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
Juliana Divas
I want to testify to what Dr Ughulu did for me. I did everything I could do to bring my partner back but he didn’t come back he was with someone else luckily I saw a comment which directed me to a very good powerful and kind man called Dr Ughulu that helped me bring my partner back and now he loves me so much more than ever i am so happy with life now thank you so much Dr Ughulu, I’m really appreciate you for bringing back my partner to me in my life, all these years has been very sad for me now I have been the most happiest woman in this world all because of Dr Ughulu he has done a lot for me. You can contact through his email: drughulupowerfulspelltemple@gmail.com or message him on Call/Text number: +1(252) 409-1841 or his website: https://drughulupowerfulsp.wixsite.com/my-site-ughulu
Susan Bickford
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 by his website: https://drkachispellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site
Colleen Smith
HOW TO GET BACK YOUR LOST AND STOLEN CRYPTO.
I highly recommend Captain WebGenesis for Crypto Recovery services.
Should you need support reclaiming your lost or stolen bitcoin, require help with a wrong password, trying to obtain cryptocurrency transferred to the wrong wallet address, or believe your wallet has been compromised, get in touch with Captain WebGenesis. I lost over $114k after participating in a phony binary scam. The money I fraudulently lost has been recovered thanks to the superb work of Captain WebGenesis. Working with Captain WebGenesis is trustworthy.
CONTACT INFORMATION;
Mail Add; Captainwebgenesis@hackermail.com
Website; www.captainwebgenesis.com
Colleen Smith
HOW TO GET BACK YOUR LOST AND STOLEN CRYPTO.
I highly recommend Captain WebGenesis for Crypto Recovery services.
Should you need support reclaiming your lost or stolen bitcoin, require help with a wrong password, trying to obtain cryptocurrency transferred to the wrong wallet address, or believe your wallet has been compromised, get in touch with Captain WebGenesis. I lost over $114k after participating in a phony binary scam. The money I fraudulently lost has been recovered thanks to the superb work of Captain WebGenesis. Working with Captain WebGenesis is trustworthy.
CONTACT INFORMATION;
Mail Add; Captainwebgenesis@hackermail.com
Website; www.captainwebgenesis.com
steve maxwell
I had to write back and say what an amazing experience I had with lord richard, the world’s most powerful lottery spell caster. My Heart is filled with joy and happiness after lord richard cast the Lottery spell for me and I won £4,369,877. His lottery spell changed my life into riches, I’m now out of debt and experiencing the most amazing good life after I won a huge amount of money. lord richard your Lottery spell is so real and pure. God bless you for the lottery spell that changed my life for the best, I am totally grateful for the lottery spelll lord richard did for me. You can contact him from any part of the world for special lottery numbers…
EMAIL: lordrichardspell@gmail.com
WHATSAPP: +1(360)884-0286
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.