She was extroverted, loud and engaging. She talked about everything from $1 hot dogs to the disappearence of farms in Butler County.

        And the fans lined up to hear the wisdom of Marge Schott, former owner of the Cincinnati Reds. For two hours Saturday, Mrs. Schott signed autographs at the 12th annual Moeller High School Sport Card and Memorabilia Show.

        It was the first time Mrs. Schott has done a card show, said the promoter, Jon O'Connor.

Former Reds owner Marge Schott's popularity was evident Saturday at the Moeller High Sport Card and Memorabilia Show. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        And she seemed to enjoy it.

        “That's a cute name. How do you spell Tiffany, honey?” Mrs. Schott asked Tiffany Engel, 6. Tiffany spelled it for her.

        “How come you're a baseball fan?” Mrs. Schott asked.

        “She didn't have much choice,” said her father, Jeff Engel, of Fairfield, who said he began taking his daughter to ball games when she was just 3.

        Proceeds from Mrs. Schott's signing — $8 and $15, depending on the item — will benefit the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

        In two hours, she sat and signed more than 300 autographs.

        “Where you from, sweetie?” Mrs. Schott asked as she held a baseball in her lap, signed her name and drew a paw print.

        “Fairfield.”

        “It's sad to see those farms getting torn up (in Butler County),” said Mrs. Schott. “I'm the last breeder of cattle in Indian Hill. Kids want to come see the baby calves; they've never seen baby calves.”

        “Where do you go to school, sweetie?” she asked a female student.

        “Roger Bacon.”

        “I didn't think they took girls. I think they should've left the girls with the girls and the boys with the boys. Then they can concentrate.”

"Come see Aunt Marge'

        Howard Miller, of Dayton, asked if it was OK to take a photo of his two children, Cal, 4, and Alyssa, 10, with Mrs. Schott.

        “C'mere, c'mere! Come over here with Aunt Marge right away!” said Mrs. Scott.

        She put her arm around them and smiled as Mr. Miller's camera flashed.

        “I was proud of the job you did as owner,” Richard Carr, of Fairfield, told Mrs. Schott as he approached her.

        “I'm not ashamed of the job I did, honey, but it's a little boy's world,” Mrs. Schott said.

        After becoming the Reds principal owner in 1984, Mrs. Schott was twice disciplined by Major League Baseball for intemperate racial and ethnic remarks before relinquishing the team in 1999.

        “She got a bum rap in baseball,” said Mr. Carr later. “She loves the Reds, she loves Cincinnati. She wasn't out to get anybody. Look at all she's done.”

       (The card show continues today, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Hall-of-Famer Bob Feller signing autographs, 2-4 p.m.)
       
       

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