Cincinnati Reds Tickets

The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They play in the Central Division of the National League.

Franchise history
The original "Red Stockings"
The original Cincinnati Red Stockings, baseball's first openly all-professional team, were founded in 1866. The team turned professional in 1869.

The Red Stockings had the honor of winning 130 straight games throughout 1869 & 1870. Brothers Harry and George Wright, Fred Waterman, and pitcher Asa Brainard were the star players of the team. The 1869 Red Stockings went undefeated by making an eastern swing of 21 games.

Redland Field to the Great Depression
Built on the corner of Findlay and Western Avenues on the city's west side, Redland Field was opened for the Reds in 1912. The Reds had actually been playing baseball on that site for the last 20 years.

The Reds began to come out of the second division by the late 1910s. The 1918 team finished 4th, and then Reds were led to a NL pennant in 1919 by new manager Pat Moran.

In the 1919 team, Edd Roush and Heinie Groh led the hitting stars while the pitching staff was led by Hod Eller and Harry "Slim" Sallee, a lefthander. The Reds finished ahead of John McGraw's New York Giants, and then were successful in winning the world championship in 8 games over the Chicago White Sox.

Revival of 1930s
In 1933, Powel Crosley Jr., bought he Reds out of bankruptcy in 1933. He hired Larry MacPhail to be the General Manager. WLW radio and the Crosley Broadcasting Corporation in Cincinnati were also started by Powell Crosley Jr.. As a a civic leader, he was doing quite well. WLW has been the Reds' radio flagship for decades.

The Reds' minor league system was developed by MacPhail. He also expanded the Reds' base. Throughout the 1930s, the Reds became a team of "firsts". Crosley Field has the honor of becoming the host of the first night game in 1935.

From WW-II through the 1960s

World War II and age finally caught up with the Reds. Cincinnati finished mostly in the second division throughout the remainder of the 1940s and the early 1950s

In 1944, Joe Nuxhall has the honor of becoming the youngest person ever to play in a major league game -- a record that still stands today. Ewell "The Whip" Blackwell was the main pitching stalwart. He could not carry on his career due to his arm problems. Ted Kluszewski was the NL home run leader in 1954. A collection of over-the-hill players and not-ready-for-prime time youngsters made the rest of the offense.

The 1980s
After the heartbreak of 1981, General Manager Dick Wagner pursued the strategy of ridding the team of pricey veterans, stars, and proven winners, ridding the roster of catcher Nolan, third-baseman Knight and the entire starting outfield of Griffey, Foster, and Collins. Johnny Bench was made the starting third baseman after his decision of giving up catching entirely. Alex Trevino became the regular starting catcher.

After Pete Rose:
General Manager Bergesch was replaced by Murray Cook in 1987. A series of deals were initiated by Cook that would finally bring the Reds back to the championship. It started with acquisitions of Danny Jackson and Jose Rijo, finally letting go of Bergesch favorites Stillwell and Parker. Cook was succeeded by Bob Quinn in 1989. With acquisitions such as Hal Morris, Billy Hatcher, and Randy Myers, Quinn was successful in putting the final pieces of the championship puzzle together.

By leading the NL West from wire-to-wire, the Reds shocked baseball under new manager Lou Piniella in 1990. They started off 33-12, winning their first 9 games, and maintained their lead throughout the year. The Reds took out the Pirates in the NLCS and swept the heavily favored Oakland Athletics in four straight. They were led by Chris Sabo, Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, Paul O'Neill and Billy Hatcher in the field, and by Jose Rijo, Tom Browning and the "Nasty Boys" of Rob Dibble, Norm Charlton and Randy Myers on the mound.

The Reds won 90 games in 1992. But that was enough for 2nd place behind the division-winning Atlanta Braves.

The Reds were in the newly-created National League Central Division with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, as well as fellow rivals Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros in 1994. The Reds were successful in winning the division by 1995. The most valuable player Barry Larkin played very important role in this win.