6-03-2026 12:19am

Growing Up With The Legendary "Great Eight"

Beth Callahan Editor

Pete Baruxes' basement became his own Reds' Baseball Musem, which rivaled the Cincinnati Hall of Fame

FRANKLIN, OH -- When Franklin resident Pete Baruxes, was growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, he was priveledge to something that many baseball fans could only dream.

"I was sitting behind the home plates at both Crosely Field and Riverfront Stadium where 'The Big Red Machine' played its home games. I just thought this was a normal family activity," Baruxes, now 65, said, adding, "I didn’t realize how lucky I was. I just thought it was normal ... until I got older."

Just How Did A Young Boy Get Such A Priveledge?

Baruxes, who grew up in Centerville, also, grew up with a tight-nichted Greek family. And, mixed in with his very close family was his mom's brother and his uncle — Alex Grammas. Grammas spent 40 years in Major League Baseball: ten as a player and 30 years in coaching and managing.

"He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cincinnati Redlegs and the Chicago Cubs," said Baruxes, who added some history into the interview. "The Reds name changed to Redlegs from 1953 to 1958 to avoid political backlash. This was the period of the 'Red Scare' and the word 'Reds' was being used to label people who had an allegiance to communism."

After leaving professional baseball as a player, his uncle went into coaching ... where he ended up being best known as Sparky Anderson's trusted third-base coach. Baruxes explained that while his uncle was coaching the Big Red Machine from 1970 to 1975, he was there as a spectator doing two things. One was hanging out in the stands behind home plate with his cousin Peter Grammas, Tommy Brennaman and Pete Rose Junior, while the other was collecting stuff.

Boy Did He Collect Stuff!!!

Baruxes explained that he has always been a saver, espeically for things that a hold special meaning to him. "I saved ticket stubs, cereal boxes, Reds' wine bottles, programs, buttons, shirts, hats, bats... I kept things that people threw out. And, I kept them in mint condition."

For along with being a saver, Baruxes is also very organized with his collections. This was seen when walking into his basement that was completely designed to house and display all his baseball memorbiala.

Because he was a collector, the players often would just hand things to him... "and, they would sign the stuff, too," he said, adding often times, his uncle would send him items to add to his collection.

These were items are from "The Big Red Machine," the nickname given to the
Cincinnati Reds baseball dynasty of the 1970s, Baruxes explained. "The thing is, these were'nt just your 'ordinary' professional baseball players. They were the best," Baruxes said.

Managed by Sparky
Anderson, this dominant team featured the legendary "Great
Eight" starting lineup, which included:

Johnny Bench (Hall of Famer)
Dave Concepcion
George Foster
Cesar Geronimo
Ken Griffey Sr.
Joe Morgan (Hall of Famer)
Tony Perez (Hall of Famer)
Pete Rose (All-time Hits Leader)

This team averaged nearly 98 wins a season, won six division
titles and four National League pennants along with the back to back
World Series Titles Championships in 1975 and 1976.

While Baruxes uncle Alex Grammas was not a part of the 1976 World Series Team, as he is managing the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976, he did go back and coack with Sparky Anderson again.

"He was coaching third base for the Detroit Tigers in 1984. And, he and Sparky were on another World Series winning team," Baruxes said.

How Much Did Baruxes Actually Acquire Over The Years?

Over the years, with the help of his uncle, who was always sending him things, Baruxes had collected over 15,000 items.

"It rivals the Cincinnat Hall of Fame amenities ... I have more than they do! I believe I collected everything and never throw anything out," he laughed. "When we were down in the club house after the game, people would be throwing everything away. I'd pull it out and keep it."

Along with all the memorabilia, Baruxes credits his uncle for giving him a lot of great memories: running around the Reds' Club House, meeting some of the world's greatest baseball players, getting onto the field and into the dugout and the love for baseball.

"To be a part of that time in history... At Pete Rose's wake, I couldn't believe it, but his daughter remembered me. It's been 40 years. She knew me. We did so many things as kids. To this day, it's like yesterday... I can see it in detail. We would rip-up phone books, so we had confetti to throw when we won the World Series... we'd play baseball with those little bats and rolled up tape for a ball... there's some stories I can't tell, but a lot of great memories," Baruxes said.

Baruxes Decision To Wrap Up His Personal Museum

Recently, Baruxes has packed up his personal museum to be auctioned off.

"I'm keeping a few pieces that hold a special meaning to me. But, I'm moving south and decided it's time to sell and let someone else own a part of history," said Baruxes, who explained his items are now in the hands of Justin Steele of Hometown Estate Liquidators.

The auction is live right now online at highbid.com. It's up until the actual auction weekend, which is this weekend. Bids will pick up after the preview day on Friday June 5 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Then, this coming Saturday June 6 and Sunday. June 7, 2026, the In-person auction is at 3316 Wilmington Pike, which is a VFW Post from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

"This is when you can walk around and see everything live," Baruxes explained. "Museum quality items and hard to find one-of-a-kind items will be on display ahead of the auction and even the Casual collector might be interested in over 200 bobbleheads dating back over 70 years."

Justin Steele of Hometown Estate Liquidators can field any questions on their website or live in person in Springboro until the actual live auctions.

Below is a gallery of Baruxes Reds treasures, which many are up for auction this weekend.