1890 Cincinnati Reds season explained
The 1890 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. Directly after the season ended, owner Aaron Stern sold the club to Al Johnson.
Regular season
After playing eight seasons in the American Association, 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 1889, 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.
Season summary
The Reds played their first National League game on April 19, 1890. Despite a home run from Bug Holliday, 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.
Game log
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1 || April 19 ||
Colts || 1–5 ||
League Park || N/A || 0-1 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 || April 21 ||
Colts || 9–4 ||
League Park || N/A || 1-1 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 3 || April 22 ||
Colts || 3–13 ||
League Park || N/A || 1-2 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 4 || April 23 ||
Colts || 9–6 ||
League Park || N/A || 2-2 || W1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || April 24 || @
Alleghenys || colspan=8|
Postponed (rain; site change); Makeup: September 11|- style="background:#bfb;" | 5 || April 25 || @
Alleghenys || 10–1 ||
Recreation Park || N/A || 3-2 || W1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || April 26 || @
Alleghenys || colspan=8|
Postponed (rain; site change); Makeup: September 12|- style="background:#fbb;" | 6 || April 28 || @
Alleghenys || 2–6 || Recreation Park || N/A || 3-3 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 7 || April 29 || @
Spiders || 2–3 ||
National League Park || N/A || 3-4 || L2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 8 || April 30 || @
Spiders || 4–0 || National League Park || N/A || 4-4 || W1|- |- style="background:#bfb;" | 9 || May 1 || @
Spiders || 12–11 || National League Park || N/A || 5-4 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 10 || May 2 || @
Spiders || 6–1 || National League Park || N/A || 6-4 || W3|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || May 3 || @
Colts || colspan=8|
Postponed (rain); Makeup: May 8|- style="background:#bbb;" | 11 || May 5 || @
Colts || 2–2 ||
West Side Park || 125 || 6-4 || W3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 12 || May 6 || @
Colts || 5–6 || West Side Park || 1,635 || 6-5 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 13 || May 7 || @
Colts || 5–2 || West Side Park || 386 || 7-5 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 14 || May 8 || @
Colts || 9–18 || West Side Park || 390 || 7-6 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 15 || May 9 ||
Alleghenys || 10–5 ||
League Park || N/A || 8-6 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 16 || May 10 ||
Alleghenys || 11–1 ||
League Park || N/A || 9-6 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 17 || May 12 ||
Alleghenys || 3–5 ||
League Park || N/A || 9-7 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 18 || May 13 ||
Alleghenys || 0–4 ||
League Park || N/A || 9-8 || L2|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || May 15 || @
Phillites || colspan=8|
Postponed (rain; site change); Makeup: September 23|- style="background:#bfb;" | 19 || May 16 || @
Phillies || 5–1 ||
Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds || N/A || 10-8 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 20 || May 17 || @
Phillies || 4–6 || Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds || N/A || 10-9 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 21 || May 19 || @
Phillies || 9–6 || Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds || N/A || 11-9 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 22 || May 21 || @
Bridegrooms || 4–19 ||
Washington Park || N/A || 11-10 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 23 || May 22 || @
Bridegrooms || 4–6 || Washington Park || N/A || 11-11 || L2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 24 || May 23 || @
Bridegrooms || 7–2 || Washington Park || N/A || 12-11 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 25 || May 24 || @
Beaneaters || 7–5 ||
South End Grounds || N/A || 13-11 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 26 || May 26 || @
Beaneaters || 4–2 || South End Grounds || N/A || 14-11 || W3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 27 || May 28 || @
Beaneaters || 0–1 || South End Grounds || N/A || 14-12 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 28 || May 29 || @
Giants || 7–6 ||
Polo Grounds || N/A || 15-12 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 29 || May 30 || @
Giants || 3–1 || Polo Grounds || 678 || 16-12 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 30 || May 30 || @
Giants || 1–0 || Polo Grounds || 3,759 || 17-12 || W3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 31 || May 31 || @
Giants || 12–8 || Polo Grounds || N/A || 18-12 || W4|- |- style="background:#bfb;" | 32 || June 2 || @
Spiders || 4–3 || National League Park || N/A || 19-12 || W5|- style="background:#bfb;" | 33 || June 3 || @
Spiders || 5–2 || National League Park || N/A || 20-12 || W6|- style="background:#fbb;" | 34 || June 4 || @
Spiders || 1–3 || National League Park || N/A || 20-13 || L1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || June 5 || @
Alleghenys || colspan=8|
Postponed (site change); Makeup: June 5|- style="background:#bfb;" | 35 || June 5 ||
Alleghenys || 9–1 ||
League Park || 1,200 || 21-13 || W1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || June 6 || @
Alleghenys || colspan=8|
Postponed (site change); Makeup: June 6|- style="background:#bfb;" | 36 || June 6 ||
Alleghenys || 9–5 ||
League Park || N/A || 22-13 || W2|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || June 7 || @
Alleghenys || colspan=8|
Postponed (site change); Makeup: June 7|- style="background:#bfb;" | 37 || June 7 ||
Alleghenys || 6–2 ||
League Park || N/A || 23-13 || W3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 38 || June 9 ||
Alleghenys || 8–2 ||
League Park || N/A || 24-13 || W4|- style="background:#bfb;" | 39 || June 10 ||
Alleghenys || 9–2 ||
League Park || N/A || 25-13 || W5|- style="background:#bfb;" | 40 || June 11 ||
Alleghenys || 5–1 ||
League Park || N/A || 26-13 || W6|- style="background:#bfb;" | 41 || June 12 ||
Spiders || 8–0 ||
League Park || 1,611 || 27-13 || W7|- style="background:#bfb;" | 42 || June 13 ||
Spiders || 7–5 ||
League Park || N/A || 28-13 || W8|- style="background:#bfb;" | 43 || June 14 ||
Spiders || 9–0 ||
League Park || N/A || 29-13 || W9|- style="background:#bfb;" | 44 || June 16 ||
Spiders || 7–3 ||
League Park || N/A || 30-13 || W10|- style="background:#bfb;" | 45 || June 17 ||
Colts || 3–0 ||
League Park || N/A || 31-13 || W11|- style="background:#bfb;" | 46 || June 18 ||
Colts || 6–2 ||
League Park || N/A || 32-13 || W12|- style="background:#bfb;" | 47 || June 19 ||
Colts || 4–2 ||
League Park || N/A || 33-13 || W13|- style="background:#fbb;" | 48 || June 20 ||
Beaneaters || 2–4 ||
League Park || N/A || 33-14 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 49 || June 21 ||
Beaneaters || 4–1 ||
League Park || N/A || 34-14 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 50 || June 23 ||
Beaneaters || 4–12 ||
League Park || N/A || 34-15 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 51 || June 24 ||
Beaneaters || 0–2 ||
League Park || N/A || 34-16 || L2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 52 || June 25 ||
Giants || 2–1 ||
League Park || 2,600 || 35-16 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 53 || June 26 ||
Giants || 8–5 ||
League Park || N/A || 36-16 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 54 || June 27 ||
Giants || 4–8 ||
League Park || N/A || 36-17 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 55 || June 28 ||
Giants || 12–3 ||
League Park || N/A || 37-17 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 56 || June 30 ||
Bridegrooms || 6–8 ||
League Park || N/A || 37-18 || L1|- |- style="background:#bfb;" | 57 || July 1 ||
Bridegrooms || 3–0 ||
League Park || N/A || 38-18 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 58 || July 2 ||
Bridegrooms || 6–1 ||
League Park || 1,928 || 39-18 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 59 || July 3 ||
Bridegrooms || 9–6 ||
League Park || N/A || 40-18 || W3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 60 || July 4 ||
Phillies || 2–11 ||
League Park || N/A || 40-19 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 61 || July 4 ||
Phillies || 7–1 ||
League Park || 14,817 || 41-19 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 62 || July 5 ||
Phillies || 6–9 ||
League Park || N/A || 41-20 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 63 || July 7 || @
Phillies || 3–1 || Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds || N/A || 42-20 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 64 || July 8 || @
Phillies || 4–9 || Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds || N/A || 42-21 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 65 || July 9 || @
Phillies || 1–6 || Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds || N/A || 42-22 || L2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 66 || July 10 || @
Bridegrooms || 3–5 || Washington Park || N/A || 42-23 || L3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 67 || July 11 || @
Bridegrooms || 2–9 || Washington Park || N/A || 42-24 || L4|- style="background:#fbb;" | 68 || July 12 || @
Bridegrooms || 1–7 || Washington Park || N/A || 42-25 || L5|- style="background:#bfb;" | 69 || July 14 || @
Giants || 6–1 || Polo Grounds || N/A || 43-25 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 70 || July 15 || @
Giants || 3–7 || Polo Grounds || N/A || 43-26 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 71 || July 16 || @
Giants || 8–12 || Polo Grounds || N/A || 43-27 || L2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 72 || July 17 || @
Beaneaters || 3–6 || South End Grounds || N/A || 43-28 || L3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 73 || July 18 || @
Beaneaters || 3–9 || South End Grounds || N/A || 43-29 || L4|- style="background:#fbb;" | 74 || July 19 || @
Beaneaters || 2–6 || South End Grounds || N/A || 43-30 || L5|- style="background:#bfb;" | 75 || July 21 ||
Bridegrooms || 20–11 ||
League Park || N/A || 44-30 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 76 || July 22 ||
Bridegrooms || 5–16 ||
League Park || N/A || 44-31 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 77 || July 24 ||
Giants || 7–5 ||
League Park || N/A || 45-31 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 78 || July 25 ||
Giants || 10–6 ||
League Park || N/A || 46-31 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 79 || July 26 ||
Giants || 5–1 ||
League Park || 2,108 || 47-31 || W3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 80 || July 28 ||
Beaneaters || 1–2 ||
League Park || N/A || 47-32 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 81 || July 29 ||
Beaneaters || 11–3 ||
League Park || N/A || 48-32 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 82 || July 30 ||
Beaneaters || 0–3 ||
League Park || N/A || 48-33 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 83 || July 31 ||
Phillies || 8–6 ||
League Park || N/A || 49-33 || W1|- |- style="background:#fbb;" | 84 || August 1 ||
Phillies || 4–5 ||
League Park || N/A || 49-34 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 85 || August 2 ||
Phillies || 11–3 ||
League Park || N/A || 50-34 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 86 || August 4 ||
Phillies || 7–5 ||
League Park || N/A || 51-34 || W2|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || August 6 || @
Alleghenys || colspan=8|
Postponed (site change); Makeup: August 6|- style="background:#bfb;" | 87 || August 6 ||
Alleghenys || 16–3 ||
League Park || N/A || 52-34 || W3|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || August 7 || @
Alleghenys || colspan=8|
Postponed (site change); Makeup: August 7|- style="background:#bfb;" | 88 || August 7 ||
Alleghenys || 23–17 ||
League Park || N/A || 53-34 || W4|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || August 8 || @
Alleghenys || colspan=8|
Postponed (site change); Makeup: August 8|- style="background:#bfb;" | 89 || August 8 ||
Alleghenys || 9–6 ||
League Park || N/A || 54-34 || W5|- style="background:#fbb;"| 90 || August 9 || @
Spiders || 4–5 || National League Park || N/A || 54-35 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 91 || August 11 || @
Spiders || 9–7 || National League Park || N/A || 55-35 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 92 || August 12 || @
Spiders || 2–1 || National League Park || N/A || 56-35 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 93 || August 13 ||
Colts || 4–6 ||
League Park || N/A || 56-36 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 94 || August 14 ||
Colts || 2–1 ||
League Park || N/A || 57-36 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 95 || August 15 ||
Colts || 2–9 ||
League Park || N/A || 57-37 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 96 || August 16 ||
Spiders || 10–0 ||
League Park || N/A || 58-37 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 97 || August 18 ||
Spiders || 14–3 ||
League Park || N/A || 59-37 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 98 || August 21 || @
Giants || 5–3 || Polo Grounds || N/A || 60-37 || W3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 99 || August 22 || @
Giants || 3–4 || Polo Grounds || N/A || 60-38 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 100 || August 23 || @
Giants || 3–7 || Polo Grounds || 2,034 || 60-39 || L2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 101 || August 25 || @
Bridegrooms || 4–1 || Washington Park || N/A || 61-39 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 102 || August 26 || @
Bridegrooms || 0–3 || Washington Park || N/A || 61-40 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 103 || August 27 || @
Bridegrooms || 8–1 || Washington Park || N/A || 62-40 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 104 || August 28 || @
Beaneaters || 7–0 || South End Grounds || N/A || 63-40 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 105 || August 29 || @
Beaneaters || 1–2 || South End Grounds || N/A || 63-41 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 106 || August 30 || @
Beaneaters || 6–5 || South End Grounds || N/A || 64-41 || W1|- |- style="background:#fbb;" | 107 || September 1 || @
Phillies || 1–2 || Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds || N/A || 64-42 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 108 || September 1 || @
Phillies || 8–5 || Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds || N/A || 65-42 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 109 || September 2 || @
Phillies || 12–14 || Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds || N/A || 65-43 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 110 || September 4 || @
Colts || 4–7 || West Side Park || 2,436 || 65-44 || L2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 111 || September 5 || @
Colts || 8–12 || West Side Park || 910 || 65-45 || L3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 112 || September 6 || @
Colts || 0–1 || West Side Park || 2,972 || 65-46 || L4|- style="background:#fbb;" | 113 || September 9 ||
Spiders || 4–8 ||
League Park || N/A || 65-47 || L5|- style="background:#bfb;" | 114 || September 11 ||
Alleghenys || 2–0 ||
League Park || N/A || 66-47 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 115 || September 11 ||
Alleghenys || 4–1 ||
League Park || N/A || 67-47 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 116 || September 12 ||
Alleghenys || 7–3 ||
League Park || N/A || 68-47 || W3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 117 || September 12 ||
Alleghenys || 11–1 ||
League Park || N/A || 69-47 || W4|- style="background:#fbb;" | 118 || September 13 ||
Alleghenys || 6–8 ||
League Park || N/A || 69-48 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 119 || September 15 || @
Colts || 3–6 || West Side Park || 1,847 || 69-49 || L2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 120 || September 16 || @
Colts || 2–5 || West Side Park || 1,328 || 69-50 || L3|- style="background:#bbb;" | 121 || September 17 || @
Colts || 6–6 || West Side Park || 1,541 || 69-50 || L3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 122 || September 18 || @
Colts || 4–8 || West Side Park || 2,382 || 69-51 || L4|- style="background:#bfb;" | 123 || September 18 || @
Colts || 10–5 || West Side Park || N/A || 70-51 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 124 || September 19 ||
Phillies || 5–4 ||
League Park || N/A || 71-51 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 125 || September 20 ||
Phillies || 9–1 ||
League Park || N/A || 72-51 || W3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 126 || September 22 ||
Phillies || 5–7 ||
League Park || N/A || 72-52 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 127 || September 23 ||
Phillies || 4–2 ||
League Park || N/A || 73-52 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 128 || September 24 ||
Bridegrooms || 1–5 ||
League Park || N/A || 73-53 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 129 || September 27 ||
Giants || 3–15 ||
League Park || N/A || 73-54 || L2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 130 || September 29 ||
Giants || 5–4 ||
League Park || N/A || 74-54 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 131 || September 30 ||
Giants || 5–2 ||
League Park || N/A || 75-54 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 132 || October 1 ||
Beaneaters || 5–3 ||
League Park || N/A || 76-54 || W3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 133 || October 2 ||
Beaneaters || 3–7 ||
League Park || N/A || 76-55 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 134 || October 3 ||
Beaneaters || 8–2 ||
League Park || N/A || 77-55 || W1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || October 4 ||
Beaneaters || colspan=8|
Postponed (rain); Makeup: October 1|-
Roster
| 1890 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 | | 65 | 236 | 58 | .246 | 1 | 23 |
| 1B | | 133 | 553 | 166 | .300 | 6 | 86 |
| 2B | | 132 | 528 | 135 | .256 | 3 | 39 |
| SS | | 122 | 492 | 132 | .268 | 3 | 72 |
| 3B | | 41 | 164 | 41 | .250 | 0 | 15 |
| OF | | 127 | 481 | 150 | .312 | 4 | 67 |
| OF | | 130 | 527 | 157 | .298 | 1 | 73 |
| OF | | 131 | 518 | 140 | .270 | 4 | 75 | |
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 |
| 50 | 186 | 39 | .210 | 0 | 19 |
| 22 | 72 | 11 | .153 | 0 | 10 |
| 7 | 27 | 7 | .259 | 0 | 5 | |
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 |
|---|
| 46 | 401.1 | 28 | 17 | 1.95 | 182 |
| 33 | 274.0 | 16 | 12 | 2.92 | 108 |
| 25 | 209.0 | 12 | 10 | 2.24 | 91 |
| 25 | 198.1 | 13 | 10 | 3.95 | 57 |
| 13 | 90.0 | 7 | 5 | 4.50 | 41 |
| 2 | 18.0 | 1 | 1 | 4.50 | 9 | |
External links
Notes and References
- News: Reds owners . . 20 . November 3, 2005 . September 14, 2020 . newspapers.com.
