After floundering on the field through the late 1920s, the Reds fell into bankruptcy in 1931 before being bought by Powel Crosley, owner of a powerful radio station as well as a manufacturer of radios, appliances, other household items, and later cars. His first move was to hire Larry MacPhail as general manager.
New owner brings changes
Crosley had made his fortune manufacturing refrigerators and radios. He was also a pioneer in radio and owned the largest station in town, and one of the biggest in the nation, WLW. Redland field became Crosley Field in 1934, and the Reds embarked on a new era.
Redland field became Crosley Field, and MacPhail immediately began building the Reds farm system. He also introduced several firsts to Major League Baseball, including the introduction of regularly scheduled night games, beginning in 1935, and fireworks following some contests.
Winning ways return
The Reds gradually improved capturing the National League pennant in 1939, before losing to the New York Yankees in the World Series. In 1940, the Reds made it over the hump for the first time since the controversial 1919 World Series, downing the Detroit Tigers four games to three.
The team’s fortunes gradually declined after that, largely due to an aging roster and the onset of World War II. There were a few highlights here and there, though. For example, in 1944, a 15-year old from Hamilton, Ohio, named Joe Nuxhall, made his debut for the Reds, the youngest person ever to play in the Major Leagues. That record still stands. In 1954, Ted Kluszewski led the NL in home runs with 49.
A new nickname
A year earlier, GM Gabe Paul announced that the team would prefer to be called “Redlegs” as opposed to just Reds. According to newspapers reports, “no reason has been given for the change, and it has not been accepted generally by writers and fans, who hold to the habit of calling them The Reds.” The name was used until the end of the 1958 season when it officially went back to Reds. Many speculated that the nickname was changed from Reds due to the so-called Red Scare of the era, in which several government leaders tried to expose a communist threat to the United States.
Back on the field, the Reds dwelled in the middle of the NL standings before bouncing back and finishing third in 1956. They also had a corresponding uptick in attendance. The following year, though, rumors began to swirl that the team was going to move to New York City.
A new city?
The Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants had relocated to Los Angeles and San Francisco, respectively, for the 1957 season. New York immediately began looking for a team to replace the departed clubs and keep the city in the National League. At around this time, Powel Crosley was growing increasingly agitated with the sparse parking conditions at Crosley Field. He had no intention of moving the club but was able to use the notion as leverage to get some of the improvements he sought.
In 1961, the Reds made it back to the World Series, where they fell to the New York Yankees in five games. Sadly, Powell Crosley passed away in the spring of that year and didn’t see the team’s pennant-winning run. On March 27, 1962, a day before the first anniversary of Crosley’s death, Bill DeWitt bought Reds for a down payment of $1,250,000, on a sale price of $3,500,000.
A year later, DeWitt, disappointed with the team’s anemic attendance and aging ballpark, started entertaining offers from out-of-town interests to purchase the club and likely move it. The three leading candidates were Atlanta, Dallas, and San Diego, the latter the home of the Reds AAA farm team at the time.
However, the announcement of a new stadium to be located on the river compelled DeWitt to hang on to the team and keep them in Cincinnati, where they began building what would become, arguably, the best team in baseball history a decade later.
68 comments
Jason Campbell
DR ISIKOLO IS WHOM I GOT HELP FROM TO SAVE MY HOME
I lost our marriage and beautiful home wrecked by unhappiness seeing my wife walk away over the lies she was fed with and insecurities which were never true. I vowed from the beginning never to be a cheat and stood my ground to ensure I built a happy home but unfortunately she never trusted me enough. I wandered for months trying to get her back and sought help from various sources including her family intervention but never yielded success. I came in contact with Dr Isikolo who I doubted at the earlier stage we got in contact with. I had to keep hope alive and complied with the procedures just the way he explained everything to me. He assured me of her return which happened after two to three days and i am yet to find words to express how happy and appreciative i am knowing my son and I had his mom back home to us. I am telling everyone about Dr Isikolo and his kind heart helping people. He won’t fail you if you try him out. Contact him via email: isikolosolutionhome@gmail.com You can also WhatsApp him on +2348133261196
Kim Grayson
MY BOYFRIEND GOT BACK TO ME WITH THE HELP OF DR ISIKOLO AND I AM TRULY OVERWHELMED
Hello everyone, I am Kim Grayson from Miami. When all hope was lost in making my relationship work again between me and my boyfriend, I went online in search of help and i read and contacted DR ISIKOLO who came and fixed everything and he will remain appreciated by me for the rest of my life. Too many times I went through emotional trauma due to the unending problems I had with my man and it led to our break up and that’s why I sought help and found out about DR ISIKOLO who came to my rescue. He told me the procedures and urged me to comply which I gladly did and he didn’t delay the process of giving solutions to my problems and I got the result in just 2 days as he assured me. Don’t bother seeking help elsewhere because he is too good at helping people. He is trustworthy and honest so text him now via WhatsApp: +234-8133261196 or his email: isikolosolutionhome@gmail.com
Jason Campbell
DR ISIKOLO IS WHOM I GOT HELP FROM TO SAVE MY HOME AND RESTORED THE LOVE AND AFFECTION I HAD WITH MY WIFE
I lost our marriage and beautiful home wrecked by unhappiness seeing my wife walk away over the lies she was fed with and insecurities which were never true. I vowed from the beginning never to be a cheat and stood my ground to ensure I built a happy home but unfortunately she never trusted me enough. I wandered for months trying to get her back and sought help from various sources including her family intervention but never yielded success. I came in contact with Dr Isikolo who I doubted at the earlier stage we got in contact with. I had to keep hope alive and complied with the procedures just the way he explained everything to me. He assured me of her return which happened after two to three days and i am yet to find words to express how happy and appreciative i am knowing my son and I had his mom back home to us. I am telling everyone about Dr Isikolo and his kind heart helping people. He won’t fail you if you try him out. Contact him via email: isikolosolutionhome@gmail.com You can also WhatsApp him on +2348133261196
Vivian Marcus
Hello my name is Vivian Marcus from the United State, i’m so exciting writing this article to let people seek for help in any Break up Marriage and Relationship, Dr Kachi brought my Ex Boyfriend back to me, Thank you Sir Kachi for helped so many Relationship situation like mine to be restored, i was in pain until the day my aunt introduce me to Dr Kachi that she got her husband back with powerful love spell with help of Dr Kachi So i sent him an email telling him about my problem how my Boyfriend left me and cheating on me because of her boss lady at work i cry all day and night, but Dr Kachi told me my Boyfriend shall return back to me within 24hrs and to me everything he asked me to do the next day it was all like a dream when he text me and said please forgive me and accept me back exactly what i wanted, i am so happy now as we are back together again. because I never thought my Ex Boyfriend would be back to me so quickly with your spell. You are the best and the world greatest Dr Kachi. if you’re having broke up Ex Lover or your husband left you and moved to another woman, You do want to get Pregnant do not feel sad anymore contact: drkachispellcast@gmail. com his Text Number Call: +1 (209) 893-8075 Website: https://drkachispellcast.wixsite.com/my-site
Morgan
With so much in my heart I am here to express myself on how Priest Salami saved my marriage from divorce. Myself and my husband were having some misunderstanding and it was tearing our marriage apart to the extent my husband was seeking a divorce. So I have no option other than to go to the internet to seek a solution to my problem. It was there I came across Priest Salami details and about how he has helped a lot of people by restoring their relationship. I contacted Priest Salami and in less than 48 hours my husband cancelled the divorce papers. Now myself and my husband live together in peace and harmony all thanks to Priest Salami for saving my marriage from breaking up. Priest Salami contact information are via email: purenaturalhealer@gmail.com. Whatsapp number: +2348143757229
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.