History Of The Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds, even more than most otherplaying baseball on Sunday and also for selling beer
baseball teams, thrives on the American traditionduring their games, something not uncommon for
of baseball. In earlier years, Cincinnati gave way toany team in this day and age; but at this time,
the first openly professional baseball team fourthese things were against the National League
years after Civil War. Cincinnati has beenrules.
represented by a baseball team since 1881. So, itAfter being kicked out of the National League, the
can be said that there is a certain passion andCincinnati Red Stockings played in the American
love for the game here than anywhere else. TheAssociation during the 1880s. They finally
Reds have helped pave the way for baseballaccepted reinstatement to the National League in
teams and players everywhere.1890 and were then allowed to have their Sunday
The Cincinnati Reds were not always known bygames and beer sales. However, the biggest
this name. They used to be called the Cincinnatichange to this team at this time was the changing
Red Stockings, and were the first professionalof their name from the Red Stocking to the
team in 1869. Their career began with a winningReds. Unfortunately, for thirty years following
game that had a score of forty five to ninetheir reinstatement to the National League, the
against a team known as the Great Western ofReds did quite poorly for the most part. They
Cincinnati. The Red Stockings were off to a greatnever were able to finish higher than third place
start as the first professional team. After thisafter their reinstatement.
first victory, they went on to win nearly every ofIn 1919 the Reds upset the well-liked White Sox in
their seventy games that were matched up withthe World Series. However, after the series was
other Midwest teams. Their first loss was to theover the White Sox claimed that they lost on
Brooklyn Atlantics, where they lost the game inpurpose, stirring up quite a scandal, and preventing
the extra innings with a score of eight to seven.them from receiving their dues as the World
However many victories they had, their start wasChampions. After this unfortunate downfall for the
nevertheless a rocky one. They were a charterReds, they would not make any waves in the
member of the National League in 1876, but theirpool until the 1930s. The team got together a
start in this league was rough. The Red Stockingswonderful pitching staff at this time that allowed
of this time did not do quite as well as theirthem to advance in their games more than they
predecessors, finishing their first season nine winshad in twenty years. Since then the Reds have
to fifty four losses. After their first four seasonsgone through their ups and downs and are still
the Cincinnati Red Stockings were kicked out ofready for their next World Series.
the National League! They were kicked out for