The Cincinnati Red Stockings

Lore & Background

The Cincinnati Base Ball Club was established July 23, 1866. The team was soon nicknamed 'Red Stockings' in reference to the main feature of the uniforms designed by George Ellard. In 1869, the Red Stockings posted a perfect 57–0 record, the only perfect season in professional baseball history. The 1870 team continued to win regularly, perhaps 24 games before losing 8–7 in eleven innings to the Brooklyn Atlantics on June 14, 1870. The team lost only that one game in 1870, but attendance declined. The club disbanded after the 1870 season.

In Their Own Story

A player steps into the batter's box, adjusting his cap while the catcher squats behind home plate in leather gear. The air smells of cut grass and tobacco smoke. As the pitcher winds up on the mound, the silence falls over the makeshift field. This is not just a game; it is a declaration that professional sport has arrived forever.

Reader's Guide

The 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings won every game they played that season, finishing 57–0. The 1870 team lost games, including a notable 8–7 defeat to the Brooklyn Atlantics on June 14, 1870. The team's perfect season was in 1869 only.

Did You Know?

• The 1869 Red Stockings posted a perfect 57–0 record, the only perfect season in professional baseball history.
• The team was the first to play on the East and West coasts in the same season.
• The Red Stockings established the color red as the color of Cincinnati, continuing with the modern Cincinnati Reds.
• The Boston Red Stockings, a franchise now known as the Atlanta Braves, were a new franchise formed in 1871, not directly originating from the Cincinnati Red Stockings.

Origins and Organizational Foundations

Goshorn as president. This early organization laid the groundwork for what would become baseball's first all-professional entity. A pivotal moment occurred through the strategic alliance with George B. Ellard, who led the Union Cricket Club; this partnership proved decisive as numerous cricket members transitioned to baseball, significantly bolstering the roster and fan interest. The club initially played at Mill Creek bottoms before securing grounds near Lincoln Park, where they implemented a commercial model charging admission fees while offering free entry to club members and ladies.

The First Professional Era

This groundbreaking move allowed the Red Stockings to dominate the field with unprecedented consistency, posting a perfect 57–0 record against Association clubs while playing over sixty games total. The team's roster featured standout talent like George Wright, considered perhaps the best player of his time, who played shortstop alongside his brother Harry in center field. Their commercial tour was continental in scope, visiting cities from Boston to San Francisco, an achievement that may never be repeated. This season concluded on November 6 with a home victory over the New York Mutuals, cementing their status as the premier team of the era and proving the viability of professional baseball.

National Expansion and Cultural Legacy

The Red Stockings' impact extended far beyond their win-loss record, effectively nationalizing the game during an era when regional play was the norm. Their extensive tours brought organized baseball to both coasts in a single season, culminating in a triumphant arrival in San Francisco where over 2,000 spectators greeted them late at night. This visibility helped establish Cincinnati as a premier baseball town and introduced new standards for team identity. The club pioneered the use of distinctive uniforms featuring long red stockings, a novelty that defined their visual brand and established the color red as synonymous with Cincinnati sports forevermore. Furthermore, they originated the nickname "Red Stockings," which was later adopted by a Boston franchise now known as the Atlanta Braves. Major League Baseball officially recognized these foundational contributions by sponsoring a centennial celebration of professional baseball in 1969, honoring the team's role in shaping modern league structures and traditions.

The End of Dominance and Financial Realities

The loss was sealed by Bob Ferguson's winning run on a hit by pitcher George Zettlein, marking the first time the team had lost since their professional inception. Attendance declined sharply, particularly for home matches, signaling a shift in the market.