Cincinnati Reds - The Reagan Years (1980-1989)

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1980

101

Decade

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Titles:

Top Reds Players of the Eighties

None

Pitchers:

Ballpark:

Mario Soto (26.93) - 67

Riverfront Stadium

Tom Browning (14.03) - 49

John Franco (12.86) - 42

Team Name:

Frank Pastore (3.85) - 22

Redlegs

Tom Seaver (4.91) - 20

Bruce Berenyi (5.71) - 20

Owners:

Tom Hume (2.36) - 20

Syndicate led by Francis Dale incl. Louis Nippert & William J Williams(80-83)

Ted Power (6.5) - 19

Marge Schott (1984-1989)

Danny Jackson (3.92) - 17

Bill Gullickson (4.74) - 14

General Managers:

Joe Price (8.82) - 12

Dick Wagner (1980-1983)

Jose Rijo (6.65) - 11

Bob Howsam (1983-1984)

Ron Robinson (5.68) - 9

Bill Bergesch (1984-1987)

Jay Tibbs (4.13) - 7

Murray Cook (1987-1989)

Rob Dibble (5.62) - 5

Rob Murphy (5.51) - 3

Managers:

John McNamara (1980-1982)

Catchers:

Russ Nixon (1982-1983)

Johnny Bench (5.58) - 20

Vern Rapp (1984)

Bo Diaz (4.91) - 18

Pete Rose (1984-1989)

Tommy Helms (1989)

First Basemen:

Nick Esasky (4.99) - 31

Hall of Famers:

Dan Driessen (8.21) - 27

Tom Seaver

Johnny Bench

Second Basemen:

Barry Larkin

Ron Oester (11.06) - 30

Pete Rose (Pending)

Dave Parker (Pending)

ShortStop:

Dave Concepcion (10.02) - 46

Rookie of the Year:

Barry Larkin (13.6) - 38

Chris Sabo (1988)

Third Base:

MVP

Chris Sabo (5.25) - 15

None

Ray Knight (3.69) - 10

Buddy Bell (5.16) - 9

No Hitters:

Tom Browning (1988)

Outfield:

Eric Davis (23.09) - 68

Cy Young:

Eddie Milner (11.86) - 53

None

Dave Parker (4.8) - 28

Dave Collins (5.38) - 25

Notable Events:

Kal Daniels (12.46) - 25

Gary Redus (5.08) - 24

1980 - Coming into the Eighties, the Reds are one of baseball's elite teams.

George Foster (7.74) - 22

They won the Division with ninety wins in '79 and averaged a 95-67 mark over

Ken Griffey (7.3) - 22

the previous ten years. Dynasty, actually. There is some cause for concern

Cesar Cedeno (2.37) - 17

amongst Cincinnati fans, however, as the team is getting a little long in the

Paul O'Neill (5.34) - 15

tooth and they've been drafting at the bottom of the pile for a decade:

Notable Events:

The star players are now over thirty:

C- Johnny Bench; SS-Dave Concepcion; OF-George Foster; OF-Ken Griffey;

1984 - Cincinnati brings Pete Rose back as player-manager. He had bolted

OF-Cesar Geronimo; P-Tom Seaver

the Reds for the Phillies five years earlier for the free agent $$. Most times

when a player does that, he's hated by the fans he jilted. Ultimately, as

The other key players in their primes are far from being stars:

much as Reds fans adored their down-home hero, all Pete was ever

1B-Dan Driessen; 2B-Junior Kennedy; 3B-Ray Knight; OF-Dave Collins

really about was the money. Reds fans chose to overlook that fact.

The young guys don't project to be stars (altho one will be a house hold name):

1985 - After three dismal seasons, the Reds turn it around and embark on a

2B-Ron Oester; OF-Harry Spillman; OF-Eddie Milner; OF-Paul Householder

run of six seasons in the next eight over .500 including a world title iin 1990.

P-Frank Pastore; P-Paul Moskau; P-Joe Price; P-Mike Lacoss; P-Tom Hume

Rose's leadership, to his credit, is a big part of Cincinnati's turnaround. When

Pete had gone to the Phillies, he played a big part in their turnaround, as well.

The only two young players on the roser who will be stars are:

Also, GM's Wagner and Howsam have done a good job of replenishing talent.

LHP-Charlie Liebrandt, 23 and RHP-Mario Soto, 23

1985 - Future Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin, 21, is drafted in the first

1980 - Eighteen year old outfielder Eric Davis is selected by the Reds in the

round of the amateur free agent draft by the Reds

eighth round of the amateur free agent draft

1986 - Future ace righthanded reliever Norm Charlton is stolen from

1981 - Outfielder Paul O'Neil, 18, is selected in the fourth round of the amateur

Montreal in exchange for Wayne Krenchicki.

free agent draft.by the Redlegs.

1987 - Reggie Sanders, twenty year old outfielder is selected by the Reds

1982 - Lefthander Tom Browning, 22, is selected in the ninth round of the

in the seventh round of the amateur draft.

amateur free agemt draft by Cincinnati

1988 - Twenty Three year old lefty Jose Rijo is obtained from the A's in a

1982 - The dynasty is over. The Reds go from contender in '81 to forty games

deal for aging outfielder Dave Parker

under .500 in '82 after having been over .500 in eighteen of the previous

twenty one seasons. The core stars have gotten old.

1988 - Pete Rose shoves an umpire and is suspended for a month

1983 - Closer Rob Dibble a nineteen year old righthander is drafted in the first

1988 - The Reds finish second for the fourth season in a row.

round of the amateur free agent draft by the Redlegs

1988 - Tom Browning pitches a perfect game, the only one in

1983 - Chris Sabo, 21, a third baseman, is selected in the second round of the

Reds history, against the Dodgers

amateur free agent draft by Cincinnati

1989 - Pete Rose is banned from baseball on gambling charges.

1983 - Lefthanded closer John Franco is stolen from the Dodgers in exchange

The soap opera goes on to this day. Commissioner Bart Giamatti was

for Rafael Landestoy

absolutely correct in suspending Pete, but the punishment has long since

passed fitting the crime and Pete remains banned from the game when he

1984 - Marge Schott buys the Reds. The change in ownership doesn't have

should have been reinstated long ago. At this stage of the game, the Hall of

a positive impact, but, to be fair to Marge, the previous ownership group set

Fame has turned itself into a sham keeping guys like Pete Rose and Barry

the bar impossibly high

Bonds out while allowing the likes of Bud Selig in.