Reds' co-owner 'batty about Cincinnati'

Barry Buse was "batty" about Cincinnati – and his family, golfing buddies, colorful sport coats, playing piano, horse racing, the Reds and Johnny Bench.

Before the former Reds co-owner and "music director" took his final bow on Tuesday, James Barrett Buse, 84, asked his family to include this in his obituary: "In lieu of flowers, next time you're at a saloon, have a drink on Barry."

"'Fun' should have been his middle name," said Buse's daughter, Beth Carroll.

Mr. Buse entertained people no matter where he was – on the turf at Riverfront Stadium, at the dining room table, sitting at a stranger's piano. The party became even livelier in the late 1960s, when Mr. Buse and his brother, Pat, joined the separate ownership groups of the Reds and Bengals.

The Reds won World Series titles in 1975 and 1976 during Mr. Buse's nearly 15 years with the organization. Bench and Pete Rose and Tony Perez and the rest of the Big Red Machine were the main attraction in those days. But Mr. Buse was part of the sideshow.

Sometimes before games, the native Cincinnatian would join others on Riverfront Stadium's artificial turf and sing "The Whole Town's Batty About Cincinnati." Mr. Buse would sing it on the team charter to players and coaches on road trips. Mr. Buse's oldest son, J.B., had discovered the song while in elementary school and brought a record home one day.

"It became legend," said Carroll, the oldest of Mr. Buse's four children.

The musical memory is etched on a trophy sitting in Mr. Buse's Mariemont home. Each member of the Reds ownership group received a trophy after the 1976 World Series, and on Mr. Buse's prize it reads: "Barry Buse, Director of Musical Events."

Mr. Buse, who grew up in Hyde Park, would also sing to much smaller crowds. He would attend friends' parties and family gatherings, and if there was a piano, Mr. Buse was providing the entertainment. He would make up impromptu songs about people in the room, all in good taste.

"He would always grab a silver spoon off the table to use as his microphone," Carroll said.

Mr. Buse would sometimes perform while wearing one of his many colorful blazers. Each of his seven grandsons plan to wear one of Mr. Buse's sport coats during Saturday's funeral mass at St. Rose Church in the East End. Gentlemen wearing pink, light blue, aqua blue, red and yellow will be among those celebrating Mr. Buse's life.

Mr. Buse also had a generous side. Before holiday family meals, he would say something about each person around the table and mix in an impromptu song. He loved taking his grandchildren golfing.

Mr. Buse really connected with a young Johnny Bench. They came to the Reds about the same time, and Mr. Buse wanted to help the young catcher from Oklahoma adjust to Cincinnati and life in the majors.

"Johnny was just this young kid," Carroll said. "He would come over to our house for dinner. My dad felt very protective of him. He felt like he was in position to introduce Johnny to good people who were going to take care him and not take advantage of him."

Mr. Buse served for many years on the board of the Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund. The Hall of Famer is scheduled to deliver a eulogy at Buse's funeral.

Buse attended Catholic mass each day, going to different churches across the city. When he would attend mass at St. Xavier Church in Downtown, he would occasionally offer one-day jobs to panhandlers. Mr. Buse would take his new employee back to his house, where the guy would perform yard work and other jobs around the house.

"One day, my dad was going to give a guy money, and the guy said, 'How about a job?' My dad said, 'OK!' " Carroll said. "He was a give-the-shirt-off-of-your-back kind of guy. He never expected anything in return."

Mr. Buse attended Purcell High School and went to Xavier University before dropping out to go to work full-time for the business his father founded, the R.L. Buse Co., a whiskey brokerage company headquartered in the Carew Tower.

Mr. Buse was an avid golfer, belonging to Hyde Park Country Club and clubs in Michigan and Florida, where he and his family also spent a lot of time. He also loved horse racing. Mr. Buse attended the Kentucky Derby for several years with baseball Hall of Famer Stan Musial. They had met through horse racing.

Mr. Buse was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Blum Buse. He is survived by his children Beth (Bill) Carroll, J.B. Buse Jr., Brian (Paula) Buse and Annie (Bob) Bathalter and nine grandchildren.