1897 Cincinnati Reds season explained

Cincinnati Reds
Season:1897
League:National League
Ballpark:League Park
City:Cincinnati
Owners:John T. Brush[1]
Managers:Buck Ewing

The 1897 Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. The team finished in fourth place in the National League with a record of 76–56, 17 games behind the Boston Beaneaters.

Offseason

The Cincinnati Reds were coming off a fairly successful season in 1896. They had been in first place late in the year, but the team struggled badly over the last part of the season. to finish in third place in the National League with a 77–50 record. This marked the second consecutive season that the Reds collapsed at the end of the year.

Player-manager Buck Ewing returned to the club, but would retire from playing and focus on just being the manager. The Reds made a deal in the off-season, as Cincinnati traded away Germany Smith, Chauncey Fisher and $1,000 to the Brooklyn Bridegrooms for Tommy Corcoran. Corcoran was coming off a season in which he hit .289 with three home runs and 73 RBI with the Bridegrooms in 1896. The team also purchased pitcher Ted Breitenstein from the St. Louis Browns for $10,000. Breitenstein was 18–26 with the Browns with a 4.48 ERA in 43 starts in 1896. His best season had been in 1894 when he was 27–23 with a 4.79 ERA, while leading the National League with 50 starts, 46 complete games and 447.1 innings pitched. Breitenstein also led the NL with a 3.18 ERA in 1893 while in St. Louis.

Regular season

Season summary

The Reds started the season off hot, winning their first six games, and would remain hot, as they were 19–7 in their first twenty-six games, only half a game behind the first place Baltimore Orioles. At that time, the New York Giants released Jake Beckley, and the Reds immediately signed him to take over first base. Despite their new addition, Cincinnati fell into a slump, winning only eight of eighteen games to fall into third place, 6.5 games behind the first place Orioles. The Reds then snapped out of their losing ways, as they won twelve of their next thirteen games to move back into second. However, they still remained 4.5 games out of first with a 39–18 record. Cincinnati remained in the pennant race until late August, when they went on a ten-game losing streak to fall into fourth place, eleven games out of first. They remained in fourth place for the rest of the season, finishing with a 76–56 record, 17 games behind the Boston Beaneaters.

Notable performances

Beckley, who the Reds acquired during the season, led the team offensively, batting .345 with seven home runs and 76 RBI, all team highs. Dusty Miller had another solid year, batting .316 with four homers and 70 RBI, while Tommy Corcoran batted .288 with three home runs and 57 RBI in his first year as a Red.

On the mound, Ted Breitenstein led the way, leading the team with a 23–12 record with a 3.62 ERA in 40 games, completing 32 of them. Billy Rhines was solid also, posting a record of 21–15 with a 4.08 ERA, while Frank Dwyer was 18–13 with an ERA of 3.78.

Game log

|- style="background:#bfb;" | 1 || April 22 || Colts || 8–7 || League Park || 10,000 || 1-0 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 || April 23 || Colts || 4–3 || League Park || 3,000 || 2-0 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 3 || April 24 || Colts || 4–3 || League Park || 5,000 || 3-0 || W3|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || April 25 || Colts || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: April 23|- style="background:#bfb;" | 4 || April 26 || Spiders || 6–3 || League Park || 3,500 || 4-0 || W4|- style="background:#bfb;" | 5 || April 27 || Spiders || 7–3 || League Park || 5,000 || 5-0 || W5|- style="background:#bfb;" | 6 || April 28 || Spiders || 5–0 || League Park || 3,000 || 6-0 || W6|- style="background:#fbb;" | 7 || April 29 || Pirates || 7–8 || League Park || 400 || 6-1 || L1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || April 30 || Pirates || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 4|- |- style="background:#bbb;" | - || May 1 || Pirates || colspan=8| Postponed (wet grounds); Makeup: August 9|- style="background:#fbb;" | 8 || May 3 || @ Spiders || 2–6 || League Park || 4,500 || 6-2 || L2|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || May 4 || @ Spiders || colspan=8| Postponed (rain, site change); Makeup: August 5|- style="background:#bfb;" | 9 || May 5 || @ Spiders || 3–2 || League Park || 2,000 || 7-2 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 10 || May 6 || @ Pirates || 1–3 || Exposition Park || 3,100 || 7-3 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 11 || May 7 || @ Pirates || 6–7 || Exposition Park || 3,000 || 7-4 || L2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 12 || May 8 || @ Pirates || 1–9 || Exposition Park || 8,400 || 7-5 || L3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 13 || May 9 || @ Colts || 2–5 || West Side Park || 16,700 || 7-6 || L4|- style="background:#bfb;" | 14 || May 10 || @ Colts || 7–5 || West Side Park || 3,100 || 8-6 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 15 || May 11 || @ Colts || 6–5 || West Side Park || 1,200 || 9-6 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 16 || May 12 || @ Colts || 1–8 || West Side Park || 1,600 || 9-7 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 17 || May 13 || Giants || 7–3 || League Park || 3,000 || 10-7 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 18 || May 14 || Giants || 6–5 || League Park || 4,000 || 11-7 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 19 || May 15 || Giants || 9–7 || League Park || 4,000 || 12-7 || W3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 20 || May 16 || Colonels || 7–6 || League Park || 15,000 || 13-7 || W4|- style="background:#bfb;" | 21 || May 17 || Phillies || 3–2 || League Park || 4,000 || 14-7 || W5|- style="background:#bfb;" | 22 || May 18 || Phillies || 13–2 || League Park || 3,000 || 15-7 || W6|- style="background:#bfb;" | 23 || May 19 || Phillies || 7–6 || League Park || 3,000 || 16-7 || W7|- style="background:#bfb;" | 24 || May 20 || Orioles || 11–10 || League Park || 7,000 || 17-7 || W8|- style="background:#bfb;" | 25 || May 21 || Orioles || 6–5 || League Park || 8,000 || 18-7 || W9|- style="background:#bfb;" | 26 || May 22 || Orioles || 12–10 || League Park || 15,000 || 19-7 || W10|- style="background:#fbb;" | 27 || May 23 || Bridegrooms || 4–6 || League Park || 7,000 || 19-8 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 28 || May 24 || Bridegrooms || 4–6 || League Park || 3,000 || 19-9 || L2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 29 || May 25 || Bridegrooms || 2–6 || League Park || 4,000 || 19-10 || L3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 30 || May 27 || Beaneaters || 7–16 || League Park || 3,000 || 19-11 || L4'|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || May 28 || Beaneaters || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 20|- style="background:#bfb;" | 31 || May 29 || Beaneaters || 2–1 || League Park || 5,000 || 20-11 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 32 || May 30 || Senators || 8–7 || League Park || 7,000 || 21-11 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 33 || May 31 || Senators || 4–3 || League Park || 2,000 || 22-11 || W3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 34 || May 31 || Senators || 4–3 || League Park || 9,000 || 23-11 || W4|- |- style="background:#fbb;" | 35 || June 2 || @ Orioles || 4–10 || Union Park || 5,965 || 23-12 || L1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || June 3 || @ Orioles || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 30|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || June 4 || @ Orioles || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 27|- style="background:#bfb;" | 36 || June 5 || @ Phillies || 6–1 || National League Park || 12,488 || 24-12 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 37 || June 7 || @ Phillies || 0–4 || National League Park || 3,449 || 24-13 || L1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || June 8 || @ Phillies || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 20|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || June 9 || @ Giants || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 31|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || June 10 || @ Giants || colspan=8| Postponed (wet grounds); Makeup: September 3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 38 || June 11 || @ Giants || 2–1 || Polo Grounds || 6,500 || 25-13 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 39 || June 12 || @ Beaneaters || 1–5 || South End Grounds || 8,500 || 25-14 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 40 || June 14 || @ Beaneaters || 3–5 || South End Grounds || 3,325 || 25-15 || L2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 41 || June 15 || @ Beaneaters || 4–10 || South End Grounds || 2,600 || 25-16 || L3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 42 || June 16 || @ Bridegrooms || 15–6 || Eastern Park || 2,714 || 26-16 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 43 || June 17 || @ Bridegrooms || 9–1 || Eastern Park || 2,524 || 27-16 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 44 || June 19 || @ Bridegrooms || 0–1 || Eastern Park || 5,454 || 27-17 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 45 || June 21 || Browns || 8–3 || League Park || 2,500 || 28-17 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 46 || June 22 || Browns || 7–3 || League Park || 4,000 || 29-17 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 47 || June 23 || Browns || 5–1 || League Park || 2,500 || 30-17 || W3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 48 || June 26 || Colonels || 7–1 || League Park || 6,000 || 31-17 || W4|- style="background:#bfb;" | 49 || June 27 || Colonels || 4–2 || League Park || 8,000 || 32-17 || W5|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || June 28 || @ Browns || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 25|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || June 29 || @ Browns || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 26|- style="background:#bfb;" | 50 || June 30 || @ Browns || 3–0 || New Sportsman's Park || 2,500 || 33-17 || W6|- |- style="background:#bfb;" | 51 || July 1 || @ Colonels || 14–4 || Eclipse Park || 1,300 || 34-17 || W7|- style="background:#fbb;" | 52 || July 2 || @ Colonels || 1–4 || Eclipse Park || 1,000 || 34-18 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 53 || July 3 || @ Colonels || 12–0 || Eclipse Park || 2,000 || 35-18 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 54 || July 4 || Orioles || 5–4 || League Park || 10,000 || 36-18 || W2|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || July 5 || Orioles || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 6|- style="background:#bfb;" | 55 || July 5 || Orioles || 8–5 || League Park || 11,000 || 37-18 || W3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 56 || July 6 || Orioles || 10–3 || League Park || 4,000 || 38-18 || W4|- style="background:#bfb;" | 57 || July 8 || Phillies || 6–3 || League Park || 4,000 || 39-18 || W5|- style="background:#fbb;" | 58 || July 9 || Phillies || 7–19 || League Park || 2,300 || 39-19 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 59 || July 10 || Phillies || 6–3 || League Park || 4,000 || 40-19 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 60 || July 11 || Colonels || 9–4 || League Park || 4,200 || 41-19 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 61 || July 12 || Giants || 5–8 || League Park || 3,500 || 41-20 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 62 || July 13 || Giants || 5–4 || League Park || 4,500 || 42-20 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 63 || July 14 || Giants || 11–6 || League Park || 3,500 || 43-20 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 64 || July 15 || Senators || 5–16 || League Park || 3,200 || 43-21 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 65 || July 17 || Senators || 14–2 || League Park || 4,200 || 44-21 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 66 || July 18 || Senators || 4–3 || League Park || 8,000 || 45-21 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 67 || July 19 || Beaneaters || 3–9 || League Park || 8,000 || 45-22 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 68 || July 20 || Beaneaters || 3–9 || League Park || N/A || 45-23 || L2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 69 || July 20 || Beaneaters || 12–1 || League Park || 10,200 || 46-23 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 70 || July 21 || Beaneaters || 6–10 || League Park || 6,000 || 46-24 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 71 || July 22 || Bridegrooms || 7–9 || League Park || 3,000 || 46-25 || L2|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || July 24 || Bridegrooms || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 25|- style="background:#bfb;" | 72 || July 25 || Bridegrooms || 7–4 || League Park || N/A || 47-25 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 73 || July 25 || Bridegrooms || 11–4 || League Park || 14,000 || 48-25 || W2|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || July 26 || @ Colts || colspan=8| Postponed (schedule change); Makeup: May 12|- style="background:#fbb;" | 74 || July 27 || @ Colts || 3–4 || West Side Park || 3,800 || 48-26 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 75 || July 28 || @ Colts || 6–3 || West Side Park || 4,200 || 49-26 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 76 || July 30 || Spiders || 8–2 || League Park || 6,000 || 50-26 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 77 || July 31 || Spiders || 3–6 || League Park || 5,500 || 50-27 || L1|- |- style="background:#bfb;" | 78 || August 1 || Spiders || 12–5 || League Park || 8,000 || 51-27 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 79 || August 2 || Pirates || 9–2 || League Park || 3,000 || 52-27 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 80 || August 3 || Pirates || 6–7 || League Park || 2,700 || 52-28 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 81 || August 4 || Pirates || 14–3 || League Park || N/A || 53-28 || W1|- style="background:#bbb;" | 82 || August 4 || Pirates || 3–3 || League Park || 3,500 || 53-28 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 83 || August 5 || Spiders || 5–4 || League Park || 3,000 || 54-28 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 84 || August 7 || Colonels || 5–0 || League Park || 4,000 || 55-28 || W3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 85 || August 8 || Colonels || 2–8 || League Park || 7,000 || 55-29 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 86 || August 9 || Pirates || 5–7 || League Park || N/A || 55-30 || L2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 87 || August 9 || Pirates || 8–1 || League Park || 7,000 || 56-30 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 88 || August 10 || Browns || 8–6 || League Park || 2,000 || 57-30 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 89 || August 11 || Browns || 6–5 || League Park || 2,000 || 58-30 || W3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 90 || August 13 || Colts || 0–2 || League Park || 7,000 || 58-31 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 91 || August 14 || Colts || 9–10 || League Park || 7,000 || 58-32 || L2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 92 || August 15 || Colts || 3–2 || League Park || 8,000 || 59-32 || W1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || August 16 || Colts || colspan=8| Postponed (schedule change); Makeup: August 13|- style="background:#bfb;" | 93 || August 19 || @ Phillies || 4–3 || National League Park || 2,154 || 60-32 || W2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 94 || August 20 || @ Phillies || 2–6 || National League Park || N/A || 60-33 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 95 || August 20 || @ Phillies || 4–3 || National League Park || 4,263 || 61-33 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 96 || August 21 || @ Phillies || 1–8 || National League Park || 4,000 || 61-34 || L1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || August 23 || @ Senators || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 11|- style="background:#bfb;" | 97 || August 24 || @ Senators || 9–6 || Boundary Field || 3,000 || 62-34 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 98 || August 25 || @ Senators || 0–4 || Boundary Field || 1,500 || 62-35 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 99 || August 26 || @ Orioles || 2–3 || Union Park || 3,943 || 62-36 || L2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 100 || August 27 || @ Orioles || 0–5 || Union Park || N/A || 62-37 || L3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 101 || August 27 || @ Orioles || 3–5 || Union Park || 7,039 || 62-38 || L4|- style="background:#fbb;" | 102 || August 28 || @ Orioles || 2–7 || Union Park || 5,607 || 62-39 || L5|- style="background:#fbb;" | 103 || August 30 || @ Orioles || 1–7 || Union Park || 3,205 || 62-40 || L6|- style="background:#fbb;" | 104 || August 31 || @ Giants || 6–7 || Polo Grounds || N/A || 62-41 || L7|- style="background:#fbb;" | 105 || August 31 || @ Giants || 1–9 || Polo Grounds || 11,000 || 62-42 || L8|- |- style="background:#fbb;" | 106 || September 1 || @ Giants || 7–8 || Polo Grounds || 4,100 || 62-43 || L9|- style="background:#bbb;" | 107 || September 2 || @ Giants || 3–3 || Polo Grounds || 3,700 || 62-43 || L9|- style="background:#bfb;" | 108 || September 3 || @ Giants || 11–1 || Polo Grounds || N/A || 63-43 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 109 || September 3 || @ Giants || 3–13 || Polo Grounds || 9,100 || 63-44 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 110 || September 4 || @ Beaneaters || 6–7 || South End Grounds || 6,500 || 63-45 || L2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 111 || September 6 || @ Beaneaters || 5–3 || South End Grounds || 6,500 || 64-45 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 112 || September 6 || @ Beaneaters || 2–10 || South End Grounds || 12,000 || 64-46 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 113 || September 8 || @ Bridegrooms || 4–2 || Eastern Park || 1,120 || 65-46 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 114 || September 9 || @ Bridegrooms || 1–7 || Eastern Park || 1,728 || 65-47 || L1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 115 || September 10 || @ Bridegrooms || 4–11 || Eastern Park || 1,521 || 65-48 || L2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 116 || September 11 || @ Senators || 19–10 || Boundary Field || N/A || 66-48 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 117 || September 11 || @ Senators || 4–8 || Boundary Field || 3,000 || 66-49 || L1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 118 || September 13 || @ Senators || 2–1 || Boundary Field || 3,000 || 67-49 || W1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 119 || September 14 || @ Senators || 9–10 || Boundary Field || 4,000 || 67-50 || L1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || September 16 || @ Spiders || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 18|- style="background:#fbb;" | 120 || September 17 || @ Spiders || 3–14 || League Park || 700 || 67-51 || L2|- style="background:#fbb;" | 121 || September 18 || @ Spiders || 0–6 || League Park || N/A || 67-52 || L3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 122 || September 18 || @ Spiders || 3–4 || League Park || 2,500 || 67-53 || L4|- style="background:#bfb;" | 123 || September 19 || Browns || 5–4 || League Park || 2,000 || 68-53 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 124 || September 21 || @ Pirates || 11–3 || Exposition Park || 1,500 || 69-53 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 125 || September 22 || @ Pirates || 13–2 || Exposition Park || N/A || 70-53 || W3|- style="background:#fbb;" | 126 || September 22 || @ Pirates || 4–8 || Exposition Park || 1,800 || 70-54 || L1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || September 23 || @ Pirates || colspan=8| Postponed (schedule change); Makeup: September 22|- style="background:#bfb;" | 127 || September 25 || @ Browns || 7–5 || New Sportsman's Park || N/A || 71-54 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 128 || September 25 || @ Browns || 8–7 || New Sportsman's Park || 3,000 || 72-54 || W2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 129 || September 26 || @ Browns || 10–4 || New Sportsman's Park || N/A || 73-54 || W3|- style="background:#bfb;" | 130 || September 26 || @ Browns || 8–6 || New Sportsman's Park || N/A || 74-54 || W4|- style="background:#fbb;" | 131 || September 27 || @ Browns || 4–5 || New Sportsman's Park || 500 || 74-55 || L1|- style="background:#bbb;" | - || September 30 || @ Colonels || colspan=8| Postponed (unknown reason); Makeup: October 1|- style="background:#fbb;" | 132 || October 1 || @ Colonels || 3–5 || Eclipse Park || 2,500 || 74-56 || L2|- style="background:#bfb;" | 133 || October 2 || @ Colonels || 9–8 || Eclipse Park || 1,500 || 75-56 || W1|- style="background:#bfb;" | 134 || October 3 || @ Colonels || 9–7 || Eclipse Park || 5,500 || 76-56 || W2|-

Roster

1897 Cincinnati Reds
Roster
PitchersCatchersInfieldersOutfieldersManager

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

PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
C 77 266 78 .293 1 44
1B 97 365 126 .345 7 76
2B 81 282 85 .301 1 39
SS 101 337 95 .282 0 41
3B 134 505 146 .289 0 74
OF 95 387 103 .266 1 41
OF 119 440 139 .316 4 70
OF 128 497 145 .292 2 42

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
109 445 128 .288 3 57
54 199 58 .291 0 30
61 195 61 .313 2 20
61 178 54 .303 1 30
1 1 0 .000 0 0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
40 320.1 23 12 3.62 98
41 288.2 21 15 4.08 65
37 247.1 18 13 3.78 41
16 95.0 6 4 4.74 21

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
34 184.1 8 10 4.78 43
2 13.0 0 1 4.15 2
2 8.0 0 1 7.88 0

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Reds owners . . 20 . November 3, 2005 . September 14, 2020 . newspapers.com.