1978 Cincinnati Reds season
Encyclopedia
The 1978 Cincinnati Reds
season was a season in American baseball. The Reds finished in second place in the National League West
with a record of 92-69, 2½ games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers
. The Reds were managed by Sparky Anderson
and played their home games at Riverfront Stadium
. Following the season, Anderson was replaced as manager by John McNamara
, and Pete Rose
left to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies
for the 1979 season.
record with a 44-game hitting streak
held by Willie Keeler
. The streak began on June 14, and came to an end on August 1.
, with a single off Expos
pitcher Steve Rogers. On June 14 in Cincinnati, Rose singled in the first inning off Cubs pitcher Dave Roberts
; Rose would proceed to get a hit in every game he played until August 1, making a run at Joe DiMaggio
’s record 56-game hitting streak, which had stood virtually unchallenged for 37 years. The streak started quietly, but by the time it had reached 30 games, the media took notice and a pool of reporters accompanied Rose and the Reds to every game. On July 19 against the Phillies
, Rose was hitless going into the ninth with his team trailing. He ended up walking and the streak appeared over. But the Reds managed to bat through their entire lineup, giving Rose another chance. Facing Ron Reed
, Rose laid down a perfect bunt single to extend the streak to 32 games.
He eventually tied Willie Keeler
's single season National League record at 44 games; but on August 1, the streak came to an end as Gene Garber
of the Braves
struck out Rose in the ninth inning. The competitive Rose was sour after the game, blasting Garber and the Braves for treating the situation "like it was the ninth inning of the 7th game of the World Series
" and adding that "Phil Niekro
would have given me a fastball to hit."
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 Reds finished in second place in the National League West
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
with a record of 92-69, 2½ games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers
1978 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1978 season ended with the Los Angeles Dodgers winning their second straight National League pennant and losing to the New York Yankees in the World Series again...
. The Reds were managed by Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
and played their home games at Riverfront Stadium
Cinergy Field
Riverfront Stadium , later known as Cinergy Field , was the home of the Cincinnati Reds National League baseball team and the Cincinnati Bengals National Football League team. Located on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, the stadium was best known as the home of "The Big Red Machine," as the...
. Following the season, Anderson was replaced as manager by John McNamara
John McNamara (baseball)
John Francis McNamara is a former manager and coach in Major League Baseball. He managed six major league teams, directing the 1986 Boston Red Sox to the American League pennant, only to experience an excruciating defeat in that season's World Series at the hands of the New York Mets.-Playing,...
, and Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
left to sign 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...
for the 1979 season.
Offseason
- October 31, 1977: Woodie FrymanWoodie FrymanWoodrow Thompson Fryman was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A two-time National League All-Star, he is best remembered as the mid-season acquisition that helped lead the Detroit Tigers to the 1972 American League Championship Series.-Pittsburgh Pirates:Fryman was 25 years old when he signed with...
and Bill CaudillBill CaudillWilliam Holland Caudill is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. One of the wackier players to play the game, Caudill was also one of baseball's top closers from to . Caudill is perhaps most notable for being agent Scott Boras' first client.-Early years:Caudill was drafted by the St...
were traded by the Reds to the Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe 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...
for Bill BonhamBill BonhamWilliam Gordon Bonham was a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds...
. - October 31, 1977: Joe HendersonJoe Henderson (baseball)Joseph Lee Henderson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played parts of three seasons in the major leagues between and , including four games for the 1976 World Series champion Cincinnati Reds, although he did not pitch for them in the postseason. Joe is the uncle of former MLB...
was purchased from the Reds by the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. - February 25, 1978: Dave ReveringDave ReveringDavid Alvin Revering , is a former Major League Baseball first baseman from 1978-1982. Revering graduated from Bella Vista High School...
and cash were traded by the Reds to the Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Doug BairDoug BairCharles Douglas Bair is a right-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or part of fifteen seasons in the majors, from until , for seven different teams...
.
Regular season
During the season, Pete Rose tied the National LeagueNational 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...
record with a 44-game hitting streak
Hitting streak
In baseball, a hitting streak refers to the number of consecutive official games in which a player gets at least one base hit.According to the Official Baseball Rules, such a streak is ended when a player has at least 1 plate appearance and no hits...
held by Willie Keeler
Willie Keeler
William Henry Keeler in Brooklyn, New York, nicknamed "Wee Willie", was a right fielder in professional baseball who played from 1892 to 1910, primarily for the Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn Superbas in the National League, and the New York Highlanders in the American League.- Biography :Keeler's...
. The streak began on June 14, and came to an end on August 1.
Notable transactions
- June 6, 1978: 1978 Major League Baseball Draft1978 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :In 1978, four players made the jump from amateur baseball to the major leagues, including Arizona State third baseman Bob Horner, who was selected number one overall by the Atlanta...
- Skeeter BarnesSkeeter BarnesWilliam Henry "Skeeter" Barnes is a retired Major League Baseball utility player for the Cincinnati Reds , Montreal Expos , St...
was drafted by the Reds in the 16th round. Player signed June 8, 1978. - Otis NixonOtis NixonOtis Junior Nixon, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. He was a center fielder and switch-hitter who played from 1983 to 1999...
was drafted by the Reds in the 21st round, but did not sign.
- Skeeter Barnes
Pete Rose hitting streak
On May 5, 1978, Rose became the 13th and youngest player in major league history to collect his 3,000th career hit3000 hit club
In Major League Baseball , the 3,000 hit club is a term applied to the group of batters who have collected 3,000 or more regular-season hits in their careers. Cap Anson was the first to join the club on July 18, 1897, although his precise career hit total is unclear. Two players—Nap Lajoie and...
, with a single off Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
pitcher Steve Rogers. On June 14 in Cincinnati, Rose singled in the first inning off Cubs pitcher Dave Roberts
Dave Roberts (pitcher)
David Arthur Roberts was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for eight teams from 1969 to 1981. He was second in the National League with a 2.10 earned run average in for the San Diego Padres, after which he was traded to the Houston Astros, where he spent the...
; Rose would proceed to get a hit in every game he played until August 1, making a run at Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
’s record 56-game hitting streak, which had stood virtually unchallenged for 37 years. The streak started quietly, but by the time it had reached 30 games, the media took notice and a pool of reporters accompanied Rose and the Reds to every game. On July 19 against the Phillies
1978 Philadelphia Phillies season
The 1978 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 96th season in the history of the franchise. The Phillies won their third straight National League East title with a record of 90-72, a game and a half over the Pittsburgh Pirates, as the Phillies defeated the Pirates in Pittsburgh on the next to last...
, Rose was hitless going into the ninth with his team trailing. He ended up walking and the streak appeared over. But the Reds managed to bat through their entire lineup, giving Rose another chance. Facing Ron Reed
Ron Reed
Ronald Lee Reed is a retired American starting/relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Atlanta Braves , St. Louis Cardinals , Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox...
, Rose laid down a perfect bunt single to extend the streak to 32 games.
He eventually tied Willie Keeler
Willie Keeler
William Henry Keeler in Brooklyn, New York, nicknamed "Wee Willie", was a right fielder in professional baseball who played from 1892 to 1910, primarily for the Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn Superbas in the National League, and the New York Highlanders in the American League.- Biography :Keeler's...
's single season National League record at 44 games; but on August 1, the streak came to an end as Gene Garber
Gene Garber
Henry Eugene Garber is a former sidearm relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 20th round of the amateur draft, and pitched for the Pirates, the Kansas City Royals, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Atlanta Braves.Upon his retirement in , his...
of the Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
struck out Rose in the ninth inning. The competitive Rose was sour after the game, blasting Garber and the Braves for treating the situation "like it was the ninth inning of the 7th game of the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
" and adding that "Phil Niekro
Phil Niekro
Philip Henry Niekro , nicknamed "Knucksie" because of his usage and skill level with the knuckleball, is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997....
would have given me a fastball to hit."
| Game | Date | Pitcher | Team | Singles | Doubles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 06-14-1978 | Dave Roberts | Chicago Cubs | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | 06-16-1978 | John Denny | St. Louis Cardinals | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | 06-17-1978 | Pete Vukovich | St. Louis Cardinals | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | 06-18-1978 | Silvio Martinez | St. Louis Cardinals | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | 06-20-1978 | John Montefusco | San Francisco Giants | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | 06-21-1978 | Ed Halicki | San Francisco Giants | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | 06-22-1978 | Bob Knepper | San Francisco Giants | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | 06-23-1978 | Burt Hooton | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | 06-24-1978 | Bob Welch | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | 06-25-1978 | Tommy John | Los Angeles Dodgers | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | 06-26-1978 | Mark Lemongello | Houston Astros | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | 06-27-1978 | Joe Niekro | Houston Astros | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | 06-28-1978 | Tom Dixon | Houston Astros | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | 06-29-1978 | Floyd Bannister | Houston Astros | 1 | 1 |
| 15 | 06-30-1978 | Lance Rautzhan | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | 06-30-1978 | Bob Welch | Los Angeles Dodgers | 3 | 0 |
| 17 | 07-01-1978 | Rick Rhoden | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1 | 1 |
| 18 | 07-02-1978 | Doug Rau | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1 | 1 |
| 19 | 07-03-1978 | Floyd Bannister | Houston Astros | 3 | 1 |
| 20 | 07-04-1978 | J.R. Richard | Houston Astros | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | 07-05-1978 | Joe Niekro | Houston Astros | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | 07-07-1978 | Vida Blue | San Francisco Giants | 3 | 0 |
| 23 | 07-07-1978 | Jim Barr | San Francisco Giants | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | 07-08-1978 | John Montefusco | San Francisco Giants | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | 07-09-1978 | Ed Halicki | San Francisco Giants | 3 | 0 |
| 26 | 07-13-1978 | Jerry Koosman | New York Mets | 2 | 1 |
| 27 | 07-14-1978 | Pat Zachry | New York Mets | 2 | 0 |
| 28 | 07-15-1978 | Craig Swan | New York Mets | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | 07-16-1978 | Paul Siebert | New York Mets | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | 07-17-1978 | Stan Bahnsen | Montreal Expos | 1 | 0 |
| 31 | 07-18-1978 | Hal Dues | Montreal Expos | 2 | 1 |
| 32 | 07-19-1978 | Ron Reed | Philadelphia Phillies | 1 | 0 |
| 33 | 07-20-1978 | Jim Kaat | Philadelphia Phillies | 1 | 0 |
| 34 | 07-21-1978 | Ross Grimsley | Montreal Expos | 1 | 0 |
| 35 | 07-22-1978 | Dan Schatzeder | Montreal Expos | 1 | 0 |
| 36 | 07-22-1978 | Steve Rogers | Montreal Expos | 2 | 1 |
| 37 | 07-24-1978 | Pat Zachry | New York Mets | 1 | 0 |
| 38 | 07-25-1978 | Craig Swan | New York Mets | 3 | 1 |
| 39 | 07-26-1978 | Nino Espinosa | New York Mets | 1 | 1 |
| 40 | 07-28-1978 | Randy Lerch | Philadelphia Phillies | 1 | 1 |
| 41 | 07-28-1978 | Steve Carlton | Philadelphia Phillies | 1 | 0 |
| 42 | 07-29-1978 | Jim Lonborg | Philadelphia Phillies | 3 | 0 |
| 43 | 07-30-1978 | Larry Christenson | Philadelphia Phillies | 2 | 0 |
| 44 | 07-31-1978 | Phil Niekro | Atlanta Braves | 1 | 0 |
Roster
| 1978 Cincinnati Reds | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Player stats
| = Indicates team leader |
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 | 120 | 393 | 102 | .260 | 23 | 73 | |
| 1B | 153 | 524 | 131 | .250 | 16 | 70 | |
| 2B | 132 | 441 | 104 | .236 | 13 | 75 | |
| 3B | 159 | 655 | 198 | .302 | 7 | 52 | |
| SS | 153 | 565 | 170 | .301 | 6 | 67 | |
| LF | 158 | 604 | 170 | .281 | 40 | 120 | |
| CF | 122 | 296 | 67 | .226 | 5 | 27 | |
| RF | 158 | 614 | 177 | .288 | 10 | 63 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 102 | 102 | 22 | .216 | 0 | 7 | |
| 83 | 65 | 13 | .200 | 1 | 4 | |
| 13 | 35 | 9 | .257 | 1 | 3 | |
| 9 | 19 | 4 | .211 | 1 | 2 | |
| 5 | 3 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 259.2 | 16 | 14 | 2.88 | 226 | |
| 23 | 140.1 | 11 | 5 | 3.53 | 83 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 174 | 8 | 11 | 4.14 | 90 | |
| 6 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 9.82 | 9 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 7 | 6 | 28 | 1.97 | 91 | |
| 62 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 4.98 | 35 | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.80 | 2 |