Why the Reds are my Team # 2

[Guest mlbaseballtalk]

- First game at Shea I ever attended was a Red game, yeah yeah I know... Going back to summer of 1985

-Born 2/12/1977 Five months later, the Greatest Met Ever becomes a Red? Coincidence? Or not? =

-As a hobbyist of baseball memorabillia (cards, programs, ect) I have a fondness for the Big Red Machine of the 70's in terms of one of my favorite all-time dynasties. Arguably one of the finest lineups of recent vintage, two fellows who rank as one of "The Greatest Ever" at their positions, and Perez, Rose, Foster, Geronimo, Concepcion, and Griffey weren't too shabby either back in the day

-NL West and later NL Central, so technically I can "root" for them as opposed to anyone that was in the NL East from 1969-1993 (Expos/Nationals, Phillies, Cubs, Cardinals, Pirates)

And officially that list of other teams I root for is just 4. Mets, Reds, Braves and for just the fact that I hate the Dodgers so passionatly (and maybe because a certain NYC radio host talks about them non-stop)
the Giants

Steve

[Guest NYMutt]

I'm not a Reds fan, but just thought that I would share a little bit of useless knowledge about the team...
In 1869 they became the first fully professional baseball team. They were also the first team to wear knickers, which is where they got their name from. They wore red uniform hose, and were originally called the Cincinnati Red Stockings. The name was later shortened to the Reds.

Not that anyone really cares though!

[Guest NYMutt]

Here's another one...

The youngest player ever in MLB also played for the Reds. Pitcher Joe Nuxhall threw his first game against the St. Louis Cards in 1944. He was 15 years, 10 months and 11 days old.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head though!

[Theoldmole]

And lengthened again, in the 50s, during the McCarthy era, to "Redlegs."

They were also the first team to wear uniforms without sleeves, because Ted Kluszewski couldn't fit his biceps into them.

[Guest NYMutt]

AHHH!
A fellow fan of baseball trivia that includes more than stats!
Nice to meetcha!

[Guest NYMutt]

AHHH!
A fellow fan of baseball trivia that includes more than stats!
Nice to meetcha!

[MFS62]

I have a soft spot for the Reds, too. (Except for the gambling mother-fucker)

When my Brooklyn team moved West, I couldn't bring myself to root for them, or the MFYs. So I kinda floundered around looking for a team. There were a few newspaper stories that said the Reds were "reportedly" going to move to New York to fill the void (and also get out of 30,000 seat ancient Crosley Field into a new large NY stadium). When I read that, I started rooting for them, into the 1961 NL Championship (losing to the MFY's of course).
But once the 1961 expansion draft took place and the Mets were a real team, they were mine. And they still are.

Later

[Guest mlbaseballtalk]

By the way, first game I went to should have been 85, not 95. Late night...

Steve

[Guest sharpie]

My first game was Mets vs. Phillies in 1964. I could give a rip about the Phils.

[Guest ABG]

mlbaseballtalk wrote: -And officially that list of other teams I root for is just 4. Mets, Reds, Braves and for just the fact that I hate the Dodgers so passionatly (and maybe because a certain NYC radio host talks about them non-stop) the Giants Steve

The Braves? THE BRAVES?

Dude.

[Theoldmole]

Mutt...I'm no good at numbers, so I have to make my life useful somehow.

[Guest NYMutt]

Old Mole - I have to agree with you! I'm the same way! I keep telling my DH that all of my useless knowledge will come in handy someday when I am on Jeopardy! With my luck though, I'd be on when they are asking all math questions.