1890 Cincinnati Reds season
Encyclopedia
The Cincinnati Reds
season was a season in American baseball
. The team finished fourth in the National League
with a record of 77-55, 10½ behind the Brooklyn Bridegrooms
.
, the Cincinnati Red Stockings jumped to the National League
for the 1890 season, and renamed themselves the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds hired Tom Loftus
as their new manager. He last managed the Cleveland Spiders
in , leading them to a 61-72 record and a sixth place finish in the National League
.
In the off-season, the Reds acquired Lefty Marr
from the Columbus Solons
for $2000. Marr had hit .306 with a league high 15 triples for the Solons in 1889. He had also appeared in eight games with the Red Stockings in 1886. The team also purchased the contract of pitcher Frank Foreman
from the Baltimore Orioles
. Foreman was 23-21 with a 3.52 with the Orioles. Cincinnati also signed two 21-year-olds, catcher Jerry Harrington
and pitcher Billy Rhines
. Joe Knight, who last appeared in the majors with the Philadelphia Quakers
in 1884 as a pitcher, was signed to play the outfield.
John Reilly led the club offensively, hitting .300 with team highs with six home runs and 86 RBI. Bid McPhee
had a .256 average with three homers and 39 RBI, as well as team highs with 125 runs and 55 stolen bases. Knight led the club with a .312 average with four homers and 67 RBI in his only season in the majors. Rhines led the pitching staff, as he had a 28-17 record with league best 1.95 ERA.
, Cincinnati lost to the Chicago Colts
by a 5-4 score. After hovering around the .500 level, as the Reds had a record of 11-11 after twenty-two games, the team went on a 22-2 run to boost their record to 33-13, and take a four game lead over the second place Brooklyn Bridegrooms
. Cincinnati would hold on to their first place lead until going into a slump in which the Reds lost ten of eleven games to fall into fourth place, 5.5 games out of first. By the time the season ended, the Reds had a 77-55 record, finishing in fourth place, 10½ games behind the Bridegrooms.
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
season was a season in American baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. The team finished fourth in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
with a record of 77-55, 10½ behind the Brooklyn Bridegrooms
1890 Brooklyn Bridegrooms season
The Brooklyn Bridegrooms left behind the American Association and joined the National League. They were able to win the league championship, becoming one of a select few teams to win championships in different leagues in back-to-back seasons.- Roster :...
.
Regular season
After playing eight seasons in the American AssociationAmerican Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
, the Cincinnati Red Stockings jumped to the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
for the 1890 season, and renamed themselves the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds hired Tom Loftus
Tom Loftus
Thomas Joseph Loftus is a former manager in the American Association, the National League, and the American League. His playing career began in 1877 with the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the National League, but he only played in nine career games in 1877 and 1883 as an outfielder...
as their new manager. He last managed the Cleveland Spiders
Cleveland Spiders
The Cleveland Spiders were a Major League Baseball team which played between 1887 and 1899 in Cleveland, Ohio. The team played at National League Park from 1889 to 1890 and at League Park from 1891 to 1899.- 1887-1891 :...
in , leading them to a 61-72 record and a sixth place finish in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
.
In the off-season, the Reds acquired Lefty Marr
Lefty Marr
Charles W. "Lefty" Marr , was a professional baseball player who played outfield and third base in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the Cincinnati Red Stockings , Columbus Solons, and Cincinnati Kelly's Killers.-External links:...
from the Columbus Solons
Columbus Solons
The Columbus Solons were a baseball team in the American Association from 1889 to 1891. In three seasons, they won 200 games and lost 209 for a winning percentage of .489. Their home games were played at Recreation Park in Columbus, Ohio....
for $2000. Marr had hit .306 with a league high 15 triples for the Solons in 1889. He had also appeared in eight games with the Red Stockings in 1886. The team also purchased the contract of pitcher Frank Foreman
Frank Foreman
Francis Isaiah "Monkey" Foreman was a starting pitcher who played in Major League Baseball between 1884 and . Listed at 6' 0", 195 lb., Foreman batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland...
from the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
. Foreman was 23-21 with a 3.52 with the Orioles. Cincinnati also signed two 21-year-olds, catcher Jerry Harrington
Jerry Harrington
Jeremiah Peter "Jerry" Harrington was a professional baseball player whose career spanned six season, including four seasons in Major League Baseball . Harrington played the majority of his games in the majors at catcher, however, he did play first base and third base on occasion...
and pitcher Billy Rhines
Billy Rhines
William Pearl Rhines was a former professional baseball player. He was a pitcher over parts of 9 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Louisville Colonels and Pittsburgh Pirates. He led the National League in ERA twice while playing for Cincinnati...
. Joe Knight, who last appeared in the majors with the Philadelphia Quakers
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in 1884 as a pitcher, was signed to play the outfield.
John Reilly led the club offensively, hitting .300 with team highs with six home runs and 86 RBI. Bid McPhee
Bid McPhee
John Alexander "Bid" McPhee was a 19th century Major League Baseball second baseman. He played 18 seasons in the majors, from until , all for the Cincinnati Reds franchise. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in...
had a .256 average with three homers and 39 RBI, as well as team highs with 125 runs and 55 stolen bases. Knight led the club with a .312 average with four homers and 67 RBI in his only season in the majors. Rhines led the pitching staff, as he had a 28-17 record with league best 1.95 ERA.
Season summary
The Reds played their first National League game on April 19, 1890. Despite a home run from Bug HollidayBug Holliday
James Wear "Bug" Holliday was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball for ten seasons, from through , plus the 1885 World Series. He holds the distinction of being the first player to make his major league debut in post-season play, with the Chicago White Stockings in 1885...
, Cincinnati lost to the Chicago Colts
1890 Chicago Colts season
- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg...
by a 5-4 score. After hovering around the .500 level, as the Reds had a record of 11-11 after twenty-two games, the team went on a 22-2 run to boost their record to 33-13, and take a four game lead over the second place Brooklyn Bridegrooms
1890 Brooklyn Bridegrooms season
The Brooklyn Bridegrooms left behind the American Association and joined the National League. They were able to win the league championship, becoming one of a select few teams to win championships in different leagues in back-to-back seasons.- Roster :...
. Cincinnati would hold on to their first place lead until going into a slump in which the Reds lost ten of eleven games to fall into fourth place, 5.5 games out of first. By the time the season ended, the Reds had a 77-55 record, finishing in fourth place, 10½ games behind the Bridegrooms.
Roster
| 1890 Cincinnati Reds | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| valign="top" | Pitchers |
valign="top" | Catchers Infielders |
valign="top" | Outfielders |
valign="top" | Manager |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 65 | 236 | 58 | .246 | 1 | 23 | |
| 1B | 133 | 553 | 166 | .300 | 6 | 86 | |
| OF | 130 | 527 | 157 | .298 | 1 | 73 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | 286 | 79 | .276 | 0 | 34 | |
| 54 | 202 | 28 | .139 | 3 | 19 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 401.1 | 28 | 17 | 1.95 | 182 | |
| 33 | 274 | 16 | 12 | 2.92 | 108 | |
| 25 | 209 | 12 | 10 | 2.24 | 91 | |
| 25 | 198.1 | 13 | 10 | 3.95 | 57 | |
| 2 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 4.50 | 9 |