The1990Cincinnati Reds season was the 121st season for the franchise inMajor League Baseball, and their 21st and 20th full season atRiverfront Stadium. Starting with a team best nine straight wins to open the season, as well as holding the top spot in the National League West every game during the season, the Reds went 41–21 after 62 games, splitting the remaining 100 games 50–50 to end up with a 91–71 record. It consisted of the 91–71 Reds winning theNational League West by five games over the second-placeDodgers, as well as theNLCS in six games over thePittsburgh Pirates, and theWorld Series in a four-game sweep over the overwhelming favoriteOakland Athletics, who had won the World Series the previous year. It was the fifthWorld Championship for theReds, and their first since winning two consecutive titles in1975 and '76. It is also their most recent championship to date.

• December 6, 1989:John Franco and Don Brown (minors) were traded by the Reds to theNew York Mets forRandy Myers andKip Gross.^[1]
• December 12, 1989:Tim Leary andVan Snider were traded by the Reds to theNew York Yankees forHal Morris and Rodney Imes (minors).^[2]

Led by new managerLou Piniella, the Reds achieved the rare feat of being in first place every day of the season ("wire-to-wire").^[3] They also became the firstNational League team to do so.^[4] Starting pitcherJack Armstrong was a catalyst for the team's fast start, as he won 8 of his first 9 games and was 11–3 through the All Star break. Because of his strong first half, Armstrong was selected as the starting pitcher for the All Star Game.

The Reds clinched the NL West division on Saturday September 29 in a rain-shortened, seven-inning 3–1 home loss to San Diego. The second-placeDodgers lost to theGiants at the same time, mathematically clinching the division for Cincinnati with four games remaining.^[4]

Due to the1990 lockout,Opening Day was pushed back one week from April 2 to April 9. As a result, the Reds, who traditionally started every major league season with the first pitch at home on opening day, were forced to start on the road.^[5][6] The Reds played three games atHouston and three games atAtlanta before returning for their home opener on Tuesday April 17. It was only the third time since 1876 that the Reds opened the season with an away game. The traditionalFindlay Market parade, along with other customary opening day festivities, were held off until April 17 and rebranded "Reds Homecoming."^[7][8] On a chilly 49° afternoon, the 6–0 Reds beatSan Diego in front of a crowd of 38,384 atRiverfront Stadium - small for opening day standards - to improve to 7–0 on the season.^[9]

Cincinnati was well represented at the 1990 All-Star Game inChicago. In addition to Armstrong at pitcher,Chris Sabo,Barry Larkin,Rob Dibble, andRandy Myers were reserves.

Another new face in the Reds locker room wasRandy Myers. He was acquired from the New York Mets for closerJohn Franco, and became part of theNasty Boys, along withRob Dibble andNorm Charlton. Charlton, Dibble, and Myers combined for 44 saves (Myers with 31, Dibble with 11, and Charlton with 2). Myers would become one of the league's elite closers while being selected as an All-Star in 1990. Myers would win his second World Championship as the Reds swept the Oakland Athletics.

"The Nasty Boys — The Reds' three flame-throwing relievers, Randy Myers,Rob Dibble andNorm Charlton, emerged as arguably the deepest and most talented late-inning pitchers in postseason history." — John Erardi and John Fay,The Cincinnati Enquirer^[10]

• June 4, 1990:1990 Major League Baseball draft
  • Dan Wilson was drafted by the Reds in the 1st round.^[11]
  • John Roper was drafted by the Reds in the 12th round.^[12]
• June 9, 1990: Ron Robinson was traded by the Cincinnati Reds withBob Sebra to the Milwaukee Brewers forBilly Bates andGlenn Braggs.^[13]
• June 18, 1990: Rolando Roomes was selected off waivers by the Montreal Expos from the Cincinnati Reds.^[14]
• August 24, 1990:Ken Griffey, Sr. was released by the Reds.^[15]
• August 30, 1990: Bill Doran was traded by the Houston Astros to the Cincinnati Reds for players to be named later.^[16]
• September 7, 1990: Butch Henry was sent by the Cincinnati Reds to the Houston Astros to complete an earlier deal made on August 30, 1990.^[17] Catcher Terry McGriff was also sent by the Cincinnati Reds to complete the deal.^[18]

^[19]

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 4:Riverfront Stadium inCincinnati

October 5:Riverfront Stadium inCincinnati

October 8:Three Rivers Stadium inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania

October 9:Three Rivers Stadium inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania

October 10:Three Rivers Stadium inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania

October 12:Riverfront Stadium inCincinnati

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The World Series between theOakland Athletics and the Reds featured friends at the managerial level. Athletics managerTony La Russa and Reds managerLou Piniella were old friends and teammates from theirTampaAmerican Legion Post 248 team.

Cincinnati Reds ownerMarge Schott, who was drunk at the time,^[20] made a major verbal slip-up when she dedicated the 1990 World Series to"our women and men in theFar East" (Schott meant to say Middle East). In the first inning of Game 1, Reds center fielderEric Davis hit a home run in left center that nearly hit the CBS television studio where anchorPat O'Brien was sitting.

Also in Game 1, Billy Hatcher helped out offensively in a big way by starting his streak of 7 straight hits in the series (after a walk in the 1st). José Rijo settled in after the early lead and cruised to a surprise Cincinnati victory. The following day, the headline of theCincinnati Post newspaper captured the city's surprise with the headline, "DAVIS STUNS GOLIATH."

During Game 2, Reds pitcherTom Browning's pregnant wife Debbie went into labor during the game. Debbie left her seat in the fifth inning to drive herself to the hospital. As the game went on, the Reds wanted Browning ready to pitch just in case the game went well into extra innings. Thinking that Browning was en route to a nearby hospital, the Reds had their radio broadcasterMarty Brennaman put out anAll Points Bulletin on Browning, a bulletin that was picked up byTim McCarver on CBS television, who passed it along in the ninth inning.

Game 4 was a pitchers' duel between Dave Stewart and José Rijo (the Game 1 starters) that eventually culminated in the Reds sweeping the series. The A's got on the board in the first when Willie McGee doubled and Carney Lansford singled him in. The game remained 1–0 until the 8th when the Reds finally got to Stewart.

Barry Larkin singled up the middle, Herm Winningham followed with a bunt single, andPaul O'Neill reached on a throwing error by Stewart that loaded the bases. Glen Braggs's groundout and Hal Morris's sacrifice fly gave the Reds a precious 2–1 edge which was preserved by both Rijo, who at one point retired 20 straight batters. Randy Myers, one of the Nasty Boys, appeared in relief and got the final two outs.

The1990 World Series would be the Reds 5th championship but would also be remembered as one of the biggest upsets in baseball history. Until 2020, this was the lastWorld Series to be scheduled to begin play on a Tuesday, and the only since1984. The schedule called for the seven-game series to be held Tue-Wed, Fri-Sat-Sun, Tue-Wed. Games 5, 6, and 7, however were not necessary.

The three primary members of the bullpen;Norm Charlton,Randy Myers, andRob Dibble (who threw a fastball in excess of 99 mph) were known as the "Nasty Boys" – and wouldn't let the A's score against them in nearly nine innings of work. Media talk of a forthcoming A's dynasty led Reds fans to call their own team the "dyNASTY."

Reds outfielderBilly Hatcher set aWorld Series record with seven consecutive hits, going 3-3 in the Game 1, then going 4-4 in Game 2 In addition, Hatcher's .750 batting average, (9 for 12), broke a mark for a four-game World Series that was previously set byBabe Ruth (.625 in1928). Both records still stand as of 2024.

Cincinnati Reds' pitcherJosé Rijo became the secondDominican born player to earnWorld Series MVP honors, thanks to his 2 wins in the series, where he did not let the A's score a run, ending with a series ERA of 0.59. The first Dominican born to earn World Series MVP honors wasPedro Guerrero of theLos Angeles Dodgers.

October 16, 1990, atRiverfront Stadium inCincinnati

October 17, 1990, atRiverfront Stadium, inCincinnati

October 19, 1990, atOakland–Alameda County Coliseum inOakland, California

October 20, 1990, atOakland–Alameda County Coliseum inOakland, California

mlb.com coverage of Game 4

1990 World Series (4–0):Cincinnati Reds (N.L.) overOakland Athletics (A.L.)

• Jack Armstrong,Pitcher of the Month Award, May
• Rob Dibble, Relief Pitcher andRandy Myers, Relief Pitcher, NLCS MVP
• Billy Hatcher, Outfield,Babe Ruth Award
• Billy Hatcher, Highest Batting Average in a World Series^[3]
• Barry Larkin, Shortstop, National LeagueSilver Slugger Award
• José Rijo, Pitcher, World Series MVP

All-Star Game

• Jack Armstrong, pitcher, starter
• Chris Sabo, third base, starter
• Rob Dibble, relief pitcher, reserve
• Barry Larkin, shortstop, reserve
• Randy Myers, relief pitcher, reserve

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Charleston^[21]

• 1990 Cincinnati Reds season atBaseball Reference
• 1990 Cincinnati Reds season atBaseball Almanac
• 1990 Reds: The Nasty Boys

• National League West champion seasons
• National League champion seasons
• World Series champion seasons
• Cincinnati Reds seasons
• 1990 Major League Baseball season
• 1990 in sports in Ohio

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