The ace of the staff for the Reds throughout the 1960’s, Jim Maloney does not get the love that he should as his accomplishments occurred the decade before the Big Red Machine came into fruition.

Ernie Lombardi moved at the speed of a glacier.  While that complete lack of speed should have made him a liability, Lombardi was one of the most skilled contact hitting Catchers ever as he secured ten .300 seasons, seven of which was as a Red, and one of which would win him the National League Batting Title, which occurred in 1938 (he would win another in Boston in ’42).

With an unorthodox sidearm delivery and imposing 6’ 6” frame it is no wonder that many National League batters feared Ewell Blackwell.  The lanky hurler was named to an All-Star every season from 1946 to 1951 and would lead the League in FIP three times.  His best season was in 1947 where he was the runner up for the MVP Award and would lead the NL in Wins, Strikeouts and SO/BB.

Blackwell went 79-77 with 819 Strikeouts as a Red, and was named to the Reds Hall of Fame in 1960.

Playing his entire career with the Cincinnati Reds, Mario Soto brought a sweet fastball complimented with a devastating change up that helped him rack up a lot of wins in the 80’s.  Soto would probably have accumulated more wins had he had more offensive support but the three time All Star was still named the National League Cy Young runner up in 1983.