1959 Cincinnati Reds season
Encyclopedia
The Cincinnati Reds
season consisted of the Reds finishing in a fifth-place tie with the Chicago Cubs
in the National League
standings, with a record of 74-80, 13 games behind the NL and World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers
. The Reds played their home games at Crosley Field
.
managed the Reds to a 35-45 start. He was replaced in mid-season by Fred Hutchinson
, who led the club to a 39-35 record the rest of the way.
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 consisted of the Reds finishing in a fifth-place tie with the Chicago Cubs
1959 Chicago Cubs season
The 1959 Chicago Cubs season was the team's 84th season in the National League. The Cubs finished with a record of 74 wins and 80 losses, good for a fifth-place tie with the Cincinnati Reds, thirteen games behind the NL and World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.- Offseason :* January 23, 1959:...
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...
standings, with a record of 74-80, 13 games behind the NL and World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers
1959 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished in a first-place tie with the Milwaukee Braves, then won the pennant as they swept the Braves in a best-of-three playoff series. They went on to defeat the Chicago White Sox in the 1959 World Series in just their second season since leaving Brooklyn.- Offseason :*...
. The Reds played their home games at Crosley Field
Crosley Field
Crosley Field was a Major League Baseball park located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the home field of the National League's Cincinnati Reds from 1912 through June 24, 1970, and the original Cincinnati Bengals football team, members of the second and third American Football League...
.
Offseason
- January 30, 1959: Smoky BurgessSmoky BurgessForrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1949 to 1967. Later in his career, he became known for his ability as a pinch hitter, setting the major league career record for career pinch-hits...
, Harvey HaddixHarvey HaddixHarvey Haddix, Jr. was a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played with the St. Louis Cardinals , Philadelphia Phillies , Cincinnati Redlegs , Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles . Haddix was born in Medway, Ohio, located just outside of Springfield...
and Don HoakDon HoakDonald Albert Hoak was a Major League Baseball player. Nicknamed "Tiger," Hoak was a third baseman who played ten seasons in the Majors with the Brooklyn Dodgers , Chicago Cubs , Cincinnati Reds , Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies...
were traded by the Reds to the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
for Whammy DouglasWhammy DouglasCharles William "Whammy" Douglas is a retired American professional baseball player. The right-handed pitcher stood tall and weighed during his active career...
, Jim PendletonJim PendletonJames Edward Pendleton , was an American professional baseball player, an outfielder in the Major Leagues between 1953 and 1962. The native of St. Charles, Missouri, played for the Milwaukee Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, and Houston Colt .45s...
, Frank Thomas, and John PowersJohn Powers (baseball)John Calvin Powers was an American professional baseball player, an outfielder who played for all or parts of six seasons in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians.The native of Birmingham, Alabama, batted left-handed, threw...
. - March 20, 1959: Eddie MiksisEddie MiksisEdward Thomas Miksis was an American Major League Baseball player. Born in Burlington, New Jersey, he stood 6' 0" and weighed 185 lbs...
was released by the Reds.
Regular season
For the second consecutive season, the Reds played under two managers. Mayo SmithMayo Smith
Edward Mayo Smith was an American player, manager, and scout in Major League Baseball.Smith was born in New London, Missouri, but grew up in Florida. A left-handed batter who threw right-handed, Smith was a career minor league outfielder who spent many seasons in the International League with the...
managed the Reds to a 35-45 start. He was replaced in mid-season by Fred Hutchinson
Fred Hutchinson
Frederick Charles Hutchinson was an American professional baseball player, a major league pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He also was a manager for three major league teams...
, who led the club to a 39-35 record the rest of the way.
Notable transactions
- May 1, 1959: Del EnnisDel EnnisDelmer Ennis was an American left and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Philadelphia Phillies. From 1949 to 1957, Ennis accumulated more runs batted in than anyone besides Stan Musial and was 8th in the National League in home runs...
was traded by the Reds to the Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
for Lou SkizasLou SkizasLouis Peter Skizas , is a former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball primarily as an outfielder and third baseman from 1956-1959.-Fast Facts:* Skizas is of Greek ancestry....
and Don RudolphDon RudolphFrederick Donald Rudolph was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. During a six-year baseball career, the left-hander pitched from 1957-1964 for four different teams....
. - June 8, 1959: Hal JeffcoatHal JeffcoatHarold Bentley Jeffcoat was an outfielder and pitcher for the Chicago Cubs , Cincinnati Redlegs and St...
was traded by the Reds to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for Jim BrosnanJim BrosnanJames Patrick Brosnan was a Major League Baseball player from 1954 and 1956 through 1963. He was a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox...
. - June 23, 1959: Walt DropoWalt DropoWalter Dropo , nicknamed "Moose", was an American college basketball standout and a professional baseball first baseman...
was traded by the Reds to the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
for Whitey LockmanWhitey LockmanCarroll Walter "Whitey" Lockman was a player, coach, manager and front office executive in American Major League Baseball.-Role in miraculous 1951 comeback:...
.
Roster
| 1959 Cincinnati Reds | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 108 | 374 | 84 | .225 | 12 | 47 | |
| 65 | 113 | 29 | .257 | 3 | 9 | |
| 43 | 43 | 11 | .256 | 2 | 4 | |
| 5 | 12 | 4 | .333 | 0 | 1 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 11.2 | 0 | 1 | 6.17 | 7 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4.12 | 45 | |
| 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.95 | 8 | |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.91 | 8 | |