to be signed.

For information about mail order items or to buy tickets, which are limited, call 513-759-4256 or visit www.asportsgallery.com

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Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds player appearances, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Pete Rose, Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose signing, signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester, Tony Perez, Tony Perez Cincinnati Reds, Tony Perez signing

VIDEO: CINCINNATI REDS FANS AND ZACK COZART TALK ABOUT SIGNINGS

Immediately after Opening Day last season, rookie shortstop Zack Cozart admitted that he was exhausted. After the game, he went back to his apartment and crashed.

This year, despite the longer day (game lasted 4 hours and 45 minutes), Cozart said he had more energy after Monday’s opener.

“Last year, I was so amped up and excited because I had never been through it before. I just wasted all my energy,” said Cozart, who signed autographs for fans Tuesday at the Sports Gallery in West Chester. “I kind of learned how to save up some of that energy, so yesterday was not nearly as bad as last year.”

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart signed autographs for fans at the Sports Gallery in West Chester Township Tuesday, April 2, 2013. Afterward, he spoke about the team in 2013 and Ryan Ludwick’s injury. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

Opening Day in 2012 was special for Cozart, who became the first rookie shortstop to start the first game of the season for the Cincinnati Reds since 1971.

After that game, Cozart appeared in additional 137 regular season games and five postseason games. Along the way, he helped his team win 97 games and do so without star first baseman Joey Votto, who missed almost three months due to injury.

Unfortunately for Cozart and his team, the Reds were dealt another blow when cleanup hitter and starting left fielder Ryan Ludwick injured his shoulder Monday during the team’s opener.

“Luddy was a big part of our lineup. They signed him back to a two-year deal for a reason,” Cozart said.

“Missing him is going to be tough.”

According to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Cincinnati Enquirer, Ludwick will undergo surgery Wednesday to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. While the team didn’t announce when he might return, similar injuries have required others to miss 4-to-6 months during recovery, according to Rosecrans.

Last season, Ludwick was a key performer, hitting .340, 12 home runs and driving in 36 runs while Votto was out of the lineup with a knee injury.

This winter, Ludwick, 34, was rewarded for his performance with a two-year deal worth $15 million through 2014, with a mutual option for 2015.

While Ludwick had an MRI on Tuesday, Cozart signed autographs for fans at the Sports Gallery in West Chester Township. He was scheduled to be joined by Homer Bailey, who missed the signing after coming down with flu-like symptoms. Bailey is scheduled to make his first start of 2013 on Friday, according to Reds.com.

Bailey rescheduled his signing date at the sports memorabilia shop for May 9.

For more information on that signing and others at the Sports Gallery, call 513-759-4256 or visit www.asportsgallery.com

For breaking news on the Cincinnati Reds, visit the team’s page on Cincinnati.com.

VIDEO: ZACK COZART INTERVIEW – TALKS ABOUT OPENING DAY, RYAN LUDWICK AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THE CINCINNATI REDS IN 2013

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Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Homer Bailey, Homer Bailey Cincinnati Reds, Homer Bailey signing, Pete Rose, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester, Zack Cozart, Zack Cozart Cincinnati Reds, Zack Cozart signing

PHOTOS FROM ZACK COZART AND HOMER BAILEY SIGNING SESSION IN 2012

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart and starting pitcher Homer Bailey will visit the Sports Gallery in West Chester Township from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The two players co-hosted a signing session at the same sports memorabilia shop last year. It was also on the day after Opening Day.

However, unlike last year, both players are coming into the signing event in much different positions.

Last April, Cozart became the first rookie shortstop to start Opening Day for Cincinnati since 1971 and was coming off an offseason that he spent rehabbing an elbow injury.

Cozart starred in 11 games for the Reds in July of 2011 and had a batting average of .324 before the season-ending injury, which required Tommy John surgery.

Cincinnati Reds Zack Cozart and Homer Bailey had their pictures taken with fans during a signing event at the Sports Gallery in West Chester April 6, 2012. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

Meanwhile, Homer Bailey was battling for the last spot in the rotation last spring.

Prior to winning that role, Bailey hadn’t pitched more than 132 innings in a season in his previous five with the Reds.

In 2012, Bailey went on to set career records in earned run average (3.68), games started (33), innings pitched (208) and strikeouts (168).

Bailey also appeared to get stronger at the end of the season, tossing a no-hitter in late September against the Pittsburgh Pirates and then breaking a Reds postseason record with 10 strikeouts in his start against the San Francisco Giants in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

The cost to have an item signed by either Cozart or Bailey is $25 (one autograph per ticket). Fans can also buy a combo ticket, which includes signatures from both players, for $45. Bailey will also be signing autographs with a “No Hit” inscription for an additional $10.

Prior to signing events or on the day of the event, the Sports Gallery will also have baseballs, bats, photos, cards, helmets and other Reds collectibles available for purchase.

Furthermore, items can also be dropped off or mailed in to be signed.

The local sports memorabilia shop also has another autograph session locked down in April with two members of the Big Red Machine. On Thursday, April 18 from 6 to 8 p.m., Reds fans can get autographs from Pete Rose and Tony Perez.

For information about mail order items or to buy tickets, which are limited, call 513-759-4256 or visit www.asportsgallery.com

Posted in: Business, Events, News, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Homer Bailey, Homer Bailey Cincinnati Reds, Homer Bailey signing, Pete Rose, Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester, Zack Cozart, Zack Cozart Cincinnati Reds, Zack Cozart signing

PHOTOS FROM ZACK COZART AND HOMER BAILEY SIGNING SESSION IN 2012

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart and starting pitcher Homer Bailey will visit the Sports Gallery in West Chester Township from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. next Tuesday, April 2.

The two players co-hosted a signing session at the same sports memorabilia shop last year. It was also on the day after Opening Day.

However, unlike last year, both players are coming into the signing event in much different positions.

Last April, Cozart became the first rookie shortstop to start Opening Day for Cincinnati since 1971 and was coming off an offseason that he spent rehabbing an elbow injury.

Cozart starred in 11 games for the Reds in July of 2011 and had a batting average of .324 before the season-ending injury, which required Tommy John surgery.

Cincinnati Reds Zack Cozart and Homer Bailey had their pictures taken with fans during a signing event at the Sports Gallery in West Chester April 6, 2012. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

Meanwhile, Homer Bailey was battling for the last spot in the rotation last spring.

Prior to winning that role, Bailey hadn’t pitched more than 132 innings in a season in his previous five with the Reds.

In 2012, Bailey went on to set career records in earned run average (3.68), games started (33), innings pitched (208) and strikeouts (168).

Bailey also appeared to get stronger at the end of the season, tossing a no-hitter in late September against the Pittsburgh Pirates and then breaking a Reds postseason record with 10 strikeouts in his start against the San Francisco Giants in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

The cost to have an item signed by either Cozart or Bailey is $25 (one autograph per ticket). Fans can also buy a combo ticket, which includes signatures from both players, for $45. Bailey will also be signing autographs with a “No Hit” inscription for an additional $10.

Prior to signing events or on the day of the event, the Sports Gallery will also have baseballs, bats, photos, cards, helmets and other Reds collectibles available for purchase.

Furthermore, items can also be dropped off or mailed in to be signed.

The local sports memorabilia shop also has another autograph session locked down in April with two members of the Big Red Machine. On Thursday, April 18 from 6 to 8 p.m., Reds fans can get autographs from Pete Rose and Tony Perez.

For information about mail order items or to buy tickets, which are limited, call 513-759-4256 or visit www.asportsgallery.com

Posted in: Business, Events, News, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Homer Bailey, Homer Bailey Cincinnati Reds, Homer Bailey signing, Pete Rose, Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester, Zack Cozart, Zack Cozart Cincinnati Reds, Zack Cozart signing

Pete Rose signed merchandise from “4192: The Crowning of the Hit King” at the Liberty Township Kroger Marketplace Feb. 22, 2011. The DVD was released that same morning. On April 18, Rose will be in town again, signing autographs at the Sports Gallery in West Chester. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

With the Major League Baseball season only a month away, the Sports Gallery in West Chester is gearing up for its busy season.

The local sports memorabilia shop already has one autograph session locked down in April with two members of the Big Red Machine. On Thursday, April 18 from 6 to 8 p.m., Reds fans can get autographs from Pete Rose and Tony Perez.

Tickets (one autograph per ticket) range from $55-to-$75 for Rose’s autograph and from $45-$65 for Perez’s autograph. Each Rose ticket includes a free “Hit King” or “4256″ inscription, while each Perez ticket includes a free “HOF 2000″ inscription. Any other inscription from either player is an extra $15.

There will be a special pricing option. Instead of buying a $55 ticket for Rose and a $45 ticket for Perez to have them sign a mini-helmet, baseball or any flat item, a combo ticket that includes a signature from both players can be purchased for $90.

Prior to signing events or on the day of the event, the Sports Gallery will also have baseballs, bats, photos, cards, helmets and other Reds collectibles available for purchase.

Furthermore, items can also be dropped off or mailed in to be signed.

For information about mail order items or to buy tickets, which are limited, call 513-759-4256.

The Sports Gallery is working on getting other signing events this spring and summer. In 2012, it hosted Rose, Ken Griffey Sr., Andy Dalton, Johnny Bench, Dave Concepcion, George Foster, Joe Morgan, Todd Frazier, Jay Bruce, Don Gullett, Aroldis Chapman, Devin Mesoraco, Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Cesar Geronimo, Zack Cozart and Homer Bailey.

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Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds player appearances, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Pete Rose, Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose signing, signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester, Tony Perez, Tony Perez Cincinnati Reds, Tony Perez signing

There will be plenty to do in the West Chester area this weekend, including the opportunity to meet a pair Cincinnati sports legends, a farmers’ market and a chance to gaze at the stars. However, there is a chance for showers and thunderstorms for Saturday’s outdoor events.

Meet Rose and Anderson – Cincinnati sports legends Pete Rose and Ken Anderson will both host autograph sessions this Saturday afternoon at rival sports memorabilia shops. The Rose signing session will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Sports Gallery, 7967 Cincinnati-Dayton Road in West Chester, while Anderson will be hosting his autograph session from 2 to 4 p.m. at Advanced Sports Marketing. 7043 Yankee Road in Liberty Township.

The weekly West Chester Farmers’ Market returns to the Square at Union Centre next Saturday, May 12. During the winter months, West Chester hosts a farmers’ market about once a month. Photo provided.

Farmers’ market – The farmers’ market season in West Chester Township is on its way back. There is only one winter farmers’ market remaining before the weekly West Chester Farmers’ and Art Market will open for the 2012 season May 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Just like the weekly farmers’ market, the last winter market will take place at The Square at Union Centre. The winter market will take place this Saturday from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Gaze at the stars – West Chester Township will be offering its first Star Gazing program of 2012 this Saturday at 9 p.m. at Keener Park. The program is free to the public and will take place near the tennis courts at the park. The Dayton and Cincinnati Astronomers Society will be providing their telescopes so that the public can view the stars and planets up close.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day – Law enforcement agencies across the region are participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Take-Back Day. On Saturday, dozens of police agencies in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are providing sites for community members to drop off expired, unused or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Drugs can be turned in 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with no questions asked. The local drop-off location will be at West Chester Presbyterian Church, 8930 Cincinnati-Dayton Road.

Arbor Day and Earth Day celebration – Mueller Parker Funeral Home, 6791 Tylersville Road, is hosting a community Arbor Day and Earth Day event from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday. This community event will provide opportunities to recycle and to remember loved ones with plants.

Free family theatre – A free performance of River Rat and Cat, a comic tale for the entire family, will be presented at Miami University’s Voice of America Learning Center 3 p.m. Sunday. A production of Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s Off the Hill education series, River Rat and Cat is a comedy about friendship and cooperation.

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Tags: Tags: Advanced Sports Marketing, Advanced Sports Marketing Liberty Township, Arbor Day and Earth Day, Cell Phones for Soldiers, Cincinnati Astronomers Society, Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Bengals player signings, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Community Arbor Day and Earth Day event, DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, Drug Enforcement Administration, Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, Drug Take Back Day Cincinnati, Earth Day, Keehner Park, Ken Anderson, Ken Anderson Cincinnati Bengals, Ken Anderson signing, Miami University Voice of America Learning Center, Miami University’s Year of the Arts, Miami’s Regional Campuses, Mueller Parker Funeral Home, National Drug Take Back Day, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Pat Freedom, Pete Rose, Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose signing, River Rat & Cat, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester, Square at Union Centre, Square at Union Centre West Chester, Star Gazing program, The Arts Council of West Chester & Liberty, The Arts Council of West Chester and Liberty, the Square at Union Centre, the Square at Union Centre West Chester, Voice of America, Voice of America Learning Center, West Chester Farmers' Market, West Chester winter market, winter market

Cincinnati sports legends Pete Rose and Ken Anderson will both host autograph sessions this Saturday afternoon at rival sports memorabilia shops.

The Rose signing session will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Sports Gallery, 7967 Cincinnati-Dayton Road in West Chester, while Anderson will be hosting his autograph session from 2 to 4 p.m. at Advanced Sports Marketing. 7043 Yankee Road in Liberty Township.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson stands behind the center before receiving the ball against the San Diego Chargers in the AFC playoffs in Cincinnati on Jan. 10, 1982 (Freezer Bowl). AP photo.

Tickets are currently available for both events. To purchase tickets or for information about the Sports Gallery event, call 513-759-4256. For the ASM event, call 513-763-9373.

Rose will sign mini-helmets, baseballs or any flat item for $55 and will sign bats, jerseys, equipment or seatbacks for $75. There will also be the opportunity to have Rose personally sign a baseball with the message, “I’m sorry I bet on baseball.” The cost is $75 and includes a free Major League Baseball.

The Sports Gallery will also have baseballs, bats, photos, cards, helmets and other Reds collectibles available for purchase during the event.

Meanwhile, tickets for Anderson’s signature start at $20 and go up to $65 (jerseys and helmets). Anderson will personalize each signature at no extra cost. Inscriptions, however, will be an extra $10. Anderson will also be available for photos.

In May, the Sports Gallery will be hosting autograph sessions for current members of the Cincinnati Reds rotation.

On Thursday, May 10, starting pitcher Mat Latos will be signing autographs and greeting fans from 6:30 to 8 p.m. That Saturday, May 12, Johnny Cueto will be at the Sports Gallery from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Mail order items signed by either player can also be ordered through the shop.

In person, Latos will sign any item for $30, while Cueto will sign all items for $35. Tickets are currently available for each event.

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Tags: Tags: Advanced Sports Marketing, Advanced Sports Marketing Liberty Township, Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Bengals player signings, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Johnny Cueto, Johnny Cueto Cincinnati Reds, Johnny Cueto signing, Ken Anderson, Ken Anderson Cincinnati Bengals, Ken Anderson signing, Pete Rose, Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester

Fans of the Big Red Machine visited memory lane and met the team’s Gold Glove winning centerfielder, Cesar Geronimo, during a special signing session at the Sports Gallery in West Chester Township Friday.

The sports memorabilia shop is known for having signing sessions with current and former Reds players. During signing events with current players, it is the young baseball fans that request to have a picture taken with the pro ballplayer. On Friday, it was the parents.

One fan, Linda Cotterman drove from Indianapolis to meet her favorite player from her childhood. Jim Conarroe of Dayton drove down to have Geronimo sign a caricature he made.

Midway through the event, Geronimo’s former teammate George Foster stopped by. The two joked and eventually sat on the store’s couch to watch the Reds games with a few children and their father.

Later this April, Pete Rose will visit the Sports Gallery. He will sign mini-helmets, baseballs or any flat item for $55 and will sign bats, jerseys, equipment or seatbacks for $75. That signing session is currently scheduled to take place from 1 to 3 p.m. April 28.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati Reds ace Johnny Cueto is scheduled to host a signing session at the Sports Gallery from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. May 12.

Cueto will sign any item for $35. The cost for any mail order item to be signed plus shipping is $40. To purchase items signed by Cueto – baseballs are $60, signed 8×10 photos are $50 and signed 16×20 photos are $60.

There are a limited number of tickets for each event.

For information about the signing and mail order items, call 513-759-4256.

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Tags: Tags: Cesar Geronimo, Cesar Geronimo Cincinnati Reds, Cesar Geronimo signing, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Johnny Cueto, Johnny Cueto Cincinnati Reds, Johnny Cueto signing, Pete Rose, Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester

Cesar Geronimo, a member of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, will be signing autographs for fans at the Sports Gallery in West Chester Township from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.

Cesar Geronimo speaks during the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame induction ceremonies before a Reds game in 2008. Photo taken by Joseph Fuqua II.

Geronimo was the Reds centerfielder from 1972-to-1980. He won four consecutive gold gloves from 1974-to-1977. Offensively, Geronimo had a career-high .307 batting average during the 1976 regular season when the Reds would later sweep the New York Yankees in the World Series. In the 1975 World Series, Geronimo had seven hits and two home runs as the Reds defeated the Boston Red Sox in seven games.

On Friday, Geronimo will sign any item for $35. He will also sign mail order items for $45 plus shipping. On Thursday, Geronimo will also attend a meet-and-greet at the Tap House Grill in Montgomery from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 for Reds museum members and $35 for non-members.

The Sports Gallery will have baseballs, bats, photos, cards, helmets and other Reds collectibles available for purchase during the event.

Later this April, Pete Rose will visit the Sports Gallery. He will sign mini-helmets, baseballs or any flat item for $55 and will sign bats, jerseys, equipment or seatbacks for $75. That signing session is currently scheduled to take place from 1 to 3 p.m. April 28.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati Reds ace Johnny Cueto is scheduled to host a signing session at the Sports Gallery from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. May 12.

Cueto will sign any item for $35. The cost for any mail order item to be signed plus shipping is $40. To purchase items signed by Cueto – baseballs are $60, signed 8×10 photos are $50 and signed 16×20 photos are $60.

For information about mail order items or about the event, call 513-759-4256. Or for more information or tickets to the meet-in-greet in Montgomery, call 513-765-7921.

The Sports Gallery is located at 7967 Cincinnati-Dayton Road and The Tap House Grill is located at 8740 Montgomery Road.

There are a limited number of tickets for each event.

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Tags: Tags: Cesar Geronimo, Cesar Geronimo Cincinnati Reds, Cesar Geronimo signing, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Johnny Cueto, Johnny Cueto Cincinnati Reds, Johnny Cueto signing, Pete Rose, Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester

After an eventful Opening Day, Cincinnati Reds rookie shortstop Zack Cozart and starting pitcher Homer Bailey met with fans as they pulled up a chair to sign autographs, share stories and pose for pictures during a special signing session at a West Chester sports memorabilia shop Friday night.

While there, Cozart shared his experience of his first Opening Day in Cincinnati.

“It was exhausting,” said Zack Cozart of Opening Day. “You have all the hoopla, all the stuff going on like the big introductions and everything else.

“Obviously, after I played the game, I was emotionally and just physically drained. So, I when I got to my apartment, I just hung out and went to bed early.”

For Cozart it was special, not because he was the first rookie shortstop to start Opening Day for Cincinnati since 1971, but because he was able to get back to the Majors after an offseason spent rehabbing an elbow injury.

Cozart starred in 11 games for the Reds in July of 2011 and had a batting average of .324 before the season-ending injury, which required Tommy John surgery.

“When you have a major injury like that, the rehab that you will have is not easy,” Cozart said. “It is all-day, everyday, just constant work with your arm and it is tough. You have to get the strength and the motion back, but it makes it all worth it when you come out in front of the crowd and with the atmosphere we had Thursday.”

On Friday, Cozart was more relaxed – signing baseball cards, posters and bats.

Cincinnati Reds Zack Cozart and Homer Bailey had their pictures taken with fans during a signing event at the Sports Gallery in West Chester April 6, 2012. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

“It was great, because you grow up as a kid and collect baseball cards. I remember being at a spring training game and getting Ozzie Smith’s autograph,” Cozart said. “I thought it was just the coolest thing ever.

“If I see someone who wants an autograph, I try to help them out because I know when I was their shoes how much I wanted autographs. It is really cool do that now.”

Meanwhile, more of a veteran than Cozart on the field and on the signing counter, Reds pitcher Homer Bailey said that he always enjoys signing for fans.

“We get to hear their stories or hear where they saw us pitch or play somewhere,” Bailey said. “It is kind of neat to come out and see it.”

Like Cozart, Bailey had his battles this offseason – having to fight for a spot in the starting rotation. After making the team, the five-year veteran will start his first game of season Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

“They are not just a rival, but the world champs right now,” Bailey said. “For me, that is kind of fun. I like pitching against the Cardinals. We get to play them so many times and I am very familiar with their lineup. It will be a little different without Tony (La Russa) or Albert (Pujols) there, but they are always a good team.”

The signing event took place at the Sports Gallery in West Chester, 7967 Cincinnati-Dayton Road. The venue will host other Reds players this season. This month, Reds legends Cesar Geronimo (April 13) and Pete Rose (April 28) will participate in signing events. For more information, call 513-759-4256 or visit www.asportsgallery.com.

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Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Homer Bailey, Homer Bailey Cincinnati Reds, Homer Bailey signing, Pete Rose, Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester, Zack Cozart, Zack Cozart Cincinnati Reds, Zack Cozart signing