1898 Cincinnati Reds season
Encyclopedia
The Cincinnati Reds
season was a season in American baseball. The team finished in third place in the National League
with a record of 92-60, 11.5 games behind the Boston Beaneaters
.
The club retained manager Buck Ewing
for a fourth season, and made a few player changes in the off-season. Cincinnati was involved in a seven player trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates
, as the Reds sent Bill Gray
, Jack McCarthy
, Billy Rhines
, Pop Schriver
and Ace Stewart
to the Pirates for Pink Hawley
, Mike Smith and $1,500. Hawley had a record of 18-18 with Pittsburgh in , posting an ERA of 4.80. His best season was in 1895 with the Pirates, as he was 31-22 with a 3.18 ERA in a National League
high 56 games pitched. Smith batted .310 with six home runs and 54 RBI with the Pirates in 1897. He also previously played for the Reds when they were members of the American Association
, as he saw limited playing time in Cincinnati from 1886-1889. The Reds also acquired Algie McBride
, who spent the 1897 season with the St. Paul Saints
of the Western League, hitting .381 there. McBride had previous major league experience, appearing in nine games with the Chicago Colts
in .
Jake Beckley
led the offense, as he hit a solid .294 with a team high four home runs, while earning 72 RBI. Tommy Corcoran
led the club with 87 RBI, while Mike Smith hit a team best .342, as well as hitting one home run and driving in 66 runners.
On the mound, Hawley was very solid, going 27-11 with a 3.37 ERA in 43 games pitched. Ted Breitenstein
cracked the 20 win plateau, as he was 20-14 with a 3.42 ERA. Frank Dwyer
and Bill Dammann
each went 16-10.
. Cincinnati remained hot, as their record improved to 27-7, and took a four game lead over the Spiders, however, a 7-12 slump in their next nineteen games saw their lead dwindle down to one game over the second place Boston Beaneaters.
The Reds held on to first place, as they got hot once again, and took a five game lead over the Beaneaters with a 65-32 record during the first week of August. The team then fell into a 2-8 slump over their next ten games and found themselves in second place, 3.5 games behind Boston. Cincinnati regained first place, and hung on to it going into the start of September, with a 78-44 record, but a 2-9 mark during their next eleven games saw the Reds fall out of first place for good, as they fell into third, 6.5 games behind the Beaneaters. Cincinnati finished out the season in third place with a 92-60 record, 11.5 games behind Boston.
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. The team finished in third place 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...
with a record of 92-60, 11.5 games behind the Boston Beaneaters
1898 Boston Beaneaters season
The Boston Beaneaters won their second straight National League pennant and their eighth overall. It was also their fifth, and last, of the decade. This team has been cited The Boston Beaneaters won their second straight National League pennant and their eighth overall. It was also their fifth,...
.
Regular season
The Cincinnati Reds came into the 1898 season with high hopes, and hoping not to have a late season collapse, which had happened the previous three seasons.The club retained manager Buck Ewing
Buck Ewing
William "Buck" Ewing was a Major League Baseball player and manager, and is widely regarded as the best catcher of his era and is often argued to be the best player of the 19th century...
for a fourth season, and made a few player changes in the off-season. Cincinnati was involved in a seven player trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, as the Reds sent Bill Gray
Bill Gray (baseball)
William Tolan "Bill" Gray , also spelled Bill Grey, was an American third baseman and utility player in Major League Baseball between 1890 and 1898. He played two seasons each with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds, and was the starter at third base for the Pittsburgh Pirates during...
, Jack McCarthy
Jack McCarthy (baseball)
John Arthur McCarthy , is a former professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1893-1907. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, and Brooklyn Dodgers...
, Billy Rhines
Billy Rhines
William Pearl Rhines was a former professional baseball player. He was a pitcher over parts of 9 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Louisville Colonels and Pittsburgh Pirates. He led the National League in ERA twice while playing for Cincinnati...
, Pop Schriver
Pop Schriver
William Frederick Schriver born in Brooklyn, New York was a baseball catcher for the Brooklyn Grays , Philadelphia Quakers/Philadelphia Phillies , Chicago Colts , New York Giants , Cincinnati Reds , Pittsburgh Pirates and St...
and Ace Stewart
Ace Stewart
Asa "Ace" Stewart was a Major League Baseball player. Stewart played for Chicago Colts in the season. He batted and threw right-handed.Stewart was born and died in Terre Haute, Indiana.-External links:*...
to the Pirates for Pink Hawley
Pink Hawley
Emerson Pink Hawley , was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1892-1901. He played for the St. Louis Browns, Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Milwaukee Brewers...
, Mike Smith and $1,500. Hawley had a record of 18-18 with Pittsburgh in , posting an ERA of 4.80. His best season was in 1895 with the Pirates, as he was 31-22 with a 3.18 ERA in a 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...
high 56 games pitched. Smith batted .310 with six home runs and 54 RBI with the Pirates in 1897. He also previously played for the Reds when they were members 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...
, as he saw limited playing time in Cincinnati from 1886-1889. The Reds also acquired Algie McBride
Algie McBride
Algernon Griggs "Algie" McBride , was an American professional baseball player in the late 19th and early 20th century. Born in Washington, D.C...
, who spent the 1897 season with the St. Paul Saints
St. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints are a professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. The Saints are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the Western League, hitting .381 there. McBride had previous major league experience, appearing in nine games with the Chicago Colts
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in .
Jake Beckley
Jake Beckley
Jacob Peter Beckley , nicknamed "Eagle Eye", was a Major League Baseball player at the turn of the 20th century. He was born in Hannibal, Missouri.-Professional career:...
led the offense, as he hit a solid .294 with a team high four home runs, while earning 72 RBI. Tommy Corcoran
Tommy Corcoran
Thomas William Corcoran was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Burghers , Philadelphia Athletics , Brooklyn Grooms/Brooklyn Bridegrooms , Cincinnati Reds , and New York Giants . The 5'9" native of Connecticut also played second base sometimes, later in his...
led the club with 87 RBI, while Mike Smith hit a team best .342, as well as hitting one home run and driving in 66 runners.
On the mound, Hawley was very solid, going 27-11 with a 3.37 ERA in 43 games pitched. Ted Breitenstein
Ted Breitenstein
Theodore P. "Ted" Breitenstein was an American Major League Baseball player from St. Louis, Missouri who pitched from to for the St. Louis Browns/Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds...
cracked the 20 win plateau, as he was 20-14 with a 3.42 ERA. Frank Dwyer
Frank Dwyer
John Francis Dwyer born in Lee, Massachusetts was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Stockings , Chicago Pirates , Cincinnati Kelly's Killers , Milwaukee Brewers , St...
and Bill Dammann
Bill Dammann
William Henry Dammann was an American left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. A native of Chicago, he played for three seasons in Major League Baseball, all of them with the Cincinnati Reds. His major league debut was in and he last appeared in the Majors in...
each went 16-10.
Season summary
The Reds got off to a great start, as they posted a record of 18-4 in their first twenty-two games, three games ahead of the second place Cleveland Spiders1898 Cleveland Spiders season
The Cleveland Spiders finished with a 81-68 record, good for fifth place in the National League. After the season, the team's owners, Frank and Stanley Robison, additionally purchased the St. Louis Browns from Chris von der Ahe. Claiming disappointment in attendance in Cleveland, they transferred...
. Cincinnati remained hot, as their record improved to 27-7, and took a four game lead over the Spiders, however, a 7-12 slump in their next nineteen games saw their lead dwindle down to one game over the second place Boston Beaneaters.
The Reds held on to first place, as they got hot once again, and took a five game lead over the Beaneaters with a 65-32 record during the first week of August. The team then fell into a 2-8 slump over their next ten games and found themselves in second place, 3.5 games behind Boston. Cincinnati regained first place, and hung on to it going into the start of September, with a 78-44 record, but a 2-9 mark during their next eleven games saw the Reds fall out of first place for good, as they fell into third, 6.5 games behind the Beaneaters. Cincinnati finished out the season in third place with a 92-60 record, 11.5 games behind Boston.
Roster
| 1898 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 120 | 486 | 147 | .302 | 2 | 43 | |
| OF | 152 | 586 | 175 | .299 | 3 | 90 | |
| OF | 123 | 486 | 166 | .342 | 1 | 66 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 109 | 30 | .275 | 0 | 16 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 315.2 | 20 | 14 | 3.42 | 68 | |
| 31 | 240 | 16 | 10 | 3.04 | 29 | |
| 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 3.00 | 2 |
Other 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 224.2 | 16 | 10 | 3.61 | 51 |
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 | 9.00 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18.00 | 0 |