CINCINNATI, Ohio — In 1869, amidst the backdrop of post-Civil War America, the Cincinnati Red Stockings emerged as a pioneering force in the world of baseball, becoming the country’s first professional team.

What You Need To Know

  • In 1869, amidst the backdrop of post-Civil War America, the Cincinnati Red Stockings emerged as a pioneering force in the world of baseball, becoming the country’s first professional team

  • Founded by a group of enthusiastic young players in 1865, they were nicknamed the Red Stockings in 1868 when they showed up on the field in short white pants with long red stockings

  • Their success, however, was not without controversy

  • Despite the lack of uniformity and polish, the early years of baseball were marked by a fierce competitive spirit and a love for the game that endures to this day

Founded by a group of enthusiastic young players in 1865, they were nicknamed the Red Stockings in 1868 when they showed up on the field in short white pants with long red stockings.

“The press had a field day with it, and the writers stuck that label on them” said Reds author and historian Greg Rhodes.

“Every good baseball club needs a good baseball captain, as they were called back then, and that was Harry Wright,” Rhodes said.

A player-manager, Wright recruited his younger brother George, who was the best baseball player in the country at the time, according to Rhodes. In 1869, clubs were allowed to hire players and pay them. Under the guidance of Wright, the team traveled across the United States, playing against local clubs and garnering widespread attention with an undefeated record.

Their success, however, was not without controversy, as accusations of unprofessionalism and underhanded tactics plagued the sport as it evolved from a loosely organized recreational activity for young men to a professional league.

In the era of the Cincinnati Red Stockings' inception, baseball was a far cry from the structured game we know today. The rules were still in flux, and the style of play reflected a raw, improvisational approach.

Games were often chaotic affairs, with players relying more on brute strength and instinct than refined strategy. Pitchers delivered the ball underhand, and fielders eschewed gloves, relying solely on their bare hands to make plays. Baserunning was a daring art, with players taking liberties on the base paths that would be unthinkable in modern baseball.

Despite the lack of uniformity and polish, the early years of baseball were marked by a fierce competitive spirit and a love for the game that endures to this day.

“Baseball’s been a part of Cincinnati for almost 170 years…this is one of the great baseball cities in America,” Rhodes said.

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