The Baseball Scholar

The 20 Greatest Cincinnati Reds of All-Time

Dave Franks
2–3 minutes

Update 12/27/2022

To be eligible, position players needed 1,500 plate appearances and starting pitchers had to have started a minimum of 75 games for the franchise.

  1. Joe Morgan

    • Age: 28 – 35
    • Years: 1972 – 1979
    • Position(s): 2B

    Joe Morgan
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    57.9 150 1154 4973 4008 816 1155 220 27 152 612 406 881 410 .288 .413 .470 .884

  2. Frank Robinson

    • Age: 20 – 29
    • Years: 1956 – 1965
    • Position(s): LF, RF, 1B, CF

    Frank Robinson
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    63.8 149 1502 6409 5527 1043 1673 318 50 324 1009 161 698 789 .303 .388 .554 .942

  3. Joey Votto

    • Age: 23 – 38
    • Years: 2007 – 2022
    • Position(s): 1B

    Joey Votto
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    64.2 146 1991 8504 7044 1145 2093 453 22 342 1106 80 1338 1578 .297 .412 .513 .926

  4. Johnny Bench

    • Age: 19 – 35
    • Years: 1967 – 1983
    • Position(s): C, 3B, 1B

    Johnny Bench
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    75.2 125 2158 8669 7658 1091 2048 381 24 389 1376 68 891 1278 .267 .341 .475 .817

  5. Pete Rose

    • Age: 22 – 37, 43 – 45
    • Years: 1963 – 1978, 1984 – 1986
    • Position(s): LF, 3B, 2B, RF, 1B

    Pete Rose
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    78.1 126 2722 12325 10934 1741 3358 601 115 152 1036 146 1210 972 .307 .377 .424 .802

  6. Barry Larkin

    • Age: 22 – 40
    • Years: 1986 – 2004
    • Position(s): SS

    Barry Larkin
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    70.5 118 2180 9057 7937 1329 2340 441 76 198 960 379 939 817 .295 .368 .444 .812

  7. George Foster

    • Age: 22 – 32
    • Years: 1971 – 1981
    • Position(s): LF, CF, RF

    George Foster
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    39.5 140 1253 5010 4454 680 1276 207 37 244 861 46 470 882 .286 .356 .513 .870

  8. Vada Pinson

    • Age: 19 – 29
    • Years: 1958 – 1968
    • Position(s): CF, RF

    Vada Pinson
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    47.7 120 1565 6850 6335 978 1881 342 96 186 814 221 409 831 .297 .339 .469 .808

  9. Tony Perez

    • Age: 22 – 34, 42 – 44
    • Years: 1964 – 1976, 1984 – 1986
    • Position(s): 1B, 3B

    Tony Perez
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    45.6 127 1948 7630 6846 936 1934 339 56 287 1192 39 671 1306 .283 .345 .474 .820

  10. Jose Rijo

    • Age: 23 – 30, 36 – 37
    • Years: 1988 – 1995, 2001 – 2002
    • Position(s): SP

    Jose Rijo
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO % WHIP
    36.4 73 280 215 97 61 2.83 1478 17 4 0 523 464 453 1251 20.7% 1.19

  11. Heinie Groh

    • Age: 23 – 31
    • Years: 1913 – 1921
    • Position(s): 3B, 2B

    Heinie Groh
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    40.6 132 1211 5159 4439 663 1323 224 75 17 408 158 513 257 .298 .367 .393 .761

  12. Noodles Hahn

    • Age: 20 – 26
    • Years: 1899 – 1905
    • Position(s): SP

    Noodles Hahn
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO % WHIP
    31.1 71 160 154 88 64 2.31 1367 148 16 0 527 351 218 623 1.10

  13. Eric Davis

    • Age: 22 – 29, 34
    • Years: 1984 – 1991, 1996
    • Position(s): CF, LF

    Eric Davis
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    30.6 138 985 3819 3272 635 886 139 18 203 615 270 494 874 .271 .366 .510 .876

  14. Bucky Walters

    • Age: 29 – 39
    • Years: 1938 – 1948
    • Position(s): SP

    Bucky Walters
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO % WHIP
    37.8 82 312 296 160 107 2.93 2355.2 195 32 4 905 766 806 879 9.0% 1.25

  15. Jim Maloney

    • Age: 20 – 30
    • Years: 1960 – 1970
    • Position(s): SP

    Jim Maloney
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO % WHIP
    34.4 86 289 258 134 81 3.16 1818.2 74 30 4 711 638 786 1592 21.0% 1.25

  16. Edd Roush

    • Age: 23 – 33, 38
    • Years: 1916 – 1926, 1931
    • Position(s): CF

    Edd Roush
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    40.3 136 1399 5965 5384 815 1784 260 152 47 763 199 354 170 .331 .365 .462 .827

  17. Ted Kluszewski

    • Age: 22 – 32
    • Years: 1947 – 1957
    • Position(s): 1B

    Ted Kluszewski
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    29.9 124 1339 5404 4961 745 1499 244 23 251 886 20 406 292 .302 .356 .512 .868

  18. Dolf Luque

    • Age: 27 – 38
    • Years: 1918 – 1929
    • Position(s): SP

    Dolf Luque
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO % WHIP
    38.2 84 395 319 154 152 3.09 2668.2 183 24 10 1138 917 756 970 8.7% 1.26

  19. Eppa Rixey

    • Age: 30 – 42
    • Years: 1921 – 1933
    • Position(s): SP

    Eppa Rixey
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO % WHIP
    40.9 85 440 356 179 148 3.33 2890.2 180 23 8 1304 1068 603 660 5.4% 1.29

  20. Ewell Blackwell

    • Age: 30 – 42
    • Years: 1921 – 1933
    • Position(s): SP

    Ewell Blackwell
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO % WHIP
    26.6 85 221 163 79 77 3.32 1281.1 69 15 8 547 472 532 819 15.2% 1.29

14 responses to “The 20 Greatest Cincinnati Reds of All-Time”

  1. Kevin Smith Avatar
    Kevin Smith

    As a Canadian I love Joey Votto, but you have him ranked way too high. Just because he has played more recently than some does not make him an all-time great.

    Like

    Reply
    1. Dave Franks Avatar
      Dave Franks

      Kevin, love to get insight from others. Where would you rank him and why?

      Like

      Reply
      1. Kevin Smith Avatar
        Kevin Smith

        Certainly below Bench, Rose, and Larkin. I think one can make the case for Perez as well.

        Like

      2. Dave Franks Avatar
        Dave Franks

        And the why?

        Like

      3. Kevin Smith Avatar
        Kevin Smith

        the numbers speak for themselves. Votto has a high OBP but like Trout that just means that pitchers are pitching around him.

        Like

      4. Kevin Smith Avatar
        Kevin Smith

        Bench, Larkin, and Perez are Hall of Famers. We know the reason why Rose is not eligible for the Hall. It is highly unlikely that Votto will make the Hall of Fame. He is not going to reach 3000 hits or 500 home runs. He is not going to have 3 batting titles and 7 golden gloves like Larry Walker.

        Like

      5. Dan Holmes Avatar
        Dan Holmes

        Johnny Bench ranks below Joey Votto. JOHNNY BENCH. The greatest catcher of all-time ranks below Joey Votto. Come on, you want to be taken seriously. You cannot make a mistake like that. Justify how Votto had a better career.

        Like

      6. Kevin Smith Avatar
        Kevin Smith

        Bench, Rose, Larkin, and Lombardi all rank above Votto. Bucky Walters ranks above Jose Rijo as well. Wow! This is a flawed article.

        Like

  2. Avatar
    Anonymous

    How is Joey Votto higher than Johnny Bench, the greatest catcher ever

    Like

    Reply
  3. Michael Wainscott Avatar
    Michael Wainscott

    It’s not a good list. Joe Morgan had six great seasons with the Reds and two very mediocre. Joey Votto is a solid 6 or 7 on this list, and 3 may be too generous. His career batting average with runners in scoring position is 40 points higher than Tony Perez’s. He never had the team around him those other players had, and he was within 3 points of being a two-time MVP. 1. Bench (two MVPs, 10 Gold Gloves, generally considered the best all around at his position), 2. Rose, 3. Robinson, 4. Morgan, 5. Larkin and 6. Votto sounds about right.

    Like

    Reply
  4. Tom Derringer sr Avatar
    Tom Derringer sr

    I’d like to know how you would leave out my father? Most wins by right-hander, 2nd all-time in wins, only pitcher to win 20 games or more in 4 different seasons,only pitcher to win the 7th game at home, 6 x all-star, charter member hall of fame, clinched ’39 pennant, better stats than the pitchers you put on the list

    Like

    Reply
    1. Michael Wainscott Avatar
      Michael Wainscott

      I wouldn’t put much stock into this bull crap list. Bucky Walters and your father should be here. It has Jose Rijo as the 10th best Reds player and Joey Votto ahead of Johnny Bench. Enough said right there.

      Like

      Reply
  5. MICHAEL WAINSCOTT Avatar
    MICHAEL WAINSCOTT

    Walters at No.13 was legit, but Derringer had a longer run on some really bad teams. The worst was his first year with the Reds, 1933, when he posted a very respectable 3.23 ERA (a better ERA than when he won 22 games in 1935) during a very offense-driven era, but posted a horrific 7-25 record for a terrible Reds team. His complete body of work for the Reds should have earned him at least 19 or 20 if Bucky was 13.

    Like

    Reply
  6. Avatar
    Anonymous

    This List is an Absolute Joke!! The Greatest Red of All-Time is clearly Johnny Bench and frankly it isn’t even close!!

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to Dave Franks Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

100 Greatest Players of all time