1868 Cincinnati Red Stockings

From BR Bullpen

1868 Cincinnati Red Stockings/Franchise: Cincinnati Red Stockings/1868 Team[edit]

History, Comments, Contributions[edit]

Prior to the start of the 1868 Cincinnati Red Stockings season there were changes with the club officials. Alfred Goshorn stepped down as president on April 5th and was replaced by Aaron Champion. Champion was replaced as Vice President by Thomas Smith. Henry Glassford was replaced as Secretary by John P. Joyce, probably on April 5th as well, while Edward Townley continued as Treasurer. In addition the ballpark was completely enclosed and admission was charged to those who wanted to watch the team play.

The 1868 season saw a change in uniforms in which the team started sporting the color red. This lead to the team being given the nickname “Red Stockings” and from this point on all pro Cincinnati baseball teams would use the moniker "Red Stockings" or "Reds". A couple of the current MLB teams owe their names to the Red Stockings, directly, like the Boston Red Sox, or indirectly, like the Chicago White Sox. The Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals in one of their previous names used similar monikers to that of the Red Stockings, the Cubs using the moniker "White Stockings", while the Cardinals had used the nickname "Brown Stockings". Names based on the color of a team's stockings were also widespread in the minor leagues. It is believed that George Ellard was responsible for the adoption of the red uniforms.

That season's roster continued to see Harry Wright as pitcher, and John C. Howe at short stop. J. William Johnson moved from Center Field to Right Field, with Rufus King playing Johnson's old position. Bellamy Storer and Moses Grant continued to play for the team, but were now substitutes. Wright brought in Charlie Gould from the Buckeyes to play first base; Asa Brainard from the Washington Nationals to play second base, as well as to share pitching duties; Fred Waterman at third base and Johnny V.B. Hatfield in left field, both were from the New York Mutuals. Mid-season, catcher Doug Allison would join the team from the Geary Base Ball Club of Philadelphia.

As far as team opponents went, the season saw the Red Stockings playing teams as far away as New York. The team also traveled out east playing powerhouse teams such as the Philadelphia Athletics, Brooklyn Atlantics, New York Mutuals and the Unions of Morrisania as well as a rematch against the Washington Nationals. At the annual national meeting, which was held on December 9th, the NABBP finally allowed for teams to start paying their players. This was something that both Harry Wright and Aaron Champion had been waiting for and they intended to make the most of it in the upcoming season.

Date Score Opponent Record
5/6 41-7 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds – Great Western of Cincinnati BBC 1-0
5/9 51-13 at Xenia, OH; Fair Grounds - Xenia BBC 2-0
5/21 30-14 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds- Copec of Kentucky BBC 3-0
5/23 28-10 at Cincinnati, OH; Buckeye Play Grounds - Buckeye of Cincinnati BBC 4-0
5/30 72-5 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds - Live Oak of Cincinnati BBC 5-0
6/6 13-20 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds - Athletic of Philadelphia BBC 5-1
6/11 59-17 at Portsmouth, OH; Riverside Grounds- Riverside BBC 6-1
6/20 71-12 at Yellow Springs, OH; Antioch College Grounds - Miami BBC 7-1
6/27 60-13 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds - Xenia BBC (7 innings) 8-1
7/2 52-16 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds - Railway Union of Cleveland BBC 9-1
7/4 70-7 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds - Union of St. Louis BBC 10-1
7/6 19-40 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds - Atlantic of Brooklyn BBC 10-2
7/24 34-16 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds - Riverside of Portsmouth BBC 11-2
7/29 55-11 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds - Live Oak of Cincinnati BBC (6 innings) 12-2
8/3 34-15 at Columbus, OH; Olenlangy Park - Rail Road BBC 13-2
8/4 43-5 at Columbus, OH; Olenlangy Park - Capital of Columbus BBC 14-2
8/5 59-16 at Jamesville, OH; Fair Grounds - Hickory of McConnelsville BBC 15-2
8/6 66-8 at Wheeling, WV; Island Park - Baltic of Wheeling BBC 16-2
8/7 61-20 at Steubenville, OH; Fair Grounds - Mears of Steubenville BBC 17-2
8/8 25-13 at Allegheny City, PA; Union Park - Allegheny of Pittsburgh BBC 18-2
8/10 29-14 at Allegheny City, PA; Union Park - Olympic of Pittsburgh BBC 19-2
8/12 44-22 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds - Forest City of Cleveland BBC 20-2
8/24 8-12 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds - Union of Morrisania BBC (NY) 20-3
8/25 13-12 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds - Union of Morrisania BBC (NY) 21-3
9/2 20-12 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds - Buckeye of Cincinnati BBC 22-3
9/14 54-7 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds - Active of Indianapolis BBC 23-3
9/19 38-2 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds – Great Western of Cincinnati BBC (8 innings - Rain) 24-3
9/21 22-4 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds - Excelsior of Chicago BBC 25-3
9/24 16-10 at Washington, DC; 15th & Columbia, "The Mall" - National of Washington BBC (5 innings - Rain) 26-3
9/25 9-22 at Washington, DC; White House - Olympic of Washington BBC 26-4
9/26 24-3 at Baltimore, MD; Madison Avenue Grounds – Enterprise BBC (7 ½ innings - Rain) 27-4
9/28 12-15 at Philadelphia, PA; Columbia Ave. and 15th Street - Athletic of Philadelphia BBC 27-5
9/29 22-24 at Philadelphia, PA; Columbia Avenue Grounds - Keydstone BBC (7 innings) 27-6
9/30 41-20 at Philadelphia, PA; Olympic Grounds - Olympic of Philadelphia BBC (7 innings - Cinn. to catch train) 28-6
10/1 12-31 at Brooklyn, NY; Union Grounds - Atlantic of Brooklyn BBC 28-7
10/2 29-28 at Brooklyn, NY; Union Grounds - Mutual of New York BBC 29-7
10/6 27-8 at Lansingburgh, NY; Rensselaer Park - Union of Troy BBC (Haymakers) 30-7
10/7 17-1 at Albany, NY; Van Rensselaer Park - National of Albany BBC 31-7
10/8 21-11 at Rochester, NY; Jones Square Park- Excelsior of Rochester BBC 32-7
10/9 24-8 at Buffalo, NY; Niagara Ball Grounds- Niagara Club of Buffalo BBC (8 innings - Darkness, as per Niagara Capt.) 33-7
10/10 41-8 at Cleveland, OH; - Railway Union of Cleveland BBC 34-7
10/12 33-14 at Cleveland, OH; Case Common Grounds - Forest City of Cleveland BBC (8 innings) 35-7
10/24 45-10 Cincinnati, OH; Union Grounds - Antioch College Club 36-7

Sources:[edit]

Retrieved from "https://www.baseball-reference.com/bpv/index.php?title=1868_Cincinnati_Red_Stockings&oldid=1092101"