The Cincinnati Baseball Archive

The History Of Cincinnati Baseball

The 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings were the first professional baseball team, finishing their inaugural season undefeated. In 1876, the Red Stockings became a charter member of the National League where they played until they were unable to field a team in 1881. A reformed Red Stockings team joined the American Association in 1882 and won the pennant in their first season with a .688 winning percentage and finishing 11-1/2 games in front. After the season ended, the Red Stockings won a pair of exhibition games against the Chicago White Stockings of the older and stronger National League. The team transferred to the National League in 1890, shortened their name to Reds, and finished in fourth place, 10-1/2 games out of first. They came no closer to first place until winning their first World Series, albeit a tainted one, in 1919. In 1940, the Reds had their first 100-win season and beat the Detroit Tigers for their second World Series title. In 1953, the team changed it's name to the Cincinnati Red-Legs. The name lasted only until 1959, when the familiar Cincinnati Reds name, still used today, was again adopted. World Series Titles in 1975 & 1976 followed the rise of "The Big Red Machine" in the early 1970's. Fourteen years later, the 1990 Cincinnati Reds, a team built and groomed by Pete Rose before his banishment from baseball in 1989, returned to win another World Series championship under then-manager Lou Piniella.

Cincinnati Teams & Leagues

Years	Team Name	League Affiliation
1876-1880	Cincinnati Red Stockings	National League
1882-1889	Cincinnati Red Stockings	American Association
1884	Cincinnati Outlaw Reds	Union Association
1891	Cincinnati Porkers	American Association
1890-1952	Cincinnati Reds	National League
1953-1958	Cincinnati Redlegs	National League
1959-Present	Cincinnati Reds	National League

Cincinnati Ballparks

Years	Ballpark Name
1869-1870	Union Grounds
1876-1879	Avenue Grounds
1880, 1882-1883	Bank Street Grounds
1884-1901	* League Park *
1891	Pendleton Park(Cin. Porkers)
1902-1911	* Palace of the Fans *
1912-1933	* Redland Field *
1934-1970	* Crosley Field *
1970-2002	Riverfront Stadium/Cinergy Field
2003- ????	Great American Ballpark

(*League Park, Palace of the Fans, Redland Field, & Crosley Field were all located on the same site at the intersection of Findlay & Western. Redland Field was renamed Crosley Field for team owner Powell Crosley. Crosley Field was also the site of baseball's first night game.)

World Series Appearances

Year	Opponent	Result
1919	Chicago White Sox	World Champions
1939	New York Yankees	LOST
1940	Detroit Tigers	World Champions
1961	New York Yankees	LOST
1970	Baltimore Orioles	LOST
1972	Oakland Athletics	LOST
1975	Boston Red Sox	World Champions
1976	New York Yankees	World Champions
1990	Oakland Athletics	World Champions

Baseball Hall Of Famers

Player Name	Years With Team
Johnny Bench	1967-1983
Joe Morgan	1972-1979
Tony Perez	1964-1976, 1984-1986
Sparky Anderson, Manager	1970-1978
Ernie Lombardi	1932-1941
Bid McPhee	1882-1899
Frank Robinson(Orioles)	1956-1965

Reds Players Who Should Be In "The Hall Of Fame"

Dave Concepcion Dave Parker

How Can It Be Called "The Baseball Hall Of Fame"

If PETE ROSE Isn't In It?