In 1869, one of the most ancient and successful ball clubs ever played their first major league game. The Red Stockings, as they were called was one of the two new ball clubs from Cincinnati. Throughout 1870s, the Red Stockings dominated the National League. However, in 1880, they joined the rapidly growing American Association. Quickly the Reds began to be the best team in the American Association. In 1882, they had won the pennant by 11 and a half games!

The Reds had pitcher Will White who won a terrific 40 games along with other stars who enjoyed career highs. But after superb finishes in the 1880s, they started to slide, and by 1900 they were no more than your average Colorado Rockies. The Reds had their first cellar finish in 1901.

After many decent seasons, they finally won their first pennant since 1884. In that satisfactory year, the Reds had Slim Sallee and Hod Eller who enjoyed twenty win seasons and 19-7 Dutch Reuther who had a terrific 1.82 ERA. The Reds had just started an outburst that wouldn't wear off until 1930. With their tremendous pitching veterans the Reds wore out the National League. But the dominating Yankees put up a strong fight and clobbered the Reds continuously.

After many great seasons, the Reds began a new era. In 1933, they hired Larry MacPhail who introduced stars to the Cincinnati Reds who they would soon play for. After a third place finish in 1936, the Reds were led by pitcher Johnny Vander Meer who threw two consecutive no-hitters. That was the first year in which the Reds won back to back pennants. In 1939 stars Bucky Walters and Paul Derringer reached career peaks. Walters was 27-11 and Derringer was 25-7.

After that a long lasting drought began. Finally in the seventies the Reds won three World Series titles. The mighty Reds were helped by Pete Rose and Johnny Bench, not to mention Ceasar Gerronimo and Tony Perez. After a fiery decade the Reds went into a slump that still stands. But now with Ken Griffey, Jr. on the team the Reds could soon fly sky high.