1908 Cincinnati Reds season
Encyclopedia
The 1908 Cincinnati Reds
season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fifth in the National League
with a record of 73-81, 26 games behind the Chicago Cubs
.
. This was the first managerial job of Ganzel's career at the major league level.
, as Rudy Hulswitt
took over the position. Hulswitt had spent the 1907 season with the Columbus Senators
of the American Association
, where he hit .296 with two home run
s, 35 double
s and fourteen triple
s. He had last played in the major leagues
with the Philadelphia Phillies
in 1904, where he hit .244 with a homer and 36 RBI.
The Reds' 1906 shortstop, Hans Lobert
, moved to third base
, while Mike Mowrey
came off the bench. Outfielder
s Dode Paskert
and John Kane
became starting outfielders as Art Kruger
and Fred Odwell
joined the Columbus Senators
in the American Association. Bob Spade
, who was acquired by the Reds late in the 1907 season from the Atlanta Crackers
of the Southern Association
, was given a regular spot in the starting rotation. Spade was 18-12 with the Crackers in 1907 before going 1-2 with a 1.00 ERA in three starts with Cincinnati in September.
Lobert led the way offensively, hitting a team high .293 with four home runs, 63 RBI, 71 runs scored and 167 hits. Ganzel hit .250 with a homer and 53 RBI, while Miller Huggins
hit .239 with no homers and 23 RBI.
Bob Ewing
anchored the pitching staff once again, as he was 17-15 with a 2.21 ERA in 37 games. Spade had a solid season, going 17-12 with a 2.74 ERA, while Andy Coakley
only had a record of 8-18, however, he led the team with a 1.86 ERA before being traded to the Chicago Cubs
late in the season.
. A run of 8-3 in their next eleven games saw Cincinnati close the gap to one game, however, the Reds then lost their next five games to fall into third place, five games behind the Cubs. As the season progressed, the Reds continued to drop in the standings, and eventually fall under the .500 mark. At the end of the season, the Reds had a 73-81 record, 26 games behind the first place Cubs. The 73 wins was the highest total by the Reds since winning 79 games in 1905
.
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 fifth 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 73-81, 26 games behind the Chicago Cubs
1908 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Cubs winning their third consecutive National League pennant, as well as the World Series...
.
Offseason
After two straight seasons in which the Reds lost 87 games, the team replaced manager Ned Hanlon with player-manager John GanzelJohn Ganzel
John Henry Ganzel was an American first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. Ganzel batted and threw right-handed. He played with the Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago Cubs , New York Giants New York Highlanders and the Cincinnati Reds...
. This was the first managerial job of Ganzel's career at the major league level.
Regular season
Cincinnati had a new starting shortstopShortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, as Rudy Hulswitt
Rudy Hulswitt
Rudolph Edward Hulswitt , was a professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Louisville Colonels, and St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...
took over the position. Hulswitt had spent the 1907 season with the Columbus Senators
Columbus Senators
The Columbus Senators Minor league baseball team was born in as a founding member of the Tri-State League. After that, the Senators played in the Western League , Interstate League Western Association and American Association...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
, where he hit .296 with two home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 35 double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
s and fourteen triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
s. He had last played in the major leagues
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in 1904, where he hit .244 with a homer and 36 RBI.
The Reds' 1906 shortstop, Hans Lobert
Hans Lobert
John Bernard "Hans" Lobert was an American infielder, coach, manager and scout in Major League Baseball.Lobert was born in Wilmington, Delaware...
, moved to third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, while Mike Mowrey
Mike Mowrey
Harry Harlan "Mike" Mowrey , is a former professional baseball player who played third base in the Major Leagues from 1905-1917. He would play for the Cincinnati Reds, St...
came off the bench. Outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
s Dode Paskert
Dode Paskert
George Henry "Dode" Paskert , was a professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1907 to 1921. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago Cubs.-External links:...
and John Kane
John Kane (outfielder)
John Francis Kane , was a professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues from 1907-1910. He would play for the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds....
became starting outfielders as Art Kruger
Art Kruger
Arthur Theodore Kruger , was a professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Naps, Boston Braves, and Kansas City Packers.-External links:...
and Fred Odwell
Fred Odwell
Frederick William Odwell was a professional baseball player. He was an outfielder over parts of four seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. In 1905, he led the National League in home runs. He was born in and later died at the age of 75 in Downsville, New York.1904 was Odwells's first season in the...
joined the Columbus Senators
Columbus Senators
The Columbus Senators Minor league baseball team was born in as a founding member of the Tri-State League. After that, the Senators played in the Western League , Interstate League Western Association and American Association...
in the American Association. Bob Spade
Bob Spade
Robert Spade was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played four seasons in the major leagues, from until , for the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Browns.When Spade died in 1924 he was penniless, and fans raised the money to pay for his burial.-Sources:...
, who was acquired by the Reds late in the 1907 season from the Atlanta Crackers
Atlanta Crackers
The Atlanta Crackers were minor league baseball teams based in Atlanta, Georgia, between 1901 and 1965. The Crackers were Atlanta's home team until the Atlanta Braves moved from Milwaukee in 1966....
of the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
, was given a regular spot in the starting rotation. Spade was 18-12 with the Crackers in 1907 before going 1-2 with a 1.00 ERA in three starts with Cincinnati in September.
Lobert led the way offensively, hitting a team high .293 with four home runs, 63 RBI, 71 runs scored and 167 hits. Ganzel hit .250 with a homer and 53 RBI, while Miller Huggins
Miller Huggins
Miller James Huggins , nicknamed "Mighty Mite", was a baseball player and manager. He managed the powerhouse New York Yankee teams of the 1920s and won six American League pennants and three World Series championships....
hit .239 with no homers and 23 RBI.
Bob Ewing
Bob Ewing
George Lemuel "Bob" Ewing , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played in the majors from 1902-1912 for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, and St. Louis Cardinals....
anchored the pitching staff once again, as he was 17-15 with a 2.21 ERA in 37 games. Spade had a solid season, going 17-12 with a 2.74 ERA, while Andy Coakley
Andy Coakley
Andrew James "Andy" Coakley was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics , Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs and New York Highlanders .-Biography:...
only had a record of 8-18, however, he led the team with a 1.86 ERA before being traded to the Chicago Cubs
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...
late in the season.
Season summary
The Reds got off to a better start in 1908, and saw themselves in second place with a 18-14 record after thirty-two games, two games behind the Chicago Cubs1908 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Cubs winning their third consecutive National League pennant, as well as the World Series...
. A run of 8-3 in their next eleven games saw Cincinnati close the gap to one game, however, the Reds then lost their next five games to fall into third place, five games behind the Cubs. As the season progressed, the Reds continued to drop in the standings, and eventually fall under the .500 mark. At the end of the season, the Reds had a 73-81 record, 26 games behind the first place Cubs. The 73 wins was the highest total by the Reds since winning 79 games in 1905
1905 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fifth in the National League with a record of 79 wins and 74 losses, 26 games behind the New York Giants.- Regular season :...
.
Notable transactions
- July 8, 1908: Bob SpadeBob SpadeRobert Spade was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played four seasons in the major leagues, from until , for the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Browns.When Spade died in 1924 he was penniless, and fans raised the money to pay for his burial.-Sources:...
was claimed off waivers from the Reds by the New York GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. - July 10, 1908: Jake WeimerJake WeimerJacob Weimer, nicknamed "Tornado Jake" , was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs , Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants . Weimer batted right-handed and threw left-handed...
and Dave BrainDave BrainDavid Leonard "Dave" Brain was an infielder/outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago White Sox , St. Louis Cardinals , Pittsburgh Pirates , Boston Beaneaters & Doves , Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants . Brain batted and threw right-handed...
were traded by the Reds to the New York Giants for Bob Spade and $5,000.
Roster
| 1908 Cincinnati Reds | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| valign="top" | Pitchers |
valign="top" | Catchers Infielders |
valign="top" | Outfielders Other positions |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 112 | 388 | 97 | .250 | 1 | 53 | |
| 3B | 155 | 570 | 167 | .293 | 4 | 63 | |
| SS | 119 | 386 | 88 | .228 | 1 | 28 | |
| OF | 130 | 455 | 97 | .213 | 3 | 23 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77 | 227 | 50 | .220 | 0 | 23 | |
| 18 | 68 | 14 | .206 | 0 | 5 | |
| 16 | 55 | 6 | .109 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 293.2 | 17 | 15 | 2.21 | 95 | |
| 32 | 242.1 | 8 | 18 | 1.86 | 61 | |
| 35 | 249.1 | 17 | 12 | 2.74 | 74 | |
| 35 | 221.1 | 12 | 13 | 2.60 | 73 | |
| 15 | 116.2 | 8 | 7 | 2.39 | 36 | |
| 8 | 49.1 | 3 | 3 | 1.82 | 24 | |
| 1 | 3.2 | 0 | 1 | 9.82 | 3 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 85.1 | 5 | 6 | 2.74 | 32 | |
| 7 | 44.1 | 1 | 3 | 1.83 | 7 | |
| 7 | 22.2 | 1 | 2 | 3.57 | 6 | |
| 3 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 2.40 | 5 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.69 | 5 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 4 |