1896 Cincinnati Reds season explained
The 1896 Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. The team finished in third place in the National League with a record of 77–50, 12 games behind the Baltimore Orioles.
Regular season
After a late season collapse by the Reds in 1895, in which the team won only fourteen of their last thirty-nine games to fall completely out of the pennant race to an eighth-place finish, the club began to make changes to get younger players.
Buck Ewing returned as player-manager, and the team made a big trade, as Arlie Latham, Ed McFarland, Morgan Murphy and Tom Parrott were traded from Cincinnati to the St. Louis Browns for Red Ehret and Heinie Peitz. Ehret struggled in 1895, with a 6–19 record and a 6.02 ERA. His best season came in 1890 with the Louisville Colonels of the American Association, when Ehret was 25–14 with a 2.53 ERA in 43 games. Ehret also led the National League in shutouts with four during the 1893 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Peitz hit .284 with two home runs and 65 RBI with the Browns in 1895.
The Reds also acquired Charlie Irwin from the Chicago Colts to play third base. Irwin missed most of the 1895 season, but in 1894 he batted .296 with eight home runs and 100 RBI with Chicago.
Offensively, Eddie Burke led the team with a .340 batting average and 120 runs scored, as well as hitting a homer and 52 RBI. Dummy Hoy also scored 120 runs, as he hit .298 with a team tying high four home runs and 57 RBI. Dusty Miller had a club high .321 average, 93 RBI and 76 stolen bases, as well as tying Hoy with four home runs. Bid McPhee had another solid season, as he hit .305 with a homer and 87 RBI while stealing 48 bases.
Frank Dwyer led the pitching staff with a 24–11 record and a 3.15 ERA in 36 games, 34 of them starts. Ehret went 18–14 with a 3.42 ERA in his first season with the Reds, which marked a big improvement over his horrible 1895 season with the Browns. Billy Rhines led the league with a 2.45 ERA, however, he missed some time due to injuries and finished the year with a record of 8–6 in 19 games.
Season summary
After starting the year with a 9–7 record and in fifth place, Cincinnati posted ten wins in their next twelve games to improve to 19–9, and sit in first place in the National League. The Reds slipped out of first place with a 3–5 record in their next eight games, and continued to slump to a 27–20 record, fourth in the league. Cincinnati then rebounded, going 14–2 in their next sixteen games to push their record to 41–22, and be in a first place tie with the Baltimore Orioles. The club stayed hot, going 12–2 in their next fourteen games to push their record to 53–24, and take over first place by themselves, three games up on the Orioles. Cincinnati then went 8–2 in their next ten games, and pushed their first place lead to five games over Baltimore, and a 34–6 record in their last forty games. Despite a solid 8–5 record in their next thirteen games, Cincinnati saw their five-game lead evaporate to only a half game over the red hot Orioles. As the season was coming to a close, the Reds completely fell out of the pennant race, as they lost eleven games in a row and would eventually finish in third place with a 77–50 record, 12.5 games behind Baltimore.
Game log
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1 || April 16 ||
Pirates || 1–9 ||
League Park || 14,419 || 0-1 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 2 || April 17 ||
Pirates || 7–10 ||
League Park || 2,412 || 0-2 || L2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 3 || April 18 ||
Pirates || 11–9 ||
League Park || 3,452 || 1-2 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 4 || April 19 ||
Colonels || 12–3 ||
League Park || 16,526 || 2-2 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || April 21 ||
Spiders || 10–11 ||
League Park || 3,852 || 2-3 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 6 || April 22 ||
Spiders || 7–4 ||
League Park || 2,556 || 3-3 || W1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || April 23 ||
Spiders || colspan=8|
Postponed (rain); Makeup: April 24|- style="background:#bfb;" | 7 || April 24 ||
Spiders || 8–4 ||
League Park || 2,920 || 4-3 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 8 || April 25 ||
Colts || 3–5 ||
League Park || 5,296 || 4-4 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 9 || April 26 ||
Colts || 11–3 ||
League Park || 10,752 || 5-4 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 10 || April 27 ||
Colts || 9–3 ||
League Park || 2,260 || 6-4 || W2|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || April 30 || @
Spiders || colspan=8|
Postponed (rain, site change); Makeup: July 26|- |- style="background:#fbb;" | 11 || May 2 || @
Spiders || 1–4 ||
League Park || 2,800 || 6-5 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 12 || May 3 || @
Colonels || 5–3 ||
Eclipse Park || 8,500 || 7-5 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 13 || May 4 ||
Beaneaters || 8–2 ||
League Park || 3,308 || 8-5 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 14 || May 5 ||
Beaneaters || 3–8 ||
League Park || 3,376 || 8-6 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 15 || May 6 ||
Beaneaters || 6–0 ||
League Park || 2,412 || 9-6 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 16 || May 7 ||
Orioles || 1–6 ||
League Park || 3,568 || 9-7 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 17 || May 8 ||
Orioles || 9–5 ||
League Park || 2,892 || 10-7 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 18 || May 9 ||
Orioles || 5–6 ||
League Park || 6,080 || 10-8 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 19 || May 10 ||
Senators || 18–11 ||
League Park || 8,082 || 11-8 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 20 || May 11 ||
Senators || 10–2 ||
League Park || 1,182 || 12-8 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 21 || May 12 ||
Senators || 4–6 ||
League Park || 1,428 || 12-9 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 22 || May 14 ||
Bridegrooms || 13–2 ||
League Park || 1,787 || 13-9 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 23 || May 16 ||
Bridegrooms || 2–1 ||
League Park || 4,372 || 14-9 || W3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 24 || May 17 ||
Bridegrooms || 16–10 ||
League Park || 11,400 || 15-9 || W4|- style="background:#bfb;" | 25 || May 18 ||
Phillies || 9–5 ||
League Park || 2,572 || 16-9 || W5|- style="background:#bfb;" | 26 || May 19 ||
Phillies || 8–2 ||
League Park || 3,560 || 17-9 || W6|- style="background:#bfb;" | 27 || May 20 ||
Phillies || 4–0 ||
League Park || 2,128 || 18-9 || W7|- style="background:#bfb;" | 28 || May 21 ||
Giants || 4–2 ||
League Park || 5,256 || 19-9 || W8|- style="background:#fbb;" | 29 || May 22 ||
Giants || 1–4 ||
League Park || 2,268 || 19-10 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 30 || May 23 ||
Giants || 2–4 ||
League Park || 5,392 || 19-11 || L2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 31 || May 24 ||
Colonels || 6–0 ||
League Park || 9,716 || 20-11 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 32 || May 26 || @
Senators || 18–5 ||
Boundary Field || 8,717 || 21-11 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 33 || May 27 || @
Senators || 10–6 || Boundary Field || 2,389 || 22-11 || W3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 34 || May 29 || @
Orioles || 1–4 ||
Union Park || 2,013 || 22-12 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 35 || May 30 || @
Orioles || 5–6 || Union Park || 3,845 || 22-13 || L2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 36 || May 30 || @
Orioles || 6–9 || Union Park || 10,510 || 22-14 || L3|- |- style="background:#bfb;" | 37 || June 1 || @
Phillies || 8–4 ||
National League Park || 7,996 || 23-14 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 38 || June 2 || @
Phillies || 14–3 || National League Park || 5,275 || 24-14 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 39 || June 3 || @
Phillies || 3–7 || National League Park || 4,136 || 24-15 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 40 || June 4 || @
Bridegrooms || 6–0 ||
Eastern Park || 3,500 || 25-15 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 41 || June 5 || @
Bridegrooms || 1–10 || Eastern Park || 2,500 || 25-16 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 42 || June 6 || @
Bridegrooms || 13–0 || Eastern Park || 7,000 || 26-16 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 43 || June 8 || @
Giants || 6–3 ||
Polo Grounds || 1,700 || 27-16 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 44 || June 9 || @
Giants || 4–7 || Polo Grounds || 3,800 || 27-17 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 45 || June 10 || @
Giants || 6–10 || Polo Grounds || 2,500 || 27-18 || L2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 46 || June 11 || @
Beaneaters || 1–9 ||
South End Grounds || 3,147 || 27-19 || L3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 47 || June 12 || @
Beaneaters || 3–15 || South End Grounds || 2,455 || 27-20 || L4|- style="background:#bfb;" | 48 || June 13 || @
Beaneaters || 6–1 || South End Grounds || 8,300 || 28-20 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 49 || June 15 ||
Browns || 7–1 ||
League Park || 3,560 || 29-20 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 50 || June 16 ||
Browns || 3–2 ||
League Park || 3,344 || 30-20 || W3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 51 || June 17 ||
Browns || 6–1 ||
League Park || 2,812 || 31-20 || W4|- style="background:#bfb;" | 52 || June 20 ||
Colonels || 13–7 ||
League Park || 5,052 || 32-20 || W5|- style="background:#bfb;" | 53 || June 21 || @
Colts || 6–1 ||
West Side Park || 10,000 || 33-20 || W6|- style="background:#fbb;" | 54 || June 22 || @
Colts || 1–3 || West Side Park || 2,000 || 33-21 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 55 || June 23 || @
Colts || 5–7 || West Side Park || 1,800 || 33-22 || L2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 56 || June 24 || @
Colts || 4–2 || West Side Park || 2,500 || 34-22 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 57 || June 25 || @
Browns || 5–3 ||
New Sportsman's Park || 1,500 || 35-22 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 58 || June 26 || @
Browns || 16–4 || New Sportsman's Park || 600 || 36-22 || W3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 59 || June 27 || @
Browns || 5–2 || New Sportsman's Park || 1,800 || 37-22 || W4|- style="background:#bfb;" | 60 || June 28 || @
Browns || 12–1 || New Sportsman's Park || 3,500 || 38-22 || W5|- style="background:#bfb;" | 61 || June 29 || @
Colonels || 20–8 || Eclipse Park || 1,908 || 39-22 || W6|- style="background:#bfb;" | 62 || June 30 || @
Colonels || 9–2 || Eclipse Park || 700 || 40-22 || W7|- |- style="background:#bfb;" | 63 || July 2 ||
Browns || 7–5 ||
League Park || 5,220 || 41-22 || W8|- style="background:#fbb;" | 64 || July 3 || @
Pirates || 3–6 ||
Exposition Park || N/A || 41-23 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 65 || July 4 || @
Pirates || 3–1 || Exposition Park || 7,000 || 42-23 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 66 || July 4 || @
Pirates || 3–4 || Exposition Park || 6,500 || 42-24 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 67 || July 5 ||
Browns || 7–0 ||
League Park || 7,868 || 43-24 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 68 || July 6 ||
Phillies || 10–6 ||
League Park || 3,932 || 44-24 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 69 || July 7 ||
Phillies || 14–4 ||
League Park || 5,322 || 45-24 || W3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 70 || July 8 ||
Phillies || 3–2 ||
League Park || 3,712 || 46-24 || W4|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || July 9 ||
Senators || colspan=8|
Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 10|- style="background:#bfb;" | 71 || July 10 ||
Senators || 9–6 ||
League Park || N/A || 47-24 || W5|- style="background:#bfb;" | 72 || July 10 ||
Senators || 12–4 ||
League Park || 10,068 || 48-24 || W6|- style="background:#bfb;" | 73 || July 11 ||
Senators || 9–5 ||
League Park || 5,700 || 49-24 || W7|- style="background:#bfb;" | 74 || July 12 ||
Bridegrooms || 9–5 ||
League Park || 11,188 || 50-24 || W8|- style="background:#bfb;" | 75 || July 13 ||
Bridegrooms || 7–5 ||
League Park || 2,700 || 51-24 || W9|- style="background:#bfb;" | 76 || July 14 ||
Bridegrooms || 5–4 ||
League Park || 2,704 || 52-24 || W10|- style="background:#bfb;" | 77 || July 16 ||
Orioles || 5–0 ||
League Park || 8,400 || 53-24 || W11|- style="background:#fbb;" | 78 || July 18 ||
Orioles || 3–10 ||
League Park || 15,896 || 53-25 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 79 || July 19 ||
Orioles || 6–14 ||
League Park || 24,944 || 53-26 || L2|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || July 20 ||
Giants || colspan=8|
Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 21|- style="background:#bfb;" | 80 || July 21 ||
Giants || 4–0 ||
League Park || N/A || 54-26 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 81 || July 21 ||
Giants || 4–2 ||
League Park || 4,042 || 55-26 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 82 || July 22 ||
Giants || 9–8 ||
League Park || 1,837 || 56-26 || W3|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || July 23 ||
Beaneaters || colspan=8|
Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 25|- style="background:#bfb;" | 83 || July 25 ||
Beaneaters || 10–5 ||
League Park || N/A || 57-26 || W4|- style="background:#bfb;" | 84 || July 25 ||
Beaneaters || 3–2 ||
League Park || 11,436 || 58-26 || W5|- style="background:#bfb;" | 85 || July 26 ||
Spiders || 10–1 ||
League Park || 17,844 || 59-26 || W6|- style="background:#bfb;" | 86 || July 27 ||
Spiders || 3–1 ||
League Park || 5,060 || 60-26 || W7|- style="background:#bfb;" | 87 || July 28 ||
Spiders || 9–8 ||
League Park || 7,380 || 61-26 || W8|- style="background:#fbb;" | 88 || July 29 ||
Spiders || 1–6 ||
League Park || 5,492 || 61-27 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 89 || July 30 ||
Pirates || 4–8 ||
League Park || 1,855 || 61-28 || L2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 90 || July 31 ||
Pirates || 7–9 ||
League Park || 4,786 || 61-29 || L3|- |- style="background:#bbb;" | - || August 1 ||
Pirates || colspan=8|
Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 6|- style="background:#bfb;" | 91 || August 2 ||
Browns || 2–1 ||
League Park || 6,888 || 62-29 || W1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || August 3 ||
Browns || colspan=8|
Postponed (schedule change); Makeup: July 2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 92 || August 6 ||
Pirates || 4–2 ||
League Park || 4,564 || 63-29 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 93 || August 8 ||
Colonels || 5–2 ||
League Park || 2,696 || 64-29 || W3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 94 || August 9 ||
Colonels || 5–4 ||
League Park || 5,281 || 65-29 || W4|- style="background:#fbb;" | 95 || August 11 || @
Colts || 0–6 || West Side Park || 6,000 || 65-30 || L1|- style="background:#bbb;" | 96 || August 12 || @
Colts || 3–3 || West Side Park || 7,000 || 65-30 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 97 || August 13 || @
Colts || 7–0 || West Side Park || 9,000 || 66-30 || W1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || August 15 || @
Browns || colspan=8|
Postponed (site change); Makeup: August 15|- style="background:#bfb;" | 98 || August 15 ||
Browns || 7–3 ||
League Park || 6,012 || 67-30 || W2|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || August 16 || @
Browns || colspan=8|
Postponed (site change); Makeup: August 16|- style="background:#bfb;" | 99 || August 16 ||
Browns || 10–5 ||
League Park || 6,844 || 68-30 || W3|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || August 17 || @
Browns || colspan=8|
Postponed (schedule change); Makeup: June 26|- style="background:#bfb;" | 100 || August 19 || @
Beaneaters || 9–7 || South End Grounds || 3,000 || 69-30 || W4|- style="background:#fbb;" | 101 || August 20 || @
Beaneaters || 6–8 || South End Grounds || 4,000 || 69-31 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 102 || August 21 || @
Beaneaters || 9–10 || South End Grounds || 4,174 || 69-32 || L2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 103 || August 22 || @
Senators || 2–9 || Boundary Field || 2,310 || 69-33 || L3|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || August 24 || @
Senators || colspan=8|
Postponed (wet grounds); Makeup: August 25|- style="background:#fbb;" | 104 || August 25 || @
Senators || 3–4 || Boundary Field || N/A || 69-34 || L4|- style="background:#fbb;" | 105 || August 25 || @
Senators || 1–3 || Boundary Field || 4,791 || 69-35 || L5|- style="background:#fbb;" | 106 || August 26 || @
Orioles || 3–14 || Union Park || 4,405 || 69-36 || L6|- style="background:#fbb;" | 107 || August 27 || @
Orioles || 3–9 || Union Park || 4,366 || 69-37 || L7|- style="background:#fbb;" | 108 || August 28 || @
Orioles || 6–8 || Union Park || 4,217 || 69-38 || L8|- style="background:#fbb;" | 109 || August 29 || @
Phillies || 4–5 || National League Park || 9,214 || 69-39 || L9|- style="background:#fbb;" | 110 || August 31 || @
Phillies || 4–6 || National League Park || 3,927 || 69-40 || L10|- |- style="background:#fbb;" | 111 || September 1 || @
Phillies || 6–9 || National League Park || 4,309 || 69-41 || L11|- style="background:#bfb;" | 112 || September 2 || @
Giants || 4–0 || Polo Grounds || 2,500 || 70-41 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 113 || September 3 || @
Giants || 5–10 || Polo Grounds || 2,400 || 70-42 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 114 || September 4 || @
Giants || 5–15 || Polo Grounds || 2,400 || 70-43 || L2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 115 || September 5 || @
Bridegrooms || 5–3 || Eastern Park || 1,500 || 71-43 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 116 || September 7 || @
Bridegrooms || 1–6 || Eastern Park || 2,500 || 71-44 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 117 || September 7 || @
Bridegrooms || 3–1 || Eastern Park || 5,000 || 72-44 || W1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || September 9 || @
Colonels || colspan=8|
Postponed (late arrival, both teams); Makeup: September 11|- style="background:#fbb;" | 118 || September 10 || @
Colonels || 2–3 || Eclipse Park || 1,500 || 72-45 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 119 || September 11 || @
Colonels || 2–3 || Eclipse Park || 1,400 || 72-46 || L2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 120 || September 12 || @
Colonels || 5–6 || Eclipse Park || 1,800 || 72-47 || L3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 121 || September 13 ||
Colts || 7–3 ||
League Park || 4,178 || 73-47 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 122 || September 14 || @
Pirates || 2–3 || Exposition Park || 1,500 || 73-48 || L1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || September 15 || @
Pirates || colspan=8|
Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 16|- style="background:#bfb;" | 123 || September 16 || @
Pirates || 11–0 || Exposition Park || N/A || 74-48 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 124 || September 16 || @
Pirates || 4–0 || Exposition Park || 2,500 || 75-48 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 125 || September 19 || @
Spiders || 2–21 || League Park || 400 || 75-49 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 126 || September 20 ||
Colonels || 4–3 ||
League Park || 2,578 || 76-49 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 127 || September 21 || @
Spiders || 1–4 || League Park || 2,000 || 76-50 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 128 || September 22 || @
Spiders || 7–3 || League Park || 2,000 || 77-50 || W1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || September 26 || @
Colts || colspan=8|
Postponed (schedule change, site change); Makeup: June 24|-
Roster
| 1896 Cincinnati Reds |
|---|
| Roster |
| Pitchers | | CatchersInfielders | | Outfielders | | Manager | |
Player stats
Batting
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 | | 68 | 211 | 63 | .299 | 2 | 34 |
| 1B | | 69 | 263 | 73 | .278 | 1 | 38 |
| 2B | | 117 | 433 | 132 | .305 | 1 | 87 |
| SS | | 120 | 456 | 131 | .287 | 3 | 71 |
| 3B | | 127 | 476 | 141 | .296 | 1 | 67 |
| OF | | 122 | 521 | 177 | .340 | 1 | 52 |
| OF | | 125 | 504 | 162 | .321 | 4 | 93 |
| OF | | 121 | 443 | 132 | .298 | 4 | 57 | |
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 |
|---|
| 114 | 433 | 127 | .293 | 2 | 66 |
| 46 | 121 | 25 | .207 | 0 | 17 |
| 29 | 84 | 27 | .321 | 0 | 8 | |
Pitching
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 |
|---|
| 36 | 288.2 | 24 | 11 | 3.15 | 57 |
| 34 | 276.2 | 18 | 14 | 3.42 | 60 |
| 27 | 185.2 | 14 | 7 | 3.97 | 33 |
| 19 | 143.0 | 8 | 6 | 2.45 | 32 |
| 4 | 23.0 | 1 | 3 | 11.35 | 9 |
| 3 | 20.0 | 1 | 1 | 4.50 | 2 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
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 |
|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8.31 | 1 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.50 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | |
External links
Notes and References
- News: Reds owners . . 20 . November 3, 2005 . September 14, 2020 . newspapers.com.
