Cincinnati Reds

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. 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. After a successful series in St. Louis, Caylor and former Reds president Justus Thorner attended a meeting in Pittsburgh to establish a new league. By chance, they met former pitcher Al Pratt, who paired them with former Pittsburgh Alleghenys president H. Denny McKnight.

Together they hatched a scheme to form a new league, and the American Association was officially formed at the Hotel Gibson in Cincinnati. The new Reds became a charter member of the AA. Led by Hick Carpenter, Bid McPhee, and Will White, Cincinnati won the inaugural AA pennant in 1882. The club never placed higher than second or lower than fifth for the rest of its tenure in the American Association.

The Reds left the American Association on November 14, 1889, and joined the National League along with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. After shortening their name to the Reds, the team wandered through the 1890s, never finishing above third place. At the start of the 20th century, the Reds had hitting stars Sam Crawford and Cy Seymour. Seymour's .377 average in 1905 was the first individual batting crown won by a Red.

In 1911, Bob Bescher stole 81 bases, which is still a team record. In 1912, the club opened Redland Field. By the late 1910s, the Reds began to come out of the second division. The 1918 team finished fourth, and new manager Pat Moran led the Reds to an NL pennant in 1919.

The 1919 team had hitting stars Edd Roush and Heinie Groh, while the pitching staff was led by Hod Eller and Harry 'Slim' Sallee. The Reds won the World Series in eight games over the Chicago White Sox. By 1920, the 'Black Sox' scandal had brought a taint to the Reds' first championship.

Historical Origins and Divisional Alignment

The Pirates and Reds were both founded in 1881 in the American Association, beginning play in 1882 and playing each other for five seasons. The Pirates moved into the National League in 1887, ceasing play between the two teams. The Reds moved into the National League in 1890, resuming play against the Pirates which continues to today. From 1969 to 1993, the Pirates were a member of the NL East until the league's realignment in 1993 moved them to the newly formed Central Division. Meanwhile, the Reds were previously members of the NL West until the realignment placed them in the same division as Pittsburgh in 1993.

Championship Parity and Postseason Encounters

The Pirates have won 5 World Series Championships in 1909, 1925, 1960, 1971, and 1979, and 9 NL Pennants. The Reds have also won 5 World Series Championships in 1919, 1940, 1975, 1976, and 1990, and 9 NL Pennants. Both teams have met 6 times in the postseason, including 5 meetings in the NLCS. As of the end of the 2025 season, the Pirates lead the regular season rivalry 1,254–1,234–18; however, the Reds lead in postseason wins 13–8. Most recently, both teams met in the 2013 National League Wild Card Game.

The Fierce 1970s NLCS Battles

In June 1970, both the Reds and Pirates moved into new ballparks—the Reds left Crosley Field for Riverfront Stadium, while the Pirates left Forbes Field for Three Rivers Stadium. On July 16, 1970, the Pirates opened Three Rivers Stadium against the Reds. Cincinnati's Tony Perez hit the park's first home run, and Willie Stargell homered for the Pirates. The Reds won 3-2 on a 9th inning RBI single from Lee May.

The two teams met in the 1970 NLCS, and the Reds won in a sweep. In the 1972 NLCS, the Pirates won Game 1 5-1, but the Reds won Game 2. Game 3 saw a 3-2 Pirates victory. Game 4 was a blowout Reds win.

Game 5 began with a 90-minute rain delay; the Pirates led 3-2 after the fifth inning, but the Reds scored 2 runs after a wild pitch by Bob Moose with George Foster on third, and Hal McCrae hit a 2-run homer in the next at-bat to end the series. This was the final game for Pirates Hall-of-Famer Roberto Clemente. In the 1975 NLCS, the Reds swept the Pirates in 3 games, though the Pirates forced Game 3 into 10 innings. In the 1979 NLCS, the Pirates swept the Reds.

Early Struggles and Scandal-Tainted Glory

During the infancy of the National League, both teams struggled. The Pirates saw most of their roster decimated as most had defected to the Players' League. Pittsburgh managed three straight NL Pennants from 1901 to 1903 and a World Series victory in 1909. Cincinnati fared much worse, failing to qualify for the postseason every season until 1919.

The team arguably only won the 1919 World Series against the heavily-favored Chicago White Sox because of the Black Sox Scandal. While the Reds weren't involved in the scandal, it tainted the legitimacy of their first World Series championship. The Pirates won another World Series in 1925. The Reds won the World Series in 1940 while the Pirates were in a playoff drought.

The Pirates won the World Series in 1960; the Reds won the pennant the following season but lost the World Series to the Yankees in five games. Both teams spent the 1960s in a rebuild.

Gallery