GOODYEAR, Arizona − Dick Schatz enjoyed the tales he encountered during his career as a bartender. He appreciated being among the various individuals who visited the old Wiggins Restaurant and Tavern on Fountain Square, some of whom wereCincinnati Reds players.
Those individuals caused Schatz to enjoy his work.
Gary Schatz is very similar to his late father. Except the press box serves as the younger Schatz’s equivalent of a bar.
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He began recording statistics at Reds home games in 1992 for a news service known as SportsTicker. Schatz was fascinated by all the personalities in and around the press box, which made him return every season.
Even if he needs to drive 1,800 miles and sleep in his car to be in the Reds’ press box. Even if he doesn’t have much money. And even if he’s battling cancer, a struggle that reached its second year last month.
Schatz believes he has missed approximately 20 Reds home games over 33 years, with only two instances of not attending at Great American Ball Park since he was diagnosed with colon cancer in January 2024.
“I’ve just discovered a method,” Schatz said.
Treasure, 72, has transformed into what he admires most about baseball, a figure integral to the sport. He’s one of those unseen pillars that contribute to baseball being the finest game to engage with. Some know him as “Schatzie.” Others refer to him as “Colerain Gary.” And “Call-o-rain” to others.Former Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker, one of Schatzie’s top favorites.
Schatzie is anything but a showoff. He’s a regular guy from Colerain Township who has risen through the ranks by consistently being present, listening, and paying attention. He’s a good person with a humble attitude that often causes him to fade into the background of the Reds’ everyday activities.
But one notable Red’s figure always pays attention to Schatzie -manager Terry Francona, who is well-known for all the connections he has with individuals you’ve never encountered. Tito has ensured that he remains aware of Schatzie as he has fought against cancer.
Occasionally during the previous season, Tito would begin his daily press meetings by inquiring about Schatzie’s well-being.
He’s a really great person,” Francona remarked. “Everyone likes him, including me. I hope he stays healthy because he truly enjoys his work. I have a lot of care for him.
Schatzie’s steady involvement and deep understanding of the organization also caught the attention of Enquirer Reds beat reporter Gordon Wittenmyer. As the local chapter chair of theAssociation of Baseball Writers of America, Wittenmyer previously took the lead in getting Schatzie admitted to the BBWAA, an organization whose members cast votes for postseason awards and, following a decade of membership, become eligible to vote for the Hall of Fame.
Distributing statistics for the Cincinnati Bengals’ first season
Schatzie fell in love with being in the press box back in 1968. Al Heim, the Bengals’ public relations director, used to have lunch at Wiggins Restaurant and Tavern when he was the sports editor for The Enquirer. He formed a friendship with Dick Schatz. Therefore, Heim reached out to his old friend to ask if his teenage son would be interested in handing out stat sheets in the Nippert Stadium press box during the Bengals’ first season’s home games.
Gary Schatz immediately fell for the media personalities and analyzing the statistics.
“I desired to work as a sports information director, similar to Al Heim,” Schatz stated.
That aspiration was eventually set aside while focusing on a stable, 9-to-5 job. Schatz was employed in a marketing position in New York City during the late 1980s. He received The Enquirer every day to keep up with the box scores of the Cincinnati teams.
He reviewed local newspapers and came across an article discussing the importance of increasing the number of minorities employed in baseball’s administrative roles. The piece was published following racially inappropriate remarks made by former Los Angeles Dodgers executive Al Campanis regarding African Americans in baseball.on ABC’s “Nightline.”The article referenced a sports administration program at St. John’s University, located not far from where Schatz and his former spouse resided.
Schatz enrolled in the courses. After completing the certificate program, he returned to Cincinnati and met with Tom Eiser, the sports information director at Xavier University, who employed Schatz to record statistics for Musketeers basketball games. Eiser, recognized as one of the top professionals in his field, suggested Schatz for the SportsTicker position.
The SportsTicker role evolved into a consistent freelance position with the Associated Press and other freelance assignments. For many years, Schatzie managed his Reds responsibilities alongside tracking statistics for Xavier and Colerain High School football and boys’ basketball teams. He did this while also holding a full-time job and raising a daughter. Schatz continues to keep stats for Colerain, where he once studied.
1,800-mile drive to Cincinnati Reds spring training
In 1999, Schatz chose to build upon his previous work with the Reds. His role in sales and marketing transitioned to a project-focused structure, offering greater flexibility in his schedule. He opted to attend the Reds’ spring training, which was held in Sarasota, Florida, for the entire period.
Schatzie flew that year. To cut costs, he has driven to every spring training session except in 2024 and the previous year. He missed spring training in 2024 following surgery to remove a tumor from his colon. Last year, Schatzie traveled by train because his daughter was concerned about his energy levels for a 27-hour drive.
Schatzie has achieved positive test results following additional surgery in August, yet he remains uncertain about confirming he is completely free of cancer before undergoing further tests upon returning to Cincinnati. He was resolved to make the trip this year. He climbed into his 2011 Dodge Avenger. He takes two, six-hour rest periods in his vehicle at truck stops.
It’s not as if I’m arriving here in a covered wagon,” Schatz remarked. “However, there was a feeling of achievement in being able to drive out here—and then feeling good after it.
Schatzie has consistently supported himself financially. This year was particularly challenging when a $3,000 freelance opportunity with a media company disappeared due to budget reductions. For several years, he lived on friends’ couches in Florida and Arizona. Recently, Schatzie has been renting a room from a local homeowner for $150 per week.
When asked about his favorite baseball media story—specifically one he could discuss openly—Schatzie didn’t hesitate to share a tale involving two of the game’s most legendary figures—former Pittsburgh Pirates manager Jim Leyland and thelate Pittsburgh sports writer Paul Meyer, who was an amazing storyteller and brought humor to every press box he entered.
We were speaking with Jim Leyland one day,” Schatz remembered. “Leyland was sitting there completely undressed. I mean, completely. His foot on the desk, smoking a cigarette. The press was over here and he was looking at that (opposite) wall, responding with one-word answers. Paul Meyer took his pen and slammed it down and said, ‘Gosh, Jim! I was hoping to get two paragraphs from that response.’
Those figures and their narratives continue to draw Schatzie back to the press box.
Contact reporter Jason Williams at[email protected]
This piece first was published on the Cincinnati Enquirer:Williams: Who is “Schatzie”? “Everyone loves him,” says Terry Francona
