Cincinnati Reds Culture

Professional baseball was born in Cincinnati in 1869 when the "Red Stockings" took the game by storm on their way to a perfect 57-0 record. Over the years baseball has become the national pastime, and the Reds have established themselves as one of the game's most storied franchises. With championships in 1975 and 1990, the Reds dugouts have been graced with the presence of greatness. The team of 1975, also known as the "Big Red Machine" brought us Pete Rose (the all-time hit king) and Johnny Bench (clubs all-time home run leader). The team of 1990 had an array of talented players but most fans remember one in particular, Barry Larkin. He became the first major league shortstop to join the 30-30 club when he had 33 home runs and 36 stolen bases in 1996. In 2012 the National Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Larkin into their halls. Following his induction, the Reds organization dedicated a whole weekend to him (Aug. 24-26, 2012) with tributes and highlights, concluded by the retirement of Larkin's #11 jersey, and the legend tossing out the first pitch that Sunday.

The ground work of this historic franchise was laid out by the previous generations of players and fans for us to enjoy today.

The Cincinnati Reds are more than just a baseball team. To citizens of the queen city the Reds bring excitement along with an abundance of great memories. The team belongs to the people of Cincinnati in a sense, people buy the tickets, fill the seats and make the noise, but the fan base extends further than the tri-state area. Southern Indiana, most of Kentucky, even parts of West Virginia and Tennessee cheer on the club, this is an extension of what is known to most fans as "Reds Country."