Cincinnati Reds - The Big Red Machine

There is is only one Big Red Machine and that is the Cincinnati Reds during the 1970's.   If your a baseball fan and in to collecting, you have to own some items from this team.  In the 1970's the Reds featured such players as Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, George Fostser and Ken Griffey.  They went to the World Series four times between 1970 and 1976 and the 76 Reds were the greatest baseball team of all time (don't even mention the 98 Yankees - Scott Brosious, come 'on).   They achieved all of this with a no-name pitching staff.

In 1970, little known George "Sparky" Anderson was hired as manager, and the Reds started a 7 year run like no other team, with a team that came to be known as "The Big Red Machine".  In 1970 - Sparky Anderson's  rookie season as manager - the Orioles topped them in the World Series thanks to the great all around play of Brooks Robinson. In '72 the Oakland A's beat the Reds thanks to some timely hitting and pitching in a wonderful 7 game fall classic.

Finally in 1975 the Reds put it all together, combining speed, power, defense, solid starting pitching, and an outstanding bullpen. The Reds won 108 games - the most in the NL in 70 years. In the playoffs they blew away Philly in 3 games and advanced to meet Boston in what would be one of the most memorable World Series of our generation.

In the World Series, the Reds faced the jinxed Boston Red Sox. After splitting the first four games, the Reds took Game 5. Game 6 is still one of the most memorable baseball games ever played. Most people remember where they were when they saw that game.  Believe me - I have lived in both cities.  The Reds were ahead 6-3 with 5 outs left, when the Red Sox tied the game on former Red Bernie Carbo's three-run home run. After a few close-calls either way, Carlton Fisk hit a home run off the foul pole in left field to give the Red Sox a 7-6 win and force a deciding Game 7. Cincinnati came through the following day, however, when series MVP Joe Morgan's RBI single won Game 7 and gave the Reds their first championship in 35 years.

In 1976, the Reds swept throughout the NL West and proceeded to go undefeated in the postseason. They swept the Philadelphia Phillies (winning Game 3 in their final at-bat) to return to the World Series, then continued to dominate by sweeping the Yankees, who never really challenged the powerhouse Reds. In winning the Series, the Reds became the first NL team in over 50 years to win back-to-back World Series championships.

Find great memorabilia from the Big Red Machine on eBay -

• Pete Rose (definitely needs to be in the Hall of Fame)
• Joe Morgan 
• Johnny Bench
• Tony Perez
• Ken Griffey