Cincinnati Reds were the first professional baseball team, founded in 1868 as the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Today, the Reds compete in the National League Central division of Major League Baseball (MLB). The team plays its home games at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Cincinnati Red Stockings became an original member of the National League in 1876, playing in the league until 1880. The team disbanded in 1881 but was reformed in 1882, joining the new American Association. The team transferred back to the National League in 1890, the same year the team name was shortened to Reds.
Cincinnati won its first National League pennant in 1919, led by outfielder Edd Roush. The team defeated the Chicago White Sox in the World Series. However, the victory was tainted by the Black Sox Scandal, in which eight Chicago players were accused of deliberately losing World Series games.
Cincinnati struggled during the 1920’s and 1930’s, experiencing several losing seasons. The first night game was played in Cincinnati on May 24, 1935. In 1938, the Reds’ Johnny Vander Meer became the only major league pitcher to throw two consecutive no-hit games. The team won consecutive pennants in 1939 and 1940. The 1940 team defeated the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. Stars of those Reds teams included pitchers Paul Derringer and Bucky Walters, catcher Ernie Lombardi, and first baseman Frank McCormick.
The Reds experienced 11 straight losing seasons from the mid-1940’s to the mid-1950’s. From 1954 through 1958, at the height of the Cold War, the ballclub was known as the Redlegs to avoid the slang term “Reds” for Communists. The team won the National League pennant in 1961, but lost to the New York Yankees in the World Series. That team was led by the slugging outfield of Vada Pinson, Wally Post, and Frank Robinson.
Cincinnati was one of the dominant teams in baseball during the 1970’s. The team became famous as the Big Red Machine because of the play of such stars as catcher Johnny Bench, outfielder George Foster, second baseman Joe Morgan, first baseman Tony Perez, and Pete Rose, who played several positions. The team finished first or second in their division nine times during the decade, winning four pennants and two World Series (1975 and 1976).
Cincinnati won the pennant and World Series in 1990. Modern Reds stars have included outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr., shortstop Barry Larkin, second baseman Brandon Phillips, and first baseman Joey Votto.
