1919 Cincinnati Reds
World Series champions National League champions
League	National League
Ballpark	Redland Field
City	Cincinnati, Ohio
Owners	Garry Herrmann
Managers	Pat Moran

The1919Cincinnati Reds season was a season in Americanbaseball. The Reds won theNational Leaguepennant, then went on to win the1919 World Series. The team's accomplishments were overshadowed by the subsequentBlack Sox Scandal, when it was discovered that theirAmerican League opponents, theChicago White Sox had conspired to throw the series.

Reds managerChristy Mathewson, who left the club late in the 1918 season to enlist in theUnited States Army forWorld War I, was accidentally gassed during a chemical training exercise and subsequently developedtuberculosis. Mathewson served with theAmerican Expeditionary Force until February 1919 and was discharged later that month, however, it became apparent that he was too sick to manage the Reds. Cincinnati replaced Mathewson withPat Moran. Moran had previously managed thePhiladelphia Phillies from 1915 until 1918, leading the team to a 323–257 record, and won the National League pennant in 1915. In the1915 World Series, the Phillies lost to theBoston Red Sox.

On February 1, the Reds traded away outfielderTommy Griffith to theBrooklyn Robins in exchange for first basemanJake Daubert. Daubert, who had spent his entire nine-year career with Brooklyn, hit .308 with two home runs, 47 RBI and a league high 15 triples in 108 games during the 1918 season. Daubert was named the National League Most Valuable Player during the 1913 season, when he led the league with a .350 batting average, two home runs, 52 RBI in 139 games.

With Daubert now playing first base, the Reds traded away first basemanHal Chase to theNew York Giants for first basemanWalter Holke and catcherBill Rariden. Holke was then shipped to theBoston Braves for infielder/outfielderJimmy Smith. Rariden batted .224 with 17 RBI in 69 games with the Giants during the 1918 season, while Smith hit .225 with a home run and 14 RBI in 34 games with the Braves.

In March, the Reds selected pitchersRay Fisher from theNew York Yankees andSlim Sallee from theNew York Giants on waivers. Fisher, who spent the 1918 enlisted in theUnited States Army, had pitched with New York from 1910 to 1917, earning a 76–78 record with a 2.91 ERA in 219 games pitched. His best season was in 1915, as Fisher had a record of 18–11 with a 2.11 ERA in 30 games. Sallee, who broke into the league with theSt. Louis Cardinals in 1908, had an 8–8 record and a 2.25 ERA in 18 games with the Giants in 1918.

The Reds, who were looking to build off of a solid 68–60 record during the 1918 season, their highest winning percentage since 1904, started off the 1919 season with seven consecutive wins, and nine wins in their first 10 games, to take an early lead in the National League standings. The Reds did slump over their next 26 games, going 11–15 to drop their overall record to 20–16, and slipped into second place, four games behind theNew York Giants.

Cincinnati put together a record of 24–7 in their next 31 games, moving to a 44–23 record and into first place in the National League, just ahead of the Giants. By the end of July, despite a very strong 59–28 record, the Reds and Giants were tied for first place.

On August 3, 1919, up 2.5 games on the second place Giants, 43,000 fans crowded into Redlands Field to see the Reds host the Giants. The official attendance was 31,363, but it was reported in the press, "Forty-three thousand baseball enthusiasts were wadded tightly into every conceivable corner that would hold a human being and it was not the fault of the rooting that the Reds lost."^[1]

In August, the Reds begin to pull away from the Giants, as on August 26, Cincinnati had a record of 81-34 and had built a nine-game lead over New York. Also in August, there were accusations that the teams playing the Reds were throwing their games to allow the Reds to win.^[2] The Reds continued to win in the last month of the season, and on September 18, Cincinnati defeated theBrooklyn Robins 2–0 to win their 93rd game of the season, which set a team record, besting the 92 wins the club had in 1898. Overall, Cincinnati finished the season with a 96–44 record, cruising to theNational League pennant, as the team finished in first place for the first time since 1882. The Reds qualified for the1919 World Series, as they would face theAmerican League champions, theChicago White Sox.

OutfielderEdd Roush led the National League with a .321 batting average, and he added four home runs, a team high 71 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 133 games. Third basemanHeinie Groh batted .310 with a team high five home runs, 63 RBI and 21 stolen bases in 122 games. Newly acquired first basemanJake Daubert hit .276 with two home runs and 44 RBI. OutfielderGreasy Neale led the Reds with 28 stolen bases, while batting .242 with a home run and 54 RBI in 139 games.

PitcherHod Eller anchored the pitching staff, as he recorded a 19–9 record with a 2.39 ERA, leading the club with 248.1 innings pitched and 137 strikeouts in 38 games.Dutch Ruether led the National League in winning percentage, as he finished the season with a 19–6 record and a team best 1.82 ERA in 33 games.Slim Sallee, who the Reds picked up off of waivers from theNew York Giants before the season began, led the club in victories, as he finished the season with a 21–7 record and a 2.06 ERA and had a team high 22 complete games in 29 games.Ray Fisher, another Reds waiver pickup prior to the season, had a solid 14–5 record with a 2.17 ERA in 26 games.

With the successful season on the field, the Reds set a club record for attendance, as they drew 532,501 fans to their home games, breaking the team record of 424,643 set in the 1909 season.

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

October 1, 1919, atRedland Field inCincinnati, Ohio

The Reds opened the1919 World Series at home in front of 30,511 fans atRedland Field, the first World Series game in club history.Dutch Ruether got the start for the Reds, againstEddie Cicotte of theChicago White Sox.

After a scoreless top half of the first inning, the RedsMorrie Rath led off the bottom of the inning and was hit by a pitch.Jake Daubert then hit a single, moving Rath to third base, andHeinie Groh then hit a sacrifice fly, bring Rath home and giving Cincinnati a 1–0 lead. The White Sox tied the game in the top of the second inning as aChick Gandil single scoredShoeless Joe Jackson.

The Reds retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, whenIvey Wingo singled to right field, scoringLarry Kopf. With two men on base, pitcherDutch Ruether helped his own cause, hitting a triple, scoringGreasy Neale and Wingo, opening up the Reds lead to 4–1.Morrie Rath then doubled to center field, scoring Ruether, increasing the Cincinnati lead to 5–1, followed by aJake Daubert single, scoring Rath, giving Cincinnati a 6-1 and knockingEddie Cicotte out of the game.

WithRoy Wilkinson in the ballgame, the Reds added two more runs in the seventh inning, asHeinie Groh singled homeJake Daubert, andPat Duncan drove in Groh on a groundout, giving Cincinnati an 8–1 lead. In the eighth inning, the Reds took a 9–1 lead asDutch Ruether hit his second triple of the game off ofGrover Lowdermilk, driving homeGreasy Neale.

Dutch Ruether finished the complete game with a perfect ninth inning, as the Reds took an early 1–0 series lead.

October 2, 1919, atRedland Field inCincinnati, Ohio

The second game of the series was played in front of 29,698 fans atRedland Field, withSlim Sallee getting the start for the Reds, againstLefty Williams of theChicago White Sox.

After three scoreless innings to start the game, the Reds opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning, asMorrie Rath led off the inning with a walk.Jake Daubert moved Rath to second base with a sacrifice bunt.Heinie Groh then walked, followed by a single byEdd Roush, which drove home Rath, giving the Reds a 1–0 lead. Roush was caught stealing second, making it two outs, however,Pat Duncan walked, the third Reds player to walk in the inning.Larry Kopf then tripled to center field, scoring Groh and Duncan, giving the Reds a 3–0 lead.

In the sixth inning, the Reds extended their lead to 4-0 afterEdd Roush led off the inning with a walk, and came around to score after a single byGreasy Neale.

The White Sox cut into the Reds lead in the seventh inning, asRay Schalk singled homeSwede Risberg. Schalk scored on the play after two throwing errors by the Reds, as the White Sox cut the Reds lead in half to 4–2.

Slim Sallee finished the game with a scoreless ninth inning, getting the complete game, as Cincinnati held on for a 4–2 win, and took a 2–0 series lead.

October 3, 1919, atComiskey Park inChicago, Illinois

The series shifted over toComiskey Park in Chicago for the third game.Ray Fisher got the start for Cincinnati, againstDickey Kerr for the White Sox in front of 29,126 fans.

The White Sox opened the scoring in the second inning, asChick Gandil singled to left field, scoringShoeless Joe Jackson andHappy Felsch, giving Chicago a 2–0 lead. The Sox added to their lead in the fourth, whenRay Schalk bunted a single, scoringSwede Risberg, as the White Sox took a 3–0 lead.

Dickey Kerr pitched a masterpiece for the White Sox, as he finished with a three hit shutout, as Chicago won the game 3–0, cutting the series lead to 2–1.

October 4, 1919, atComiskey Park inChicago, Illinois

The fourth game of the series was played atComiskey Park in Chicago, withJimmy Ring starting for the Reds, againstEddie Cicotte of the White Sox in front of 34,363 fans.

After four scoreless innings, the Reds caught a break whenPat Duncan reached second base on a throwing error byEddie Cicotte.Larry Kopf singled home Duncan, giving Cincinnati a 1–0 lead.Greasy Neale followed that up with a double to left field, scoring Kopf, and giving the Reds a 2–0 lead.

Jimmy Ring pitched a complete-game shutout for the Reds, holding the White Sox to only three hits, as the Reds took the fourth game by a 2–0 score, and took a 3–1 series lead.

October 6, 1919, atComiskey Park inChicago, Illinois

The fifth game of the series was played atComiskey Park in Chicago in front of 34,379 fans, asHod Eller started for the Reds, againstLefty Williams of the White Sox. The game was originally scheduled for October 5, however, it was postponed due to rain.

Both Eller and Williams pitched excellent to start the game, as it wasn't until the sixth inning before the Reds opened the scoring.Hod Eller led off the inning with a double, and came around to scoring after aMorrie Rath single, making it 1-0 for the Reds.Jake Daubert sacrificed bunted, moving Rath to third base, followed by a walk byHeinie Groh.Edd Roush then hit a triple to deep center field, scoring Rath and Groh, making it 3-0 for the Reds.Pat Duncan then hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Roush, extending the Reds lead to 4–0.

In the ninth, the Reds added another run, asGreasy Neale drove homePat Duncan when he grounded out.Hod Eller completed the shutout in the bottom of the inning, as he allowed only three hits in the game, and struck out nine, which included a World Series record six batters in a row, to earn the victory for the Reds, as they took a 4–1 series lead.

October 7, 1919, atRedland Field inCincinnati, Ohio

The series moved back toRedland Field in Cincinnati for game six, withDutch Ruether starting for the Reds, againstDickey Kerr of the White Sox, in front of 32,006 fans.

The Reds took the lead in the second inning, asJake Daubert singled to right field, and then stole second base.Edd Roush was then hit by a pitch, and both Daubert and Roush were brought home after aPat Duncan double, giving the Reds a 2–0 lead. Cincinnati struck again in the third inning, asGreasy Neale led the inning off with a triple, then came in to score afterDutch Ruether doubled, giving Cincinnati a 3–0 lead.Morrie Rath drove in Ruether after an error by White Sox shortstopSwede Risberg, as the Reds took a 4–0 lead.

The White Sox struck back with a run of their own in the fifth inning, asEddie Collins hit a sacrifice fly, scoringSwede Risberg, cutting the Reds lead to 4–1. In the sixth inning, the White Sox cut the lead to 4-2 whenShoeless Joe Jackson singled homeBuck Weaver.Happy Felsch then doubled, scoring Jackson, and cut the Reds lead to 4–3, as Ruether was pulled out of the game, replaced withJimmy Ring. Ring allowed a single byRay Schalk, as Felsch scored, tying the game up at 4-4.

The game remained tied after nine innings, and in the tenth inning, the White Sox took a 5–4 lead after singled, scoringBuck Weaver. In the bottom half of the inning, Kerr finished the complete game victory, as Chicago completed the comeback, winning the game 5-4 and cutting the Reds series lead to 4–2.

October 8, 1919, atRedland Field inCincinnati, Ohio

The seventh game of the series was played atRedland Field in front of 13,323 fans, as the Reds startedSlim Sallee, againstEddie Cicotte of the White Sox.

Chicago opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, whenShoeless Joe Jackson singled homeEddie Collins, giving Chicago a 1–0 lead. In the third inning, Chicago struck again, on another single by Jackson, which scored Collins, as Chicago took a 2–0 lead.

In the fifth inning, the White Sox continued to pile on the offense, asHappy Felsch singled off of Sallee, scoring Collins andBuck Weaver. Sallee was then pulled out of the game, and Chicago had a 4–0 lead.

The Reds broke the shutout in the sixth inning, whenHeinie Groh hit a ground rule double, then came around to score on a single byPat Duncan, cutting the White Sox lead to 4–1.

That would be the only offense the Reds could muster, as Cicotte pitched a complete game victory, leading the White Sox to a 4–1 win and cutting the Reds series lead to 4–3.

October 9, 1919, atComiskey Park inChicago, Illinois

The eighth game of the series moved back toComiskey Park in Chicago, asHod Eller got the start for Cincinnati, againstLefty Williams of the White Sox, in front of 32,930 fans.

AfterMorrie Rath led off the game with a pop out, the RedsJake Daubert singled to center field.Heinie Groh then singled to right field, moving Daubert to second base.Edd Roush then doubled to right field, scoring Daubert and giving the Reds a 1–0 lead.Pat Duncan followed up with a double of his own, scoring both Groh and Roush as Cincinnati took a 3–0 lead. The White Sox then took Williams out of the game, replacing him withBill James. The Reds added another run whenBill Rariden singled home Duncan.

In the second inning,Heinie Groh singled off of James, then was brought home after a double byEdd Roush, as Cincinnati took a 5–0 lead.

The White Sox got on the board in the third inning, asShoeless Joe Jackson hit a home run to right field, cutting the Reds lead to 5–1.

In the fifth inning, the RedsLarry Kopf tripled off ofBill James, and was brought home after aGreasy Neale single, making it 6-1 Cincinnati. The Reds continued to pour on the offense in the sixth inning, whenHod Eller singled off of James, followed by a walk byMorrie Rath, knocking James out of the game. The White Sox brought inRoy Wilkinson to pitch, however,Jake Daubert reached first base after an error, loading the bases.Edd Roush then singled, scoring Eller and Rath, followed by a single byPat Duncan, scoring Roush, and giving the Reds a 9–1 lead.

In the eighth inning,Edd Roush led off the inning after being hit by a pitch, then moved to second after aPat Duncan sacrifice bunt. Roush came around to score after a single byBill Rariden, extending the Reds lead to 10–1.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the White Sox made a last attempt to comeback, as a double byShoeless Joe Jackson scoredEddie Collins andBuck Weaver, cutting the Reds lead to 10–3.Chick Gandil tripled to right field, scoring Jackson, making it 10–4.Swede Risberg then hit it to Reds center fielderEdd Roush, who made an error, allowing Gandil to score, and cut the lead to 10-5 for the Reds. Cincinnati got out of the inning after aRay Schalk groundout to stop the comeback.

In the ninth, the White Sox threatened to score, however,Hod Eller shut them down, as Cincinnati won the game 10–5, and won theWorld Series for the first time in club history.

• 1919 Cincinnati Reds season at Baseball Reference

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