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The Big Red Machine
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The Reds were my favorite team when I was growing up. I got hooked watching them on the
game of the week on saturdays. Watching Rose,Bench,Morgan,Foster,Griffey,Concepcion, and the rest
play baseball the wasy it was supposed to be played. I started following the Reds in 1975.
I was a huge George Foster Fan, after I saw him hit a Check swing HR vs Atlanta that year.
That Big Black bat he used, He was Awesome. I can remember when he hit 3 HRs in 3 Swings.
His career year in 1977, 52HRs, 149 RBIs, .320 Avg - league MVP!!
I will never forget that team......in my opinion the 76 Reds were the best team EVER!!
This Page is dedicated to that team.
The Cincinnati Reds were unquestionably the team of the decade in the 1970's. Their overall record of 953 wins and 657 losses is far and away the best of any other major league team for this time period. Their overall winning percentage of .592 shows and average of 95 wins per year. This great team won over 90 games eight times. Three times they won over 100. There were 6 NL Western Division titles, 4 NL titles, and, of course, 2 World Series Championships.
These 8 players shown above, are arguably the greatest eight to step onto a baseball field as a collective unit. They had baseball's all time hit king, 2 Hall of Famers (should be 5!), 6 NL MVP's, 4 NL HR Champs, 3 NL Batting Champs, 25 Gold Glove winners, and 63 collective All-Star appearances.
During their World Championship years of 1975 and 1976 these eight players appeared in only 88 games together, winning 69 and losing only 19. That is a winning percentage of .784. Through a regular 162 game season that would translate into 127 wins, an astounding total.
Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine" are they only National League team during the last 75 years to win back to back World Championships. The 1922 New York Giants were the last NL team to accomplish this feat.
"Decade of Excellence"YR
|
W
|
L
|
Pct
|
Finish
|
1970
|
102
|
60
|
.628
|
1st
|
1971
|
79
|
83
|
.488
|
4th
|
1972
|
95
|
59
|
.617
|
1st
|
1973
|
99
|
63
|
.611
|
1st
|
1974
|
98
|
64
|
.653
|
2nd
|
1975
|
108
|
54
|
.667
|
1st
|
1976
|
102
|
60
|
.630
|
1st
|
1977
|
88
|
74
|
.543
|
2nd
|
1978
|
92
|
69
|
.571
|
2nd
|
1979
|
90
|
71
|
.559
|
1st
|
Totals
|
953
|
657
|
.592
|
----
|
1970NL WESTERN DIVISION
TEAM
|
W
|
L
|
PCT
|
GB
|
Cincinnati
|
102
|
60
|
.630
|
----
|
Los Angeles
|
87
|
74
|
.540
|
14.5
|
San Francisco
|
86
|
76
|
.531
|
16
|
Houston
|
79
|
83
|
.488
|
23
|
Atlanta
|
76
|
86
|
.469
|
26
|
San Diego
|
63
|
99
|
.389
|
39
|
POST-SEASON PLAY
NL Championship
Game 1
|
Reds 3
|
Pirates 0 (10)
|
Game 2
|
Reds 3
|
Pirates 1
|
Game 3
|
Reds 3
|
Pirates 2
|
World Series
Game 1
|
Orioles 4
|
Reds 3
|
Game 2
|
Orioles 6
|
Reds 5
|
Game 3
|
Orioles 9
|
Reds 3
|
Game 4
|
Reds 6
|
Orioles 5
|
Game 5
|
Orioles 9
|
Reds 3
|
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
In 1970 George "Sparky" Anderson took over as manager of the Cincinnati Reds. The team responded immediately, getting off to the best start in baseball history by winning 70 of their first 100 games. Led by league MVP Johnny Bench, the Reds won the Western Division of the National League by 14 1/2 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team promptly rolled over the Pittsburgh Pirates 3 games to none to win the NL flag. In the World Series, however, Brooks Robinson and the Baltimore Orioles easily defeated the Reds 4 games to 1 to win the championship.
1971NL WESTERN DIVISION
TEAM
|
W
|
L
|
PCT
|
GB
|
San Francisco
|
90
|
72
|
.566
|
----
|
Los Angeles
|
89
|
73
|
.549
|
1
|
Atlanta
|
82
|
80
|
.506
|
8
|
Cincinnati
|
79
|
83
|
.488
|
11
|
Houston
|
79
|
83
|
.488
|
11
|
San Diego
|
61
|
100
|
.379
|
28.5
|
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
1971 was a terrible year for Cincinnati as they finished 4 games under .500, tied for 4th in the Western Division. Changes were in order. Some key off season moves, most notably, a trade with Houston for Joe Morgan, would change the outlook for the rest of the decade
1972NL WESTERN DIVISION
TEAM
|
W
|
L
|
PCT
|
GB
|
Cincinnati
|
95
|
59
|
.617
|
----
|
Houston
|
84
|
69
|
.549
|
10.5
|
Los Angeles
|
85
|
70
|
.548
|
10.5
|
Atlanta
|
70
|
84
|
.455
|
25
|
San Francisco
|
69
|
86
|
.445
|
26.5
|
San Diego
|
58
|
95
|
.379
|
36.5
|
POST-SEASON PLAY
NL Championship
Game 1
|
Pirates 5
|
Reds 1
|
Game 2
|
Reds 5
|
Pirates 3
|
Game 3
|
Pirates 3
|
Reds 2
|
Game 4
|
Reds 7
|
Pirates 1
|
Game 5
|
Reds 4
|
Pirates 3
|
World Series
Game 1
|
A's 3
|
Reds 2
|
Game 2
|
A's 2
|
Reds 1
|
Game 3
|
Reds 1
|
A's 0
|
Game 4
|
A's 3
|
Reds 2
|
Game 5
|
Reds 5
|
A's 4
|
Game 6
|
Reds 8
|
A's 1
|
Game 7
|
A's 3
|
Reds 2
|
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
In 1972 Johnny Bench won his second league MVP award by hitting 40 HR's and knocking in 125 RBI's. Once again, the Reds faced the Pirates in the playoffs. The Pirates were three outs away from going to the World Series when Johnny Bench hit a game tying home run in the ninth inning. A few moments later George Foster scored the winning run on a wild pitch to give Cincinnati the NL title in the last game ever played by Pittsburgh's great Roberto Clemente. The Oakland A's defeated the Reds 4 games to 3 to capture the championship in a series where 6 games were decided by only one run.
1973NL WESTERN DIVISION
TEAM
|
W
|
L
|
PCT
|
GB
|
Cincinnati
|
99
|
63
|
.611
|
----
|
Los Angeles
|
95
|
66
|
.590
|
3.5
|
San Francisco
|
88
|
74
|
.543
|
11
|
Houston
|
82
|
80
|
.506
|
17
|
Atlanta
|
76
|
85
|
.472
|
22.5
|
Sa Diego
|
60
|
102
|
.370
|
39
|
POST-SEASON PLAY
NL Championship
Game 1
|
Reds 2
|
Mets 1
|
Game 2
|
Mets 5
|
Reds 0
|
Game 3
|
Mets 9
|
Reds 2
|
Game 4
|
Reds 2
|
Mets 1
|
Game 5
|
Mets 7
|
Reds 2
|
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
In 1973 Pete Rose won the league MVP award after leading the league in hits with 230 and winning the batting title with a .338 average. The Reds, once again, won the Western Division to go into the playoffs. This time, the Mets great pitching, led by Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, shut down the Reds and won the series in five games to claim the NL title and a trip to the World Series.
1974NL WESTERN DIVISION
TEAM
|
W
|
L
|
PCT
|
GB
|
Los Angeles
|
102
|
60
|
.630
|
----
|
Cincinnati
|
98
|
64
|
.605
|
4
|
Atlanta
|
88
|
74
|
.543
|
14
|
Houston
|
81
|
81
|
.500
|
21
|
San Francisco
|
72
|
90
|
.444
|
30
|
San Diego
|
60
|
102
|
.370
|
42
|
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
In 1974 Johnny Bench led the league in RBI's with 129, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won the division by 4 games. However, there was one big season highlight in Cincinnati on Opening Day. The date was April 4th, 1974. Atlanta's Hank Aaron hit his 714th career home run on his first swing of the new season to tie Babe Ruth's career record. Aaron would break the record 4 days later in Atlanta. He would finish his career with 755.
1975
NL WESTERN DIVISION
TEAM
|
W
|
L
|
PCT
|
GB
|
Cincinnati
|
108
|
54
|
.667
|
----
|
Los Angeles
|
88
|
74
|
.543
|
20
|
San Francisco
|
80
|
81
|
.497
|
27.5
|
San Diego
|
71
|
91
|
.438
|
37
|
Atlanta
|
67
|
94
|
.416
|
40.5
|
Houston
|
64
|
97
|
.398
|
43.5
|
POST-SEASON PLAY
NL Championship
Game 1
|
Reds 8
|
Pirates 3
|
Game 2
|
Reds 6
|
Pirates 1
|
Game 3
|
Reds 5
|
Pirates 3 (10)
|
World Series
Game 1
|
Red Sox 6
|
Reds 0
|
Game 2
|
Reds 3
|
Red Sox 2
|
Game 3
|
Reds 6
|
Red Sox 5 (10)
|
Game 4
|
Red Sox 5
|
Reds 4
|
Game 5
|
Reds 6
|
Red Sox 2
|
Game 6
|
Red Sox 7
|
Reds 6 (12)
|
Game 7
|
Reds 4
|
Red Sox 3
|
MVP - Pete Rose
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
In 1975 Joe Morgan won the first of his 2 straight NL MVP awards as the Reds ran away from the rest of the division, winning by a full 20 games. During the season Sparky Anderson moved Pete Rose to 3rd base to make room for George Foster in left field. With this move the pieces of the "Big Red Machine" were firmly in place. The Reds quickly disposed of the Pirates 3 games to none to claim their 3rd NL pennant in 6 seasons. The World Series against Boston is now widely considered the greatest World Series ever played. In game six (delayed 3 days because of rain) the Reds, needing but one win to clinch their first Championship since 1940, bolted to an early lead. However, Bernie Carbo, a former Red, tied the score with a 3-run pinch hit home run in the eigth inning. The game would continue late into the night until Carlton Fisk ended it with a homer in the 12th inning. That home run is now considered the greatest home run in World Series history. The Reds clinched the championship the next day, however, when Joe Morgan knocked in the winning run in the 9th inning for 4 to 3 win. Pete Rose, Cincinnati's team captain, captured the World Series MVP.
1976NL WESTERN DIVISION
TEAM
|
W
|
L
|
PCT
|
GB
|
Cincinnati
|
102
|
60
|
.630
|
----
|
Los Angeles
|
92
|
70
|
.568
|
10
|
Houston
|
80
|
82
|
.494
|
22
|
San Francisco
|
74
|
88
|
.457
|
28
|
San Diego
|
73
|
89
|
.451
|
29
|
Atlanta
|
70
|
92
|
.432
|
32
|
POST-SEASON PLAY
NL Championship
Game 1
|
Reds 6
|
Phillies 3
|
Game 2
|
Reds 6
|
Phillies 2
|
Game 3
|
Reds 7
|
Phillies 6
|
World Series
Game 1
|
Reds 5
|
Yankees 1
|
Game 2
|
Reds 4
|
Yankees 3
|
Game 3
|
Reds 6
|
Yankees 2
|
Game 4
|
Reds 7
|
Yankees 2
|
MVP - Johnny Bench
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
1976 ended much the same as the previous year. Once again, Joe Morgan won the NL MVP award as the Reds won the division by 10 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Reds quickey rolled over the Philadelphia Phillies 3 games to none to claim the NL pennant. In the World Series that year, Johnny Bench led the Reds with a .533 batting avg., 2 home runs and 6 RBI's to win the MVP. The four game sweep of the fabled Yankees gave the Reds their second straight World Series Championship, the first NL team to accomplish this feat since the 1922 New York Giants. In winning, they also became the only team to go through the post season with an unblemished record since league re-allignment in 1969. No other team has accomplished this feat to the present day.
1977NL WESTERN DIVISION
TEAM
|
W
|
L
|
PCT
|
GB
|
Los Angeles
|
98
|
64
|
.605
|
----
|
Cincinnati
|
88
|
74
|
.543
|
10
|
Houston
|
81
|
81
|
.500
|
17
|
San Francisco
|
75
|
87
|
.463
|
23
|
San Diego
|
69
|
93
|
.426
|
29
|
Atlanta
|
61
|
101
|
.371
|
37
|
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
In 1977 Cincinnati stumbled, falling to the Dodgers by 10 full games in the Western Division. The off season trade of team leader Tony Perez and the loss of pitcher Don Gullett to free agency would signal the beginning of the end. That is not to say the team totally fell apart. With Perez's departure, George Foster emerged, setting single season team marks for home runs (52) and RBI's (149) to win the NL MVP award. Foster was the only player in the Major Leagues during the decade of the 70's to hit more than 50 home runs in a single season.
1978NL WESTERN DIVISION
TEAM
|
W
|
L
|
PCT
|
GB
|
Los Angeles
|
95
|
67
|
.586
|
----
|
Cncinnati
|
92
|
69
|
.571
|
2.5
|
San Francisco
|
89
|
73
|
.548
|
6
|
San Diego
|
84
|
78
|
.519
|
11
|
Houston
|
74
|
88
|
.457
|
21
|
Atlanta
|
69
|
93
|
.426
|
26
|
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
In 1978 Cincinnati, once again, failed to overtake the Dodgers, losing the division by only 2 1/2 games. Their were, however, many highlights to the season. Tom Seaver, who came to the Reds in a trade with the Mets a year earlier, threw the first no-hitter by a Reds' pitcher at Riverfront Stadium, the only no-hitter of his great career. Pete Rose set a new NL record by hitting in 44 straight games. On May 5, Pete got his 3,000 career base hit becoming only the 13th player in major league history to do so. At the end of the season Rose left Cincinnati after 16 seasons with the team to play for the Philadelphia Phillies. He would return in 1984 as player-manager. On September 11, 1985 Pete Rose broke the all-time major league hit record with his 4192 career hit. He would end his career in Cincinnati with a total of 4256. The previous record, held by Ty Cobb, had stood since 1928.
1979NL WESTERN DIVISION
TEAM
|
W
|
L
|
PCT
|
GB
|
Cincinnati
|
90
|
71
|
.559
|
----
|
Houston
|
89
|
73
|
.549
|
1.5
|
Los Angeles
|
79
|
83
|
.488
|
11.5
|
San Francisco
|
71
|
91
|
.438
|
19.5
|
San Diego
|
68
|
93
|
.422
|
22
|
Atlanta
|
66
|
94
|
.413
|
23.5
|
POST-SEASON PLAY
NL Championship
Game 1
|
Pirates 5
|
Reds 2 (11)
|
Game 2
|
Pirates 3
|
Reds 2 (10)
|
Game 3
|
Pirates 7
|
Reds 1
|
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
In the off season, Sparky Anderson was replaced as Reds' manager by John McNamara. The team responded by closing out the decade with their 6th Western Division title in 10 years. The Reds fell quickly, however, to the Pirates in the playoffs 3 games to none. Pittsburgh would go on the win the World Championship, defeating the Baltimore Orioles 4 games to 3.
The Great EightBatting Order:
George Foster #15 - LF
Foster is my All-Time Fav Player!!
1976 ALL-STAR MVP
1977 NL MVP
2 TIME NL HR CHAMP
3 TIME RBI CHAMP
6 TIME NL ALL-STAR
CAREER STATISTICS
G
|
Avg
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
HR
|
RBI
|
BB
|
SO
|
SB
|
Slg
|
1977
|
.274
|
7023
|
986
|
1925
|
307
|
47
|
348
|
1239
|
666
|
1419
|
51
|
.480
|
Johnny Bench #5 - C
1968 NL Rookie of the Year
1970 NL MVP
1972 NL MVP
1976 WORLD SERIES MVP
3 TIME NL RBI CHAMP
2 TIME NL HR CHAMP
10 GOLD GLOVES
14 TIME NL ALL-STAR
HALL OF FAME 1989
CAREER STATISTICS
G
|
Avg
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
HR
|
RBI
|
BB
|
SO
|
SB
|
Slg
|
2158
|
.267
|
7658
|
1091
|
2048
|
381
|
24
|
389
|
1376
|
891
|
1278
|
68
|
.476
|
Pete Rose #14 - 3B
1963 NL Rookie of the Year
1973 NL MVP
1975 WORLD SERIES MVP
3 TIME NL BATTING CHAMP
17 TIME NL ALL-STAR
2 GOLD GLOVES
ALL TIME HIT LEADER
HALL OF FAME 19??
CAREER STATISTICS
G
|
Avg
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
HR
|
RBI
|
BB
|
SO
|
SB
|
Slg
|
3652
|
.303
|
14053
|
2165
|
4256
|
746
|
135
|
160
|
1314
|
1566
|
1143
|
198
|
.409
|
Joe Morgan # 8 - 2B
1972 ALL-STAR MVP
1975 NL MVP
1976 NL MVP
8 TIME NL ALL-STAR
4 GOLD GLOVES
HALL OF FAME 1990
CAREER STATISTICS
G
|
Avg
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
HR
|
RBI
|
BB
|
SO
|
SB
|
Slg
|
2649
|
.271
|
9277
|
1650
|
2517
|
449
|
96
|
268
|
1133
|
1865
|
1015
|
689
|
.427
|
Tony Perez #24 - 1B
1967 NL ALL-STAR MVP
7 TIME NL ALL-STAR
HALL OF FAME 19??
CAREER STATISTICS
G
|
Avg
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
HR
|
RBI
|
BB
|
SO
|
SB
|
Slg
|
2777
|
.279
|
9778
|
1272
|
2732
|
505
|
79
|
379
|
1652
|
925
|
1867
|
49
|
.463
|
Dave Concepcion #13 - SS
1982 ALL-STAR MVP
4 GOLD GLOVES
9 TIME NL ALL-STAR
HALL OF FAME 19??
CAREER STATISTICS
G
|
Avg
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
HR
|
RBI
|
BB
|
SO
|
SB
|
Slg
|
2488
|
.267
|
8723
|
993
|
2326
|
389
|
48
|
101
|
950
|
736
|
1186
|
321
|
.357
|
Cesar Geronimo #20 - CF
4 GOLD GLOVES
CAREER STATISTICS
G
|
Avg
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
HR
|
RBI
|
BB
|
SO
|
SB
|
Slg
|
1522
|
.258
|
3780
|
460
|
977
|
161
|
50
|
51
|
392
|
354
|
746
|
82
|
.368
|
Ken Griffey #30 - RF
1980 ALL-STAR MVP
2 TIME NL ALL-STAR
CAREER STATISTICS
G
|
Avg
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
HR
|
RBI
|
BB
|
SO
|
SB
|
Slg
|
2097
|
.296
|
7229
|
1129
|
2143
|
364
|
77
|
152
|
859
|
719
|
898
|
200
|
.431
|