DaytonDailyNews.com

BEAVERCREEK — Hours before legendary catcher Johnny Bench even picked up a pen, the line for his autograph stretched from one end of Books & Co. (the huge one at The Greene) to the other.

With plenty of time to wait, conversation turned to now-former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., who had been traded earlier Thursday, July 31, to the Chicago White Sox for a pair of prospects.

"Who'd they get for him anyway?" wondered 50-year-old Dayton resident Robert Leonard.

A pitcher, Nick Masset, he was told. And a second baseman, Danny Richar.

Leonard, wearing a No. 3 Griffey jersey, shrugged, the names ringing no bells.

In general, fans seemed neither to mourn nor celebrate Griffey's departure. Some said they were pleased for him. Others, Bench included, said the team did what was necessary.

"That's what the game is right now," said Bench, who signed hundreds of copies of his book, "Catch Every Ball."

"The No. 1 concern, if I'm going to take a stance, is what's going to happen to the Cincinnati Reds. Junior had one or two years left, and there's still the possibility that the injury bug could step in again."

Bench starred on the Big Red Machine championship teams with Ken Griffey Sr., and remembers Junior as a youngster.

"He was a great kid and still is a great man," Bench said. "I hope he gets a chance to play in the World Series."

The end of the Griffey era had been a foregone conclusion. Still, the timing seemed wrong to some.

"I would have liked to see him finish out the year," said Fred Haschart of Centerville, who wore a Reds cap.

"I think it was a courtesy for (Griffey)," said Chuck Mellott of West Chester Twp. "Gives him a chance to play in the playoffs and maybe the World Series. Obviously, Cincinnati's not going there."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408 or smcclelland@DaytonDailyNews.com.