After an absence of ten years, the Cincinnati Reds have returned to Chattanooga. The MLB club signed a two year Player Development Contract with the local Lookouts (AA Southern League) that will run through the 2020 season.
When the Reds moved on after the 2008 season, the Dodgers jumped in and stayed in Chattanooga for six years. In that period, the Lookouts adopted the Dodgers look. After the 2014 season, the Minnesota Twins partnered with the club and the Lookouts returned to their trusted red look.
The usual pleasantries were exchanged as Reds President of Baseball Operations Dick Williams stated: “The Reds are thrilled to be returning to the city of Chattanooga and forming a new partnership with the Lookouts, both on and off the field. We are excited to be working with Jason Freier and his partners, the Lookouts’ front office, and, most importantly, the fans and the Chattanooga community at large. During our previous stint as partners, we witnessed firsthand that the city of Chattanooga and the Lookouts franchise combine to provide a great springboard to the Major Leagues and we are looking forward to enjoying similar success with a new generation of players and fans.”
“We are thrilled to have the Reds back in Chattanooga,” said Lookouts Owner Jason Freier. “It’s exciting to be reunited with baseball’s original franchise. The proximity of our cities is a great benefit of our partnership. Reds games are broadcast into the Chattanooga market and Cincinnati is just a drive away, so our fans will be able to follow their Lookouts up to the big leagues.”
Recently there have been talks about a new stadium even though the Lookouts’ current ballpark, AT&T Field is only nineteen years old.
Even though there have been teams with the name Lookouts in Chattanooga since 1885, the history of the club is not a continuous one but since 1976 the club is a constant in Chattanooga and the Southern League.
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