The affable, always cheery, “smilin’ side of the scoreboard” Cincinnati Reds broadcaster George Grande announced his retirement last year. And I’ve missed him a lot this year, particularly every game that Paul Keels has broadcast. The only way to make the loss bearable has been with the Georginator 6000 XL.

Good news everyone! Fox Sports Ohio just announced that Grande will be back starting this Saturday the 11th. The only sad thing is that he’ll miss getting to see Jim Edmonds play for the Reds.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – While the Cincinnati Reds recognize the 25th anniversary of Pete Rose’s 4,192nd career hit this weekend, FOX Sports Ohio will also celebrate this milestone. Following the Reds vs. Pirates game on Sunday, September 12, FOX Sports Ohio will air the September 11, 1985 game when Rose singled to left-center field off San Diego Padres pitcher Eric Show at Riverfront Stadium to pass Hall-of-Famer Ty Cobb and become MLB’s all-time hits leader.

Beginning Saturday, September 11, George Grande will return to the FOX Sports Ohio Reds broadcast booth. Grande was the television play-by-play voice of the Cincinnati Reds for 17 years. He will call the Reds vs. Pirates game this Saturday as well as the following games this month:

• Friday, September 17: Reds vs. Astros 8pm
• Saturday, September 18: Reds vs. Astros 7pm
• Sunday, September 19: Reds vs. Astros 2pm
• Friday, September 24: Reds vs. Padres 10pm
• Saturday, September 25: Reds vs. Padres 8:30pm
• Sunday, September 26: Reds vs. Padres 4pm