Mr. Red

Lore & Background

The character is widely credited to Cincinnati Enquirer sports cartoonist Harold E. Russell, whose caricature-style drawing appeared on the cover of the 1953 Reds yearbook. The first live Mr. Red mascot was introduced in 1973 at the suggestion of the wife of then-general manager Bob Howsam. The mascot wore uniform number 73. Mr. Red disappeared in the late 1980s, supplanted by then-owner Marge Schott's St. Bernard dogs. The costumed Mr. Red mascot was reintroduced in 1997. In 2007, Mr. Redlegs was introduced, but Mr. Red was not replaced; both mascots have coexisted since then. A rebranded Mr. Red mascot was unveiled at Redsfest for the 2012 season, and the character has remained active since.

Reader's Guide

Mr. Red now appears regularly on the field with Gapper, Rosie Red, and Mr. Redlegs. The head of the original costumed Mr. Red was sometimes described by fans and performers as unsettling. The redesigned head featured softer proportions, colored eyes, and a friendlier expression.

Did You Know?

• The identity of the first person to wear the Mr.
• From 1968 until 1992, the Running Man logo was shown without a uniform number; the number 27 was associated with the 'Reds' wordmark logo on the chest, not the Running Man logo.
• The Running Man logo first appeared on a Reds uniform as a sleeve patch in 1956; this is a different logo from Mr. Red, who did not appear on a uniform patch at that time.