Adam Dunn elected to Reds Hall of Fame

On August 10, 2004, Adam Dunn hit a home run that is described in play-by-play data as a "Fly Ball to Deep CF." In reality, it was more like a fly ball to shallow Kentucky.

That home run was the most famous of the 270 hit in a Cincinnati Reds uniform by the former second-round pick. It traveled an estimated 535 feet – the longest ever hit at Great American Ball Park – clearing the batter's eye, bouncing on Mehring Way and settling on a piece of driftwood in the Ohio River.

“I’d like to have that piece of driftwood," Dunn said.

If that piece of driftwood still exists, it's been authenticated and placed somewhere in the Reds Hall of Fame. Dunn will get a chance to look for himself, as the Reds announced Wednesday that he would become the 80th player and 87th person inducted into the Hall.

Dunn was selected by a combination of a fan vote, Reds alumni and votes from select media members, including reporters from The Enquirer. He will be honored during Reds Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, which will coincide with the final two games of a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates the weekend of July 21-22.

On a conference call after the announcement, Dunn said he appreciated the honor but regretted that the Reds didn't win during his eight years with the club. During Dunn's tenure – from 2001-08 – the Reds never posted a winning record.

“It’s kind of bittersweet," Dunn said. "Obviously, the ultimate goal was to bring home some hardware, not just personal accolades. Looking back at my time, it was obviously disappointing because we didn’t put the product on the field that we thought we were capable of doing.”

The down years notwithstanding, Dunn provided plenty of excitement as a Red, and placed himself among the franchise leaders in many offensive categories in the process. His .520 slugging percentage and .900 OPS as a Red both are third in team history, and his 270 home runs are fourth. His .380 on-base percentage ranks seventh. He was named to the National League All-Star team in 2002. He also is the franchise leader in games played in left field.

His trademark was, of course, the long ball. Dunn hit 462 home runs over the course of his 14-year major-league career, and no Red has more than the former outfielder's four years with at least 40 homers. Dunn led the team in homers for a record seven-consecutive seasons, and averaged a homer every 13.8 at-bats. No Reds player ever hit them more frequently.

The tape-measure homer may have been the most memorable to fans, but Dunn remembers it as a solo shot in a losing effort. His favorite was the walk-off grand slam he hit against the Cleveland Indians in 2006, which erased a three-run deficit.

It also allowed Dunn to attend a show later that evening.

“We got to catch the Nickelback concert," he said. "I’m almost ashamed to admit that now.”

Like the oft-maligned band he saw that night, Dunn was a sometimes polarizing figure among Reds fans. He never hit for a high average, although his on-base and slugging numbers were elite. The Reds also did him no favors by playing him in the outfield when he was arguably better suited for a first-base role in the NL.

Dunn posted a .247/.380/.520 line in eight seasons with Cincinnati before being traded late in the 2008 season for the Arizona Diamondbacks. His career took him to the Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics before he retired in 2014.

Dunn hit 192 home runs after leaving the Reds, but never quite matched his production with Cincinnati, posting a .225/.346/.454 line over the remainder of his career.

The candidates who fell short of induction were Aaron Boone, Danny Graves, Reggie Sanders, John Franco and Scott Rolen. Dunn may be joined in his induction by a Red or two from an older generation, but those selections – made by the Reds Hall of Fame's Veterans Committee – will be announced at a later date.

"Some of the greatest players of all time that have played for the Reds," Dunn said. "To be in with them is obviously humbling, but it’s a great honor.”