CINCINNATI — Marty Brennaman watched over Cincinnati Reds games for 46 years, but soon his likeness will watch over Great American Ball Park for years to come.
The Cincinnati Reds will unveil a bronze sculpture of the Reds Hall of Famer on Saturday, Sept. 6.
It's the reason Governor Mike DeWine has declared the day "Marty Brennaman Day" in Ohio.
"It was Marty's voice that graphically described for us some of the greatest moments in Reds history, and it was Marty's voice that, for five decades, kept me company many a night as I have traveled Ohio," said DeWine in a press release. "I am pleased to honor him and his outstanding career with this proclamation and to say 'and this one belongs to...Marty!'"
Brennaman told WCPO the statue bearing his likeness is the biggest honor he's received.
"Number one. And people I've talked to have said 'bigger than the baseball Hall of Fame?' and I said 'yeah, and I'll tell you why,'" said Brennaman. "Because had I not been accepted here when I came in 1974 to replace Al Michaels, had I not been embraced eventually by the people in this town, this would never have happened. The baseball Hall of Fame wound never have happened. None of that stuff would have happened."
Hear Marty describe how it feels to be honored with a statue outside GABP:
Brennaman became emotional when talking about the statue, and imagining the day it'll finally be unveiled.
"I'm gonna cry," he said. "I've already started thinking about what I'm gonna say and I don't know. I don't know. It's just gonna be something, like I said, I never dreamed of, the biggest thing in my career."
The existence of the statue isn't the only thing that excites Brennaman about it, though. The bronze statue of Brennaman will be behind the radio microphone, as he was for decades, and positioned in a very significant spot.
"The location is really special," Brennaman said. "Because I'm gonna be back, recessed and right closer to the corner will be Rose and Morgan and they were my two best friends."
We also got the chance to join Brennaman and his wife, Amanda, at artist Tom Tsuchiya's studio, where we got to see the culmination of one year's worth of work on the statue.
"I have a hard time talking about it, because I have never been so surprised in my life by this," Brennaman said as we looked at Tsuchiya's work.
Unlike the statues currently on Crosley Terrace, this one will be static, showing Marty sitting and calling a game like he did for 45 years.
WATCH: Join us for a sneak peek at the statue
"We actually got Marty into the announcer booth, and we ... digitally scanned him. We actually had him pose," Tsuchiya said.
We asked Tsuchiya about the most challenging aspect of creating the statue.
"What is the hardest part? Is it the eyes, the hands? Pretty much everything, I'd say," he said. "Everything is hard. But I think the key thing is really about getting the, just trying to get it so he looks like his he's actually breathing, he's got a heartbeat."
The statue will incorporate 45 years of broadcasting history, depicting Brennaman at different times of his life.
The statue will take up residence near the Reds front office building facing Joe Nuxhall Way, welcoming fans as they arrive at Crosley Terrace.
A dedication ceremony will be held before the Reds vs. New York Mets game on Sept. 6.
Brennaman said the statue fulfills a dream he's had since he called his last Reds game in 2019.
"The last thing I said on September 26, 2019 when I walked out of that radio booth, closed the broadcast, is I wanna remain relevant in this town after today," said Brennaman. "I guess I'm gonna be relevant."
