The Big Red Machine Era (1970-1972)

Lore & Background

The nickname is generally credited to sportswriter Bob Hertzel of The Cincinnati Enquirer, who used it in his coverage of the Reds during the 1969 season, but gained prominence in reference to the 1970 team, which won 70 of its first 100 games and posted a regular season record of 102–60 and won the National League pennant. Future Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson, whose major league managerial career began with the Reds' 1970 season, headed the Big Red Machine, which at its peak featured Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Tony Pérez, and was supported by Dave Concepción, George Foster, César Gerónimo and Ken Griffey, Sr. The Cincinnati Reds of the 1970s garnered more World Series appearances than any other team during that decade, and compiled an overall record of 953 wins and 657 losses. They are one of only a few National League teams to win back-to-back World Championships, joining the 1907–1908 Chicago Cubs and the 1921–1922 New York Giants.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Crosley Field was thick with humidity and anticipation in late September 1972. Pete Rose, the 'Charlie Hustle' of Cincinnati, dug his cleats into the dirt at third base, eyes locked on the pitcher's mound. The crowd roared as Joe Morgan stole second with a blur of red, setting the stage for what would become a legendary rally. It wasn't just about winning one game; it was about proving that this new-look Reds team could dominate from opening day to the final out.

Reader's Guide

The eight players most frequently referenced as members of the Big Red Machine include baseball's all-time hit leader in Rose; three Hall of Fame players in Bench, Pérez and Morgan, six National League MVP selections, four National League home run season leaders, and three NL Batting Champions. Between them, these eight players collectively won 25 Gold Glove awards and made 63 All-Star Game appearances. The starting lineup of Rose, Morgan, Pérez, Bench, Concepción, Foster, Griffey, and Gerónimo (collectively referred to as the 'Great Eight') played 88 games together during the 1975 and 1976 seasons, losing only 19.

Did You Know?

• The Big Red Machine won six National League West Division titles, four National League pennants, and two World Series titles between 1970 and 1979.
• Between 1970 and 1979, the Reds averaged over 95 wins a season, with a total record of 953 wins and 657 losses.
• The core of that Reds team had the best record in the Major Leagues in 1981, but did not make the postseason because of the split-season playoff format due to the 1981 players' strike.
• The Big Red Machine's archrivals were the Los Angeles Dodgers; the two teams often competed for the NL West division title, but they did not finish first or second every year from 1970 through 1979—notable exceptions inc