1-866-915-1308 Buy Cincinnati Reds Tickets, Get MLB Schedule information and more
The Cincinnati Reds are the oldest professional baseball team in Major League Baseball. Originally the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the ball club dominated the sport in the 19th century. The club won 130 straights in a streak that began in 1869 and ended in 1870. Those early days had stars that are unknown today, stars like Harry and George Wright, Fred Waterman, and pitcher Asa Brainard. That team played in an unorganized baseball world of exhibition games. The team would join the American Association in 1882 and capturing the first league championship. Seven years later the club would move over to the National League.The Reds, after their early success, did not capture a pennant or make to the post season for 37 years following that first championship.
>> More
About The Cincinnati Reds
The first appearance in a World Series was in 1919, the series the White Sox threw. The team again suffered through years of disappointment, waiting until 1940 to win their first World Series without any asterisks or extenuating circumstances.The pain of the fans came 100 years after the Red Stockings dominated baseball with the Big Red Machine in the 1970s. The Reds had assembled one of the best teams ever during that stretch.
Catcher Johnny Bench, first baseman Tony Perez, third baseman Pete Rose, second baseman Joe Morgan, center fielder Cesar Geronimo, left fielder George Foster, shortstop Dave Concepcion, and right fielder Ken Griffey, Sr. played the field and pitcher Jack Billingham dominated the mound.
The Big Red Machine won four pennants and two World Series in the decade, taking the NL West six times. A players’ strike in 1981 robbed the team of another shot at the title, and signaled the end of the line for the Machine.
The next few years were infamous for the betting scandal that banned Pete Rose from the Hall of Fame despite having the most hits ever and the controversial extracurricular distractions of owner Marge Schott.
The Reds returned to playoff form in 1990 with another young roster. This time Chris Sabo, Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, and Paul O’Neill provided the offense and Rob Dibble, Norm Charlton, and Randy Myers provided the pitching. The team was as a shock to the baseball world. New manager Lou Piniella took the team to first from the first day of the season to the last day and won the World Series with a sweep of the Oakland A’s.
Ever since, accept for the 1994 and 1995 seasons, the Reds have struggled to regain the magic that made them one of the best teams in baseball.
The Cincinnati Reds had a disastrous time in the National League Central in 2007, starting out with a 31-51 record. A couple of managerial changes have given Dust Baker control of the team. The Reds come into this season without a few bright spots, a few unknowns, and an unnoticed.
The pitching staff has only one choice for its ace, Aaron Harang. The righthander won 16 games last year and had inflated ERA due to playing in the home run-friendly Great American Ball Park. The Reds only other decent starter from last season is Bronson Arryo. Arryo has good stuff and hopes to bounce back from a poor 2007 season. The rest of the rotation will be a mystery throughout the season, but Edinson Volquez and Matt Belisle will be in it right now, though prospects Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto may make appearances as the season wears on. Francico Cordero is solid saves man without much help from middle relief. David Weathers looks to be the best bet to hold games before Cordero comes out in the eighth and ninth innings.
Big swinging Adam Dunn and smooth swinging Ken Griffey Jr. will be the main run producers for the ball club, but a little heard of second baseman by the name of Brandon Phillips looks to get in on the action. Phillips hit 30 home runs, stole more than 30 bases, and knocked in 94 last season. He and a respectable infield featuring third baseman Edwin Encarnacion, shortstop Alex Gonzalez, and soft hitting first baseman Scott Hatteberg will all hit for a decent average and with a little power.
The friendly confines of Great American Ball Park will provide fans with plenty of excitement as the homerun hitters always enjoy playing there. The place is made for the next Big Red Machine and fans will get to see the team provide plenty of excitement over the 162-game schedule.
