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 team CEO Dick Wagner. 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. Red was replaced by Mr. Redlegs, but a new, rebranded Mr. Red mascot was unveiled at Redsfest for the 2012 season, and the character has remained active since.

In Their Own Story

The sun dips low behind the Great American Ball Park scoreboard, casting long shadows across the diamond as the seventh-inning stretch begins. Suddenly, a burst of red energy erupts from the dugout; it's Mr. Red, bouncing with infectious joy toward the warning track. In this moment, he is more than a costume; he is the heartbeat of the River City, uniting strangers in a shared love for the Reds.

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 first person to wear the Mr. Red costume was Charles 'Chuck' Kindig, a high school junior, starting in 1973.
• From 1968 until 1992, the Running Man logo was shown with uniform number 27, though several Reds players (e.g., Dave Concepcion in 1970) did wear that number during that period, making the 'no player wore it' claim false
• The Running Man logo first appeared on a Reds uniform as a sleeve patch in 1955; this is a different logo from Mr. Red, who did not appear on a uniform patch at that time.