When Pete Rose and the Big Red Machine returned to Great American Ball Park Saturday, so did public address announcer Joe Zerhusen.
Zerhusen had been absent from the ballpark announcer's booth for eight weeks due to "health issues." Aaron Sharpe, the WNKU-FM acting general manager and music host who plays recorded music between innings, had done the ballpark announcementssince the April 21 Cubs-Reds game.
Zerhusen's deep distinctive voice sounded as strong at the game Saturday, after the club honored Rose before the game on the field and unveiled the new Rose statue on Crosley Terrace outside the stadium. Zerhusen has been the PA announcer since Great American Ball Park opened in 2003.
After a road trip to Tampa, Washington D.C. and St. Louis, the Reds return home Tuesday, June 27, to play the Brewers.
Zerhusen was a 25-year radio veteran at WRRM-FM, WOFX-FM, WCKY-AM and WUBE-AM when hired by the Reds in 2003 for the opening of Great American Ball Park.
