The Cincinnati Reds are a team with an extensive history. Although the modern-day Reds were formed as the Red Stockings in 1882, the club can trace its professional baseball roots back to the late 1860s. Unlike many long-standing teams in Major League Baseball, the Reds franchise hasn’t moved between cities. For more than a century, the team has called Cincinnati home and has enjoyed considerable success.Ballpark / Stadium – Great American Ball Park
The Reds play the home games on their schedule at Great American Ball Park, a modern facility that opened in 2003 and is located on the banks of the Ohio River. The 42,319-capacity park is known for its replica steamboat smokestacks beyond the outfield fence, large video board, tile mosaics in the concourse and numerous states of Reds greats in the pavilion outside the park. Adjacent to the ballpark is the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. Before the construction of Great American Ball Park, the Reds played the bulk of their home game at Riverfront Stadium and Crosley Field.
World Series Championships
Any thoughts about the Reds history must begin with the powerhouse teams of the 1970s, known as the Big Red Machine, that dominated baseball’s news headlines. Managed by Sparky Anderson and led by such stars as Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, Dave Concepcion and Tony Perez, the team won back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. The Reds have three other championships to their name, with titles in 1919, 1940 and 1990. The club has won nine National League Pennants and 10 division titles.
Cincinnati Reds Roster
Given their extensive history, dozens of players who once appeared on the Reds roster now call the Baseball Hall of Fame home. Among these, Sparky Anderson, Johnny Bench, Barry Larkin, Ernie Lombardi, Bill McKechnie, Bid McPhee, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Edd Roush, George Wright and Harry Wright entered Cooperstown wearing the Reds cap. Pete Rose, baseball’s all-time hit king, has been denied entry to the hall because of a lifetime ban from the game for gambling. Other MLB stars to suit up for Cincinnati include Eric Davis, Chris Sabo, Brandon Phillips, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Joey Votto.
Spring Training
The Reds Spring Training facility is Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, AZ. The Reds share this park with the Cleveland Indians and have used the park since 2010. Goodyear Ballpark opened a year earlier to the Indians. The ballpark has an official capacity of 10,311 and the third base side of the park is the Reds “home” side. The Reds Minor League Baseball affiliates are the Triple-A Louisville Bats, Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Advanced-A Bakersfield Blaze, Class-A Dayton Dragons and rookie league Billings Mustangs, Arizona League Reds and Dominican Summer League Reds.