Top 50 Cincinnati Reds
This version of the Cincinnati Reds (there was one from 1876 to 1880 in the National League who were expelled for refusing to stop selling beer) can be traced to the American Association in 1892. They would win the pennant that year and would stick around there until they joined the National League in 1890.The Reds are a five-time World Series Champion (1919, 1940, 1975, 1976 & 1990) though they are mostly known for their success from the 1970s. Their 1919 win was known for the Chicago White Sox throwing the series, their 1990 win is more thought of Oakland choking and their 1940 title is hardly discussed at all.
Those 1970 wins are however likely never to be forgotten. “The Big Red Machine” boasted Hall of Famers, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, and Johnny Bench, and a plethora of other great players who populate our list.
Cincinnati may not be a large market but will always be a baseball market.
Note: Baseball lists are based on an amalgamation of tenure, traditional statistics, advanced statistics, playoff performance, and post-season accolades. This is a list up to the end of the 2025 Season.
When Frank McCormick finally secured a regular spot in the lineup in 1938, he bypassed the usual maturation process and immediately became a statistical titan. He matured instantly into an elite run-producer, earning an All-Star selection in every single season from 1938 to 1944. He arrived with a disciplined approach and a smooth swing that made leading the league in hits look routine, a feat he accomplished for three consecutive years, starting with his breakout campaign. He was a model of consistency, providing the backbone for a team that was rapidly ascending to the top of the senior circuit. The…
Ted Kluszewski’s journey in Cincinnati began with a legendary adjustment to his wardrobe. He arrived with a physique that was years ahead of its time, famously cutting the sleeves off his jersey because the fabric constricted his massive biceps when he swung the bat. This utilitarian fashion choice matured instantly into a signature look, but it was his production that truly resonated. By 1953, he had evolved from a steady contributor into a statistical titan, embarking on a four-year run of dominance that saw him eclipse 35 home runs and 100 RBIs in every single campaign. The absolute pinnacle of…
Mario Soto’s professional baseball journey in Cincinnati began in the late 1970s, but it was the dawn of the 1980s when he matured instantly into a cornerstone of the franchise. He arrived with a "power-finesse" duality, relying on a heavy fastball and a devastating circle changeup that fell off the table just as hitters committed to their swing. He quickly evolved into a statistical titan, proving that his raw stuff was matched only by a fiery, high-stakes competitiveness. Between 1980 and 1985, he served as the tactical heartbeat of a staff that desperately needed his ability to miss bats and…
Ewell Blackwell emerged in Cincinnati following his return from military service and matured instantly into the most feared arm in the senior circuit. He arrived with an unorthodox, sidearm whip that made the ball seem to come from behind a hitter's shoulder, a tactical advantage he used to rule the strike zone with clinical precision. Between 1946 and 1951, he was a perennial force, earning six consecutive All-Star selections and proving that his raw, explosive stuff was matched only by a sophisticated understanding of run prevention. He was a master of efficiency, leading the National League in FIP three separate…
Maloney surfaced in the Queen City at the dawn of the 1960s and rapidly established himself as a premier power pitcher in the National League. He arrived with a blistering fastball that appeared to rise as it reached the plate, a gift he used to overwhelm hitters during a period when the league was transitioning toward a new level of athleticism. Between 1963 and 1966, he authored a sustained stretch of excellence, capturing back-to-back 20-win seasons and cementing his status as the tactical leader of the Cincinnati staff. The absolute height of his dominance was on full display in 1965,…
Mullane arrived in Cincinnati as a seasoned veteran of the professional game and immediately matured into the centerpiece of the rotation. He was a pioneer in every sense, most famously for his ability to throw with either hand, a switch-pitching prowess that allowed him to alternate arms based on a hitter’s weakness or to combat the immense fatigue of the era. He emerged as a statistical titan from the moment he joined the club, using this tactical outlier to navigate a grueling schedule that would break most arms. The absolute pinnacle of his effectiveness was reached in the late 1880s,…
In 1984, Eric Davis arrived in the Cincinnati lineup and rapidly matured into a premier force in the National League. He emerged with a specialized, upright batting stance and hands that moved with terrifying quickness, embarking on a four-year stretch where he hammered at least 25 home runs annually. He was a model of explosive efficiency, most notably in 1987 when he authored a season for the ages, clubbing 37 home runs and swiping 50 bases. He wasn't just a power threat; he was a tactical nightmare for opposing batteries, proving that he could dismantle a team with his bat,…
Arguably one of the greatest hitting Pitchers of his or possibly any era, Red Lucas was a solid presence on the mound winning 109 Games for Cincinnati. His best season was in 1929 where he would lead the NL in WHIP, H/9 and finished 6th overall in MVP voting. As for his hitting, he was a career .300 hitter with 293 Hits for the Reds. The Reds chose Lucas for their Hall of Fame in 1965.
Lonny Frey began his MLB career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1938 and instantly matured into one of the premier defensive anchors of the Senior Circuit. He possessed a specialized ability to read the ball off the bat, a gift that fueled the Reds' rise to consecutive National League pennants in 1939 and 1940. During this window, he was a model of defensive efficiency, embarking on a remarkable five-year run where he finished in the top five in defensive bWAR, culminating in a first-place finish in 1940. He wasn't just a steady glove; he was a tactical technician who provided…
Arriving via Brooklyn in a trade, Ernie Lombardi established himself in the Cincinnati lineup in the early 30s and quickly morphed into the premier offensive catcher in the National League. He emerged with a specialized, interlocking grip and a swing that produced line drives of terrifying velocity, a necessity given that he had to hit the ball twice as hard as anyone else just to reach first base. Between 1935 and 1940, he authored a sustained stretch of excellence, recording seven different .300 campaigns for the Reds. He was a model of specialized efficiency, proving that a hitter could dominate…
Nuxhall’s entry into the professional ranks remains one of the most remarkable footnotes in the history of the sport. In 1944, with the talent pool thinned by military service, the Reds turned to a local fifteen-year-old with a live arm. While his debut lasted less than an inning and came with the expected nerves of a teenager on a Major League mound, it established a record for the youngest player in modern history that will likely stand forever. He returned to the organization seven years later as a mature athlete, proving that he was far more than a wartime curiosity…
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Frank Dwyer surfaced in the Cincinnati lineup in 1892 and matured instantly into the rotation's most dependable engine. He possessed a specialized ability to navigate the high-scoring environment of the late nineteenth century without relying on overwhelming velocity, utilizing a "pitch-to-contact" style that kept his defense engaged and his club in contention. He was a model of specialized volume, embarking on a stretch where he became a fixture of the Reds' staff for nearly a decade. He reached a remarkable zenith in the mid-90s, authoring back-to-back 20-win seasons and establishing himself as one of the most successful winners in the…
In 1938, Johnny Vander Meer accomplished a feat that may never be duplicated. He threw two consecutive no-hitters. Imagine that happening today? Neither can we.
Brandon Phillips’ path to Cincinnati was forged by a lopsided 2006 trade that saw the Reds acquire him for a player to be named later. It was a low-risk gamble that paid immediate dividends, as he matured instantly into the premier multi-tool threat of the infield. He emerged with a specialized blend of speed and power, reaching an incredible peak in 2007 when he authored a historic 30-30 campaign. He was a model of explosive efficiency, proving that his game was built on a rare balance of athleticism, following up that breakout with two additional 20-20 seasons and establishing himself…
Nolan burst onto the scene in 1967 as an eighteen-year-old phenom with a power game that overwhelmed hitters, but it was his second act that secured his place in franchise lore. After battling physical setbacks that threatened to derail his career, he matured into a sophisticated technician who prioritized location over velocity. In the early 70s; he authored four different 15-win campaigns and became a perennial fixture in the Cy Young conversation, finishing as high as fifth in the 1972 voting. He was a model of specialized command, proving that a hurler could anchor a championship staff by refusing to…
For the standards of the 1880’s, “Long” John Reilly was a power hitter. Three times he had over 10 Homers in a season (again, this was very good for this time period) two of which (1884 & 1888) were good enough to lead the league. Reilly was also a two time Slugging Champion and historically speaking is the first player to hit for the cycle three times. Reilly also had very good speed swiping 245 bases over his career.Reilly was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2012.
We are going to need a history lesson to start off this one. Will White was a member of the original Cincinnati Reds in the National League and played there for three seasons before the team was expelled from the NL because its owner refused to stop selling beer. White would sign with the Detroit Wolverines for a year but returned to Cincinnati when they got a team in the American Association in 1881 (Cincinnati Red Stockings). That team evolved into the Reds, and the original Reds are not part of the canon that is recognized by Major League Baseball;…
Ken Griffey’s path to the majors was a testament to the Reds' scouting department, which plucked him from Pennsylvania specifically to exploit the artificial surface of their new stadium. He surfaced as a regular in 1975 and matured instantly into the perfect complement to the legendary middle-of-the-order. He possessed a specialized ability to handle high-velocity pitching, reaching an incredible peak during the historic 1976 campaign. That summer, he engaged in a breathtaking race for the National League batting title, ultimately finishing with a career-best .336 average and 189 hits. His value was officially recognized with an eighth-place finish in the…
Johnny Cueto was the first major fruit of the Reds’ revitalized Latin American scouting program, signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2004. He debuted in 2008 and matured instantly, authoring a historic debut against Arizona in which he retired the first 15 batters he faced and fanned 10. He possessed a specialized, athletic repertoire that allowed him to navigate the hitters' haven of Great American Ball Park with professional poise. He reached a profound level of dominance in 2012, recording 19 wins and a 2.78 ERA to finish fourth in the Cy Young voting while leading the club to…