1892 Cincinnati Reds season
Encyclopedia
The 1892 Cincinnati Reds
season was a season in American baseball
. The National League
expanded to 12 teams in 1892, and it was announced that the season would be split into two halves, with the winner of each half meeting each other in a "World's Championship Series". The team finished with a combined record of 82-68, fifth-best in the National League
, finishing in fourth place in the first half and in eighth place in the second half.
in which the Reds finished in a virtual tie for last place with a 56-81 record, the team fired manager Tom Loftus
and replaced him with first baseman
Charles Comiskey
. Comiskey had previously been the player-manager of the St. Louis Browns
of the American Association
from 1883–89, leading the team to four straight pennant
s from 1885-88. He then was a player-manager with the Chicago Pirates
of the Players' League in 1890, leading them to a fourth place finish, followed by a return to the Browns in 1891, where he led them to a second place finish with a record of 86-52.
The Reds acquired outfielder Tip O'Neill during the off-season, as he spent the 1891 season with Comiskey with the Browns, hitting .323 with ten homers and 95 RBI for the club. O'Neill's best season was in 1887 with the Browns, when he hit .435, with 225 hits, 167 runs, 52 doubles, nineteen triples, fourteen home runs and 123 RBI, all which led the American Association. Catcher Morgan Murphy was picked by from the Boston Reds of the AA. Murphy hit .216 with four homers and 54 RBI in 106 games. Another catcher, Farmer Vaughn
, was signed after he split the 1891 season between the Cincinnati Kelly's Killers and Milwaukee Brewers
of the AA. Vaughn hit .285 with a homer and 23 RBI between the two clubs. Pitcher Ice Box Chamberlain also signed with the Reds after posting a 22-23 record with a 4.22 with the Philadelphia Athletics of the AA.
Bug Holliday
once again was the Reds offensive leader, hitting .294 with a team high thirteen home runs and 91 RBI. Bid McPhee
hit .274 with four homers and 60 RBI and 44 stolen bases, while Germany Smith
hit .243 with eight homers and 63 RBI. On the mound, Tony Mullane
led the staff with a 21-13 record and a 2.59 ERA, while Chamberlain had a 19-23 record with a 3.39 ERA in a team high 49 starts.
. In the second half, the Reds were mediocre, as they finished in eighth place with a 38-37 record, 14½ games behind the Cleveland Spiders
. They finished the season with a combined record of 82-68, which marked a big improvement over the previous year.
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
season was a season in American baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. The National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
expanded to 12 teams in 1892, and it was announced that the season would be split into two halves, with the winner of each half meeting each other in a "World's Championship Series". The team finished with a combined record of 82-68, fifth-best in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, finishing in fourth place in the first half and in eighth place in the second half.
Regular season
After a horrible 1891 season1891 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. The team finished in a tie for last place in the National League with the Pittsburgh Pirates with a record of 56-81, 30.5 games behind the Boston Beaneaters.- Regular season :...
in which the Reds finished in a virtual tie for last place with a 56-81 record, the team fired manager Tom Loftus
Tom Loftus
Thomas Joseph Loftus is a former manager in the American Association, the National League, and the American League. His playing career began in 1877 with the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the National League, but he only played in nine career games in 1877 and 1883 as an outfielder...
and replaced him with first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Charles Comiskey
Charles Comiskey
Charles Albert "The Old Roman" Comiskey was a Major League Baseball player, manager and team owner. He was a key person in the formation of the American League and later owned the Chicago White Sox...
. Comiskey had previously been the player-manager of the St. Louis Browns
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
of the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
from 1883–89, leading the team to four straight pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
s from 1885-88. He then was a player-manager with the Chicago Pirates
Chicago Pirates
The Chicago Pirates were a baseball team in the Players' League for a single season in 1890. The team played their home games at South Side Park . Their powerful National League rivals were the Chicago White Stockings. The Pirates recruited most of the White Stocking's players, and for this reason...
of the Players' League in 1890, leading them to a fourth place finish, followed by a return to the Browns in 1891, where he led them to a second place finish with a record of 86-52.
The Reds acquired outfielder Tip O'Neill during the off-season, as he spent the 1891 season with Comiskey with the Browns, hitting .323 with ten homers and 95 RBI for the club. O'Neill's best season was in 1887 with the Browns, when he hit .435, with 225 hits, 167 runs, 52 doubles, nineteen triples, fourteen home runs and 123 RBI, all which led the American Association. Catcher Morgan Murphy was picked by from the Boston Reds of the AA. Murphy hit .216 with four homers and 54 RBI in 106 games. Another catcher, Farmer Vaughn
Farmer Vaughn
Harry Francis Vaughn born in Ruraldale, Ohio was a catcher and utility player for the Cincinnati Red Stockings/Cincinnati Reds , Louisville Colonels , New York Giants , Cincinnati Kelly's Killers and Milwaukee Brewers .In 13 seasons he played in 915 Games and had 3,454 At Bats, 474 Runs, 946...
, was signed after he split the 1891 season between the Cincinnati Kelly's Killers and Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers (AA)
The 1891 Milwaukee Brewers were an American professional baseball team and a member of the minor league Western Association and Western League and the major league American Association. They were managed by Charlie Cushman and finished their major league stint with a record of 21-15...
of the AA. Vaughn hit .285 with a homer and 23 RBI between the two clubs. Pitcher Ice Box Chamberlain also signed with the Reds after posting a 22-23 record with a 4.22 with the Philadelphia Athletics of the AA.
Bug Holliday
Bug Holliday
James Wear "Bug" Holliday was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball for ten seasons, from through , plus the 1885 World Series. He holds the distinction of being the first player to make his major league debut in post-season play, with the Chicago White Stockings in 1885...
once again was the Reds offensive leader, hitting .294 with a team high thirteen home runs and 91 RBI. Bid McPhee
Bid McPhee
John Alexander "Bid" McPhee was a 19th century Major League Baseball second baseman. He played 18 seasons in the majors, from until , all for the Cincinnati Reds franchise. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in...
hit .274 with four homers and 60 RBI and 44 stolen bases, while Germany Smith
Germany Smith
George J. "Germany" Smith was an American Major League Baseball player from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He played primarily shortstop for five different teams spanning 15 seasons. He made his major league debut for Altoona Mountain City of the Union Association in...
hit .243 with eight homers and 63 RBI. On the mound, Tony Mullane
Tony Mullane
Anthony John "Tony" Mullane , nickamed "Count" and "The Apollo of the Box", was an Irish Major League Baseball player who pitched for seven teams during his 13-season career...
led the staff with a 21-13 record and a 2.59 ERA, while Chamberlain had a 19-23 record with a 3.39 ERA in a team high 49 starts.
Season summary
In the first half of the season, the Reds started off strong and found themselves in the middle of the pennant race, sitting with a 26-16 record and in third place in the league, 4.5 games out of first, before they tallied off, finishing in fourth place with a 44-31 record, 8½ games behind the Boston Beaneaters1892 Boston Beaneaters season
The Boston Beaneaters won their second straight and fifth total National League pennant. In the first-ever split season, the Beaneaters finished first in the first half, and three games behind the Cleveland Spiders in the second half...
. In the second half, the Reds were mediocre, as they finished in eighth place with a 38-37 record, 14½ games behind the Cleveland Spiders
1892 Cleveland Spiders season
The Cleveland Spiders, led by star pitcher Cy Young, finished with a 92-56 overall record, second-best in the National League. In the first split season in Major League Baseball history, the Spiders finished in fifth place during the first half of the season, and in first place during the second...
. They finished the season with a combined record of 82-68, which marked a big improvement over the previous year.
Roster
| 1892 Cincinnati Reds | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| valign="top" | Pitchers |
valign="top" | Catchers Infielders |
valign="top" | Outfielders |
valign="top" | Manager |
||||||
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 | 74 | 234 | 46 | .197 | 2 | 24 | |
| 1B | 141 | 551 | 125 | .227 | 3 | 71 | |
| 2B | 144 | 573 | 157 | .274 | 4 | 60 | |
| OF | 152 | 602 | 177 | .294 | 13 | 91 | |
| OF | 109 | 419 | 105 | .251 | 2 | 52 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | 346 | 88 | .254 | 2 | 50 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | 406.1 | 19 | 23 | 3.39 | 169 | |
| 37 | 295 | 21 | 13 | 2.59 | 109 | |
| 34 | 268.1 | 20 | 10 | 2.31 | 47 | |
| 9 | 68 | 2 | 5 | 3.57 | 21 | |
| 4 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 2.88 | 7 | |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11.25 | 0 |