In the history of Major League Baseball, only five teams have been wire-to-wire World Series Champions. That is, the team was in first place every day of the regular season and, of course, won all postseason series, if applicable, in addition to the Fall Classic. One of those teams was the 1990 Cincinnati Reds.
It was quite a reversal of fortune for the ballclub. The Reds were one of the top teams of the 1970s. They won back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and 1976 and were known as the Big Red Machine. The early 1980s, though, were spent at, or near, the bottom of the standings. They finally managed to turn things around in 1985 with a second-place finish.
They finished in second place the next three seasons as well, before stumbling in 1989 and finishing fifth with a record of 75 and 87. However, a series of moves during that time helped the Reds, somewhat secretly, build a championship team that would stun the baseball world.
In 1990, Lou Pinella took over as manager after Pete Rose was relieved of his duties in that role. A lockout of the players by the owners pushed the start of the season back one week, meaning the Reds, who traditionally start the entire Major League Baseball season, had Opening Day pushed back to April 17. As such, they started with two series on the road against Houston and Atlanta, respectively. They swept both and won on Opening Day to push their record to 7-0.
Some of the more memorable players from the 1990 team included Todd Benzinger, Barry Larkin, Chris Sabo, Billy Hatcher, Paul O'Neill, and the Nasty Boys. The latter was the trio of relief pitchers Rob Dibble, Norm Charlton, and Randy Myers.
Between them, the Nasty Boys combined for 44 saves (Dibble with 11, Charlton with 2, and Myers with 31). Their nickname came from the lyrics of Janet Jackson’s 1986 hit "Nasty” (US #3). It was also a play on the Detroit Pistons' "Bad Boys" name that was used during that team’s 1989 NBA Championship season.
The 1990 Reds got off to a fast start. They went 41–21 through 62 games. However, they split the remaining 100 games 50–50 to end up with a 91–71 record, still good enough to finish five games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Reds clinched the National League West division on Saturday, September 29 in a rain-shortened, seven-inning 3 to 1 home loss to the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers lost to the Giants the same day, mathematically clinching the division for Cincinnati with four games remaining.
In the League Championship series the Reds faced the Pittsburgh Pirates, led by Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke, and Bobby Bonilla. The Reds triumphed in six games, which propelled them to the World Series, where they faced the Oakland A’s, the 1989 World Champions.
The A’s had complied a Major League-best 103-59 record and dispatched the Boston Red Sox in four games in the American League Championship Series. They were heavy favorites to beat the Reds.
In the series, Reds manager Lou Pinella faced his old friend Tony La Russa. The two were once teammates for Tampa’s American Legion Post 248.
The series began on October 16, 1990, at old Riverfront Stadium. The Reds won the first game 7-0. The following night’s contest was much closer, with the Reds coming out on top 5 to 4, as they walked it off in the bottom of the 10th inning. Joe Oliver hit a single down the third base line that drove in Billy Bates.
Game 3 was played Friday night in Oakland. The Reds made easy work of the A’s, winning 8 to 3. Game 4, the following night, was a little closer with the A’s holding a one-run lead through the bottom of the seventh. However, the Reds scored in two in the top of the eighth inning to capture the game and series. It was the fifth, and last, time the Reds won the World Series.
828 comments
Gerald Muswagon
I want to genuinely thank Dr Ayoola for making my dream come through. I was on the internet when I saw people posting and talking about Dr Ayoola. On How he has help them in winning lottery. My name is Gerald Muswagon this is my story on how I win $10 million After reading the article about Dr Ayoola I contacted him I told him to help me win lottery he respond to me by saying he will help me after working with him he assured me that I will win. Which I believe. After working with Dr Ayoola he gave me a number and ask me to go and play it which I did today I’m here shearing a testimony about this same man Dr Ayoola help me to win $10 million dollars all thanks to you Dr I will keep taking about your good because you are a man of your word I hope people that really need this will come across it for you to help them as well. If you want to win big in lottery contact Dr Ayoola today and be rest assured of winning contact him via email drayoolasolutionhome@gmail. com or https://www.facebook.com/Dr-Ayoola-105640401516053/ text or call +14809032128
Joyce Dole
I was a victim of a cryptocurrency investment scam and I lost 879,000 USD to a fake cryptocurrency investment platform. A few months ago, I was contacted by a forex trader to invest in his platform hoping I would make huge profits from my investments, this went on for some time and when it was time to withdraw my investments, I was logged out and I couldn’t access my Bitstockxchange account, I contacted them and they requested I pay 20% before I could access my wallet. I had invested all my retirement and life savings into this platform and was depressed for months until a friend of mine told me about Spyweb, a reputable and trustworthy recovery company that can help me recover my money, I sent an email to Spyweb cyber and they requested for some information, this company did a thorough investigation and was able to recover everything I lost, I’m truly grateful to Spyweb Cyber and I wish to recommend them to everyone who needs their services. Spyweb Cyber has a 100% recovery rate and has truly changed the lives of so many victims of cryptocurrency scams.
You can reach them via
Email:spyweb@cyberdude.com
Email:contact@spyweb.tech
Aria Grayson
I lost about $585,000.00 USD to a fake cryptocurrency trading platform a few weeks back after I got lured into the trading platform with the intent of earning a 15% profit daily trading on the platform. It was a hell of a time for me as I could hardly pay my bills and got me ruined financially. I had to confide in a close friend of mine who then introduced me to this crypto recovery team with the best recovery Albert Gonzalez Wizard i contacted them and they were able to completely recover my stolen digital assets with ease. Their service was superb, and my problems were solved in swift action, It only took them 48 hours to investigate and track down those scammers and my funds were returned to me. I strongly recommend this team to anyone going through a similar situation with their investment or fund theft to look up this team for the best appropriate solution to avoid losing huge funds to these scammers. Send complaint to Email: info@albertgonzalezwizard.online or albertgonzalezwizard@gmail.com WhatsApp: 31685248506 Telegram: 31685248506
Linda Lee
‘’I need back my money’’.. ‘’ I need my family back’’ that was the only thoughts I had for months and thanks to Albert Gonzalez Wizard , I got back my family and my money .. I was depressed for months as my husband and 5year old left me to go live with his mum cos I used all our savings to invest in crypto investment company, took a loan and sold my car too in a bid to pay the withdrawal fees I was desperate very desperate and I nearly lost everything but thanks to Albert Gonzalez Wizard , he recovered my £861k from those heartless scammers .. it’s a long story but at the end I was happy , I am forever grateful to him.. This has made me to cross paths with him through a review on here and am writing this review here in hope that it will help someone out there , if you’ve been in a similar situation please reach out to Albert Gonzalez Wizard, he is a very competent and reliable hacker . The contact details are as follow , email: info@albertgonzalezwizard.online or albertgonzalezwizard@gmail.com whatsapp 31685248506 AND Telegram: 31685248506
Natasha Thompson
My name is Natasha Thompson from the USA/Texas.. Am so overwhelmed with gratitude to let the world know how Dr Kachi, the great spell caster changed my life for good. It all started when I lost my job and I was down financially and emotionally because I couldn’t be able provide for my two kids and staying home all day Jobless it’s not easy until I was checking on the internet when I saw a series of testimonies hearing people winning the Powerball lottery, I didn’t believed, but being poor no job you have no option. I gave it a try and I contacted Dr Kachi who told me what i have to do before I can become a big lottery winner and I accepted. He made special prayers for me in his temple and gave me the required numbers to play the lottery game and when I used the numbers to play it, I won a massive $344.6 million Powerball jackpot. I was so happy and I choose to review my winning in any platform, I would love other people to seek help from Dr Kachi through Text and Call: +1 (209) 893-8075 or email drkachispellcast@gmail.com
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.