Yankees vs Red Sox

Lore & Background

The Reds played in the NL West division from 1969 to 1993, before joining the Central division in 1994. Cincinnati is generally considered to be the most dominant team of the 1970s. During this decade, they won the National League pennant five times, ultimately winning the World Series twice. The team was colloquially known as the 'Big Red Machine' during this time, and it included Hall of Fame members Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and Tony Pérez, as well as the controversial Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader in Major League Baseball.

Despite their decorated past, the Reds have struggled in recent years, and currently have the longest drought of not winning a playoff series of any MLB team, with their last win coming in 1995. Overall, the Reds have won five World Series championships, nine NL pennants, one AA pennant and 10 division titles. The team plays its home games at Great American Ball Park, which opened in 2003. Bob Castellini has been the CEO of the Reds since 2006.

Reader's Guide

The origins of the modern Cincinnati Reds baseball team can be traced back to the expulsion from the National League of an earlier team bearing the same name. In 1876, Cincinnati became one of the charter members of the new National League, but the club ran afoul of league organizer William Hulbert for selling beer during games and renting out its ballpark on Sundays. On October 6, 1880, seven of the eight team owners adopted a pledge to ban both beer and Sunday baseball.

Only Cincinnati president W. H. Kennett refused to sign, so the other owners preemptively expelled Cincinnati. Cincinnati's expulsion incensed Cincinnati Enquirer sports editor O. P. Caylor, who formed a new independent ball club in the spring of 1881. The Reds' first game was a 12–3 victory over the St. Louis club. Caylor and former Reds president Justus Thorner helped form the American Association, and the new Reds became a charter member.

Led by Hick Carpenter, Bid McPhee, and Will White, Cincinnati won the inaugural AA pennant in 1882. The Reds left the American Association on November 14, 1889, and joined the National League. After shortening their name to the Reds, the team wandered through the 1890s. In 1912, the club opened Redland Field (renamed Crosley Field in 1934).

The 1919 team won the World Series over the Chicago White Sox. Powel Crosley, Jr. bought the Reds out of bankruptcy in 1933. Crosley Field became the host of the first night game in 1935. Johnny Vander Meer threw back-to-back no-hitters in 1938. In 1940, the Reds captured a world championship, beating the Detroit Tigers four games to three.