Indians and Reds Will Play Annual Exhibition Game

The Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds must put their long-awaited I-71 World Series on hold for at least another year. But next spring will play each other at the home of the Triple-A Columbus Clippers to begin an annual exhibition series.

The game between the Buckeye State’s two major league teams will be played for the Ohio Cup, a 5-foot trophy going to the winning team each April. The first game in the series will be April 2, the day before the start of the 1989 major league season.

Among those on hand for the announcement at Cooper Stadium were Marge Schott, Reds president and chief executive officer; Jeff Jacobs, representing Indians ownership; and George Sisler Jr., general manager of the International League Clippers.

“We’re really pleased we’re able to participate in this,” Schott said. “I think it will become a fun thing and another tradition for the state of Ohio.”

It will mark the first meeting between the Ohio teams since the early 1970s when they played home-and-home series for the benefit of sandlot baseball.