Fans Flock to Reds Spring Training to Get a Glimpse of Griffey
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: There's nothing like a sunny spring day in Florida to bring out the exhibition baseball fans.</s>KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And CNN's John Zarrella was one of them. John couldn't resist checking out how a superstar attracts the crowd.</s>UNIDENTIFIED STADIUM ANNOUNCER: Number 30, Ken Griffey Jr.</s>JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In his first spring training game at bat as a Cincinnati Red, Ken Griffey Jr. struck out, but he has already hit a home run with the fans. (on camera): Who's your favorite player.</s>ZARRELLA: You've got a Griffey hat on, Griffey shirt on, Griffey poster.</s>UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: We even named our dog Griffey.</s>ZARRELLA (voice-over): Griffey, obviously the best and most popular player in baseball has already infected the fans with pennant fever -- and it's only March. For the team, that means big bucks. Everything Griffey sells.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We also have Griffey and Larkin, who went to high school together.</s>ZARRELLA: Even pushing seat cushions, his name makes a difference.</s>UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Watch Griffey in home run style.</s>ZARRELLA: Reds management won't say how much money the superstar is bringing in, but the fans are lining up for Reds season tickets in numbers rarely seen.</s>JACK MCKEON, MANAGER, CINCINNATI REDS: When you see, you know, lines a block long trying to get tickets every day for a week or two, it's exciting.</s>ZARRELLA: It's been reported the Reds expect an average of 4,000 more people a game, which would bring in an extra $3 million during the regular season.</s>KEN GRIFFEY JR. CINCINNATI REDS: It's all about the fans coming out. I mean, it's a lot easier to play in front of 55,000 people than it is to play in front of two or three.</s>ZARRELLA: Chances are, parks will be packed everywhere the Reds go this year. (on camera): That's because Griffey didn't just move teams, from the Seattle Mariners to the Reds, he also moved leagues, from the American to the National. (voice-over): Fans that have never seen him play before will now get the chance.</s>SEAN CASEY, CINCINNATI REDS: He's the Michael Jordan, the Tiger Woods of baseball. And he's a great person and he's the kind of guy, such a great talent, that people want to come out and see him play.</s>ZARRELLA: The best opportunity might be right here at spring training, where there are still seats available. John Zarrella, CNN, Sarasota, Florida.