Shelby County resident Darlene Hall poses for a photo in front of Great American Ball Park on Aug. 16. Hall has pancreatic cancer and resides in StoryPoint in Troy, and staff helped arrange one last trip to see the team play.
Courtesy photo
TROY — Ninety-one-year-old Shelby County resident Darlene Hall received the opportunity of a lifetime shortly after her devastating cancer diagnosis. The Cincinnati Reds heard her story and sent her to Great American Ball Park to see her last Reds game in person.
“It was super. Oh, it was super because I never thought I’d get to go back down one more time,” Hall said.
When Hall’s daughters were in junior high at Houston, the school started giving tickets to Reds’ games as a reward for good grades. This sparked the idea to make it a whole family trip. Throughout the 1960’s, 70’s and most of the 80’s, Hall went with her husband, Vern, and their children to Cincinnati in their mobile home to see the Reds play whenever they had a home game. It had become a special time for the whole family.
“So, we made it our fun thing. We would go down, and we’d get to see on Saturday night and then on Sunday (Vern)’d say, ‘No, we’re going back for church.’ So, we’d be back for church… That’s how we managed our baseball season” Hall said.
Hall had just moved into StoryPoint senior living in Troy and had expressed her love for the Reds. After her pancreatic cancer diagnosis, the staff wanted to create a special experience for her, so they used their close connection with the Dayton Dragons to get in touch with the Cincinnati Reds association to see what they could do. They were moved by Hall’s story and provided complimentary tickets and exclusive access to the dugouts, the Diamond Club, umpire area and the Hall of Fame.
“The trip to Cincinnati, that was a shocker to me. I hadn’t expected that when they’d come in and they told me that’s what we’re going to do. I thought, ‘Now, how am I gonna do that? Am I even gonna make it that long?’ Because I didn’t know how much longer I will have, but it was worth it. It was well worth it.” Hall said.
When Hall was asked who she would want to bring to the game, she said she wished her grandson, Dan, could come. He had just retired from the Air Force and is living in Florida, so it would be a stretch. A few days after mentioning that, there was a knock on her door. Her grandson flew out to surprise her with a visit, without hearing about the upcoming baseball game. He came a few days too early and couldn’t join for the experience, but Hall was thankful to see him after five years.
“That was almost better than the whole experience at the Reds game,” Hall said.
Hall was able to bring four fellow residents with her to see the game.
“Seeing those four people, they were sitting there, and I could look down and their faces, they were just enjoying it so much. That just made me feel even better. I was enjoying it to the hill, but to look back and see the joy. And my daughter and son-in-law were there,” Hall said.
Hall’s daughter, Janice, still lives in Shelby County and was able to join for the trip. Her other daughter, Judy, lives in California. Hall has two sons who have passed, which makes going back to Great American Ball Park more special to feel close to her sons and husband again.
“We were sitting over beyond the third baseline, and I could look over to where we had been the last time my husband and I were there together. We had tickets at the first baseline… One time after that, with a group from Coldwater, I took the bus tour just to go down, and I figured that would be probably my last time going. And there were three girls that we all played softball together in high school. We were there on that trip, but they’re all gone now. They’re gone,” Hall said.
Hall made sure to bring the program her husband had purchased for the Reds’ 100-year anniversary, back in 1969. She had gotten it signed by the players she was able to meet.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to say thanks to the Reds for everything that they did.” Hall said.
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