In 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first all-professional baseball club. The history, geography, demography and economy of the area made Cincinnati a baseball town par excellence. During pro ball’s early years, the city was almost always represented by a club called the Reds. In 1903 Reds owner Garry Hermann helped broker peace between the National and American leagues and became known as the “Father of the World Series.” The Reds won the Series in 1919, 1940, 1975, 1976 and 1990.
Under the ownership of the controversial Marge Schott and managed by the mercurial Lou Piniella, the 1990 Reds led the National League West, defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Championship Series and swept the Oakland Athletics in the World Series. Stars such as Barry Larkin and Eric Davis—along with pitcher Jose Rijo and the trio of relievers known as the Nasty Boys—deserve much of the credit that year but lesser knowns like Billy Hatcher and Glenn Braggs made significant contributions. They have come close but the Reds have not won another pennant since.

The late Charles F. Faber wrote numerous books on educational administration, school law, baseball and other topics. He was a retired university professor and lived in Lexington, Kentucky.
Zachariah Webb teaches history at Capital Day School in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Charles F. Faber and Zachariah Webb
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 212
Bibliographic Info: 33 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2016
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7951-1
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2095-4
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


Acknowledgments vi

Abbreviations viii

Preface 1

Introduction: A Short History of Baseball in Cincinnati, 1869–1989 5

1. A Baseball Town 47

2. Designed to Break Your Heart 74

3. Can Hope Spring Eternal? 100

4. Hot-Wire Start 115

5. Only the Weather Is Hot 135

6. A Question of Survival 147

7. October Surprise 159

Epilogue 173

Appendices

A—Results Game by Game 177

B—Players and Management 180

C—Reds Broadcasters 181

D—Statistics 183

E—Dismantling the 1990 Champions 186

F—The 1990 Reds Rated 188

Chapter Notes 191

Bibliography 197

Index 199

“a compelling and enlightening examination of the last World Series-winning Reds club”—Journal of Sport History.