1889 Cincinnati Red Stockings season

The 1889 Cincinnati Red Stockings season was a season in American baseball. The team finished in fourth place in the American Association with a record of 76–63, 18 games behind the Brooklyn Bridegrooms.

1889 Cincinnati Red Stockings
League	American Association
Ballpark	American Park
City	Cincinnati
Owner	Aaron S. Stern^[1]
Manager	Gus Schmelz
← 1888 1890 →

Regular season

The Red Stockings brought back manager Gus Schmelz for a third season in 1889, as he led the team to two straight seasons of 80 or more victories. Cincinnati would have a new shortstop, signing local area player Ollie Beard to his first contract. Cincinnati also signed rookie Bug Holliday, who would play in the outfield. On the mound, another rookie, Jesse Duryea, would join the Red Stockings.

Bug Holliday had an excellent rookie season, hitting .321 with a league high nineteen home runs and a franchise record 104 RBI. George Tebeau hit .252 with seven homers and 70 RBI, while scoring a team high 110 runs. Hugh Nicol once again led Cincinnati in stolen bases, however, he failed to crack 100 for the first time since joining the team, as he stole 80 bases.

Jesse Duryea was the ace of the Red Stockings staff, going 32–19 with a 2.56 ERA in 53 games. Lee Viau had a 22–20 record with a 3.79 ERA, while Tony Mullane was 11–9 with a 2.99 ERA.

Season summary

Cincinnati began the season badly, as they lost their first four games, and were 5–10 in their first fifteen games. The Red Stockings responded by going 16–6 in their next 22 games to climb into third place, however, the team lost their next seven games to fall under .500 once again and into sixth place. Cincinnati would never be a factor in the pennant race, finishing in fourth place with a 76–63 record, eighteen games behind the Brooklyn Bridegrooms.

Season standings

v t e American Association	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Brooklyn Bridegrooms	93	44	0.679	—	50–19	43–25
St. Louis Browns	90	45	0.667	2	51–18	39–27
Philadelphia Athletics	75	58	0.564	16	46–22	29–36
Cincinnati Red Stockings	76	63	0.547	18	47–26	29–37
Baltimore Orioles	70	65	0.519	22	40–24	30–41
Columbus Solons	60	78	0.435	33½	36–33	24–45
Kansas City Cowboys	55	82	0.401	38	35–35	20–47
Louisville Colonels	27	111	0.196	66½	18–46	9–65

Record vs. opponents

1889 American Association record v t e Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team	BAL	BR	CIN	COL	KC	LOU	PHI	STL
Baltimore	—	8–12	8–11–2	12–8	11–7	16–4	8–11	7–12–2
Brooklyn	12–8	—	15–5	11–8–2	16–4	19–1	12–7–1	8–11
Cincinnati	11–8–2	5–15	—	11–9	14–6	18–2	9–11	8–12
Columbus	8–12	8–11–2	9–11	—	9–11	13–7	7–12	6–14
Kansas City	7–11	4–16	6–14	11–9	—	13–6	8–12–1	6–14–1
Louisville	4–16	1–19	2–18	7–13	6–13	—	5–14–1	2–18–1
Philadelphia	11–8	7–12–1	11–9	12–7	12–8–1	14–5–1	—	8–9–2
St. Louis	12–7–2	11–8	12–8	14–6	14–6–1	18–2–1	9–8–2	—

Game log

Legend
Red Stockings Win	Red Stockings Loss	Game Tied/Postponed

1889 Game Log: 76–63 (Home: 47–26; Away: 29–37)
April: 4–8 (Home: 3–4; Away: 1–4) # Date Opponent Score Stadium Attendance Record Streak 1 April 17 Browns 1–5 American Park 15,000 0-1 L1 2 April 18 Browns 4–12 American Park 4,000 0-2 L2 3 April 19 Browns 3–4 American Park N/A 0-3 L3 4 April 20 Browns 0–2 American Park N/A 0-4 L4 5 April 21 Cowboys 7–6 American Park N/A 1-4 W1 6 April 22 Cowboys 10–1 American Park N/A 2-4 W2 7 April 23 Cowboys 7–5 American Park N/A 3-4 W3 8 April 25 @ Browns 5–10 Sportsman's Park N/A 3-5 L1 9 April 26 @ Browns 2–8 Sportsman's Park N/A 3-6 L2 10 April 27 @ Browns 12–10 Sportsman's Park N/A 4-6 W1 11 April 28 @ Browns 2–5 Sportsman's Park N/A 4-7 L2 - April 29 @ Cowboys Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 27 12 April 30 @ Cowboys 6–8 Exposition Park N/A 4-8 L3
May: 17–9 (Home: 13–5; Away: 4–4) # Date Opponent Score Stadium Attendance Record Streak 13 May 1 @ Cowboys 14–3 Exposition Park N/A 5-8 W1 14 May 2 @ Cowboys 2–3 Exposition Park N/A 5-9 L1 15 May 4 Colonels 2–8 American Park N/A 5-10 L2 16 May 5 Colonels 12–5 American Park N/A 6-10 W1 17 May 6 Colonels 8–7 American Park N/A 7-10 W2 18 May 7 Athletics 1–7 American Park N/A 7-11 L1 19 May 8 Athletics 6–2 American Park N/A 8-11 W1 20 May 9 Athletics 14–6 American Park N/A 9-11 W2 21 May 10 Athletics 10–0 American Park N/A 10-11 W3 - May 11 Bridegrooms Postponed (rain); Makeup: May 15 22 May 12 Bridegrooms 7–10 American Park N/A 10-12 L1 - May 13 Bridegrooms Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 16 23 May 14 Bridegrooms 0–4 American Park N/A 10-13 L2 24 May 15 Bridegrooms 6–10 American Park N/A 10-14 L3 25 May 16 Orioles 4–2 American Park N/A 11-14 W1 26 May 17 Orioles 14–5 American Park N/A 12-14 W2 27 May 18 Orioles 7–5 American Park N/A 13-14 W3 28 May 19 Orioles 8–5 American Park N/A 14-14 W4 - May 20 Solons Postponed (site change); Makeup: May 20 29 May 20 @ Solons 0–2 Recreation Park N/A 14-15 L1 - May 21 Solons Postponed (site change); Makeup: May 21 30 May 21 @ Solons 13–10 Recreation Park N/A 15-15 W1 - May 22 Solons Postponed (cold, site change); Makeup: May 24 - May 23 Solons Postponed (site change); Makeup: May 23 31 May 23 @ Solons 5–4 Recreation Park N/A 16-15 W2 32 May 24 @ Solons 4–0 Recreation Park N/A 17-15 W3 - May 25 @ Colonels Postponed (site change); Makeup: May 26 - May 26 @ Colonels Postponed (site change); Makeup: May 26 33 May 26 1 Colonels 8–7 American Park N/A 18-15 W4 34 May 26 2 Colonels 16–4 American Park N/A 19-15 W5 - May 27 @ Colonels Postponed (site change); Makeup: May 27 35 May 27 Colonels 10–9 American Park N/A 20-15 W6 - May 28 @ Colonels Postponed (site change); Makeup: May 28 36 May 28 Colonels 13–12 American Park N/A 21-15 W7 37 May 30 1 @ Athletics 0–3 Jefferson Street Grounds N/A 21-16 L1 38 May 30 2 @ Athletics 1–6 Jefferson Street Grounds N/A 21-17 L2 - May 31 @ Athletics Postponed (rain); Makeup: May 30
June: 10–10 (Home: 5–0; Away: 5–10) # Date Opponent Score Stadium Attendance Record Streak 39 June 1 @ Athletics 4–8 Jefferson Street Grounds N/A 21-18 L3 40 June 2 @ Athletics 2–4 Jefferson Street Grounds N/A 21-19 L4 41 June 3 @ Orioles 2–7 Oriole Park N/A 21-20 L5 42 June 4 @ Orioles 2–3 Oriole Park N/A 21-21 L6 43 June 5 @ Orioles 6–13 Oriole Park N/A 21-22 L7 44 June 6 @ Orioles 10–3 Oriole Park N/A 22-22 W1 - June 8 @ Solons Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 1 45 June 9 @ Solons 4–17 Recreation Park N/A 22-23 L1 - June 10 @ Solons Postponed (site change); Makeup: July 9 - June 11 @ Solons Postponed (site change); Makeup: June 11 46 June 11 Solons 5–2 American Park N/A 23-23 W1 47 June 13 @ Bridegrooms 1–2 Washington Park N/A 23-24 L1 48 June 14 @ Bridegrooms 4–7 Washington Park N/A 23-25 L2 - June 15 @ Bridegrooms Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 2 49 June 16 @ Bridegrooms 4–3 Washington Park N/A 24-25 W1 50 June 20 Cowboys 5–4 American Park N/A 25-25 W2 51 June 21 Cowboys 9–2 American Park N/A 26-25 W3 52 June 22 Cowboys 11–3 American Park N/A 27-25 W4 53 June 23 Cowboys 15–7 American Park N/A 28-25 W5 54 June 25 @ Browns 3–7 Sportsman's Park N/A 28-26 L1 55 June 26 @ Browns 6–1 Sportsman's Park N/A 29-26 W1 56 June 27 @ Browns 8–6 Sportsman's Park N/A 30-26 W2 57 June 29 @ Cowboys 3–9 Exposition Park N/A 30-27 L1 58 June 30 @ Cowboys 9–3 Exposition Park N/A 31-27 W1
July: 14–11 (Home: 10–7; Away: 4–4) # Date Opponent Score Stadium Attendance Record Streak 59 July 1 @ Cowboys 3–6 Exposition Park N/A 31-28 L1 60 July 3 Orioles 3–3 American Park N/A 31-28 L1 61 July 4 1 Orioles 0–8 American Park N/A 31-29 L2 62 July 4 2 Orioles 11–5 American Park N/A 32-29 W1 63 July 5 Orioles 10–9 American Park N/A 33-29 W2 64 July 6 Athletics 5–2 American Park N/A 34-29 W3 65 July 7 Athletics 5–6 American Park N/A 34-30 L1 66 July 8 Athletics 11–3 American Park N/A 35-30 W1 67 July 9 Solons 16–10 American Park N/A 36-30 W2 68 July 10 Solons 4–2 American Park N/A 37-30 W3 69 July 11 Solons 4–7 American Park N/A 37-31 L1 70 July 12 Solons 6–5 American Park N/A 38-31 W1 71 July 13 Bridegrooms 5–15 American Park N/A 38-32 L1 - July 14 Bridegrooms Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 23 72 July 15 Bridegrooms 4–6 American Park N/A 38-33 L2 73 July 16 Bridegrooms 4–3 American Park N/A 39-33 W1 74 July 18 Browns 5–1 American Park N/A 40-33 W2 75 July 20 Browns 1–5 American Park N/A 40-34 L1 76 July 21 Browns 10–1 American Park N/A 41-34 W1 77 July 23 @ Athletics 9–1 Jefferson Street Grounds N/A 42-34 W2 78 July 24 @ Athletics 6–5 Jefferson Street Grounds N/A 43-34 W3 79 July 25 @ Athletics 10–6 Jefferson Street Grounds N/A 44-34 W4 80 July 26 @ Bridegrooms 6–20 Washington Park N/A 44-35 L1 81 July 27 @ Bridegrooms 2–6 Washington Park N/A 44-36 L2 82 July 28 @ Bridegrooms 2–1 Washington Park N/A 45-36 W1 - July 29 @ Solons Postponed (site change); Makeup: August 21 - July 30 @ Solons Postponed (site change); Makeup: July 30 83 July 30 Solons 3–4 American Park N/A 45-37 L1 84 July 31 @ Solons 5–6 Recreation Park N/A 45-38 L2
August: 13–12 (Home: 8–8; Away: 5–4) # Date Opponent Score Stadium Attendance Record Streak 85 August 1 @ Solons 16–5 Recreation Park N/A 46-38 W1 86 August 2 @ Orioles 3–5 Oriole Park N/A 46-39 L1 87 August 3 @ Orioles 2–6 Oriole Park N/A 46-40 L2 88 August 5 @ Orioles 3–2 Oriole Park N/A 47-40 W1 89 August 7 @ Colonels 5–4 Eclipse Park N/A 48-40 W2 90 August 8 @ Colonels 4–3 Eclipse Park N/A 49-40 W3 91 August 9 @ Colonels 15–8 Eclipse Park N/A 50-40 W4 92 August 10 Orioles 20–0 American Park N/A 51-40 W5 93 August 11 Orioles 3–4 American Park N/A 51-41 L1 94 August 12 Orioles 6–7 American Park N/A 51-42 L2 95 August 13 Athletics 4–10 American Park N/A 51-43 L3 96 August 14 Athletics 7–6 American Park N/A 52-43 W1 97 August 15 Athletics 9–10 American Park N/A 52-44 L1 98 August 17 Solons 9–3 American Park N/A 53-44 W1 - August 18 Solons Postponed (Sunday game stopped); Makeup: August 19 99 August 19 Solons 3–4 American Park N/A 53-45 L1 100 August 20 Solons 2–3 American Park N/A 53-46 L2 101 August 21 Solons 9–3 American Park N/A 54-46 W1 102 August 22 Bridegrooms 18–5 American Park N/A 55-46 W2 103 August 23 Bridegrooms 4–10 American Park N/A 55-47 L1 104 August 24 Bridegrooms 4–6 American Park N/A 55-48 L2 - August 25 Bridegrooms Postponed (Sunday game stopped, site change); Makeup: September 5 105 August 26 Colonels 19–6 American Park N/A 56-48 W1 106 August 27 Colonels 10–4 American Park N/A 57-48 W2 107 August 28 Colonels 6–4 American Park N/A 58-48 W3 108 August 30 @ Athletics 1–7 Jefferson Street Grounds N/A 58-49 L1 109 August 31 @ Athletics 2–7 Jefferson Street Grounds N/A 58-50 L2
September: 10–11 (Home: 0–0; Away: 10–11) # Date Opponent Score Stadium Attendance Record Streak 110 September 1 @ Athletics 0–4 Jefferson Street Grounds N/A 58-51 L3 111 September 2 1 @ Bridegrooms 4–7 Washington Park N/A 58-52 L4 112 September 2 2 @ Bridegrooms 11–4 Washington Park N/A 59-52 W1 113 September 3 @ Bridegrooms 8–13 Washington Park 2,600 59-53 L1 114 September 4 @ Bridegrooms 1–12 Washington Park N/A 59-54 L2 115 September 5 @ Bridegrooms 3–6 Washington Park N/A 59-55 L3 116 September 7 @ Orioles 5–5 Oriole Park N/A 59-55 L3 117 September 9 @ Orioles 12–8 Oriole Park N/A 60-55 W1 118 September 10 @ Orioles 6–3 Oriole Park N/A 61-55 W2 119 September 12 @ Solons 1–12 Recreation Park N/A 61-56 L1 120 September 14 @ Solons 1–9 Recreation Park N/A 61-57 L2 121 September 15 @ Solons 4–1 Recreation Park N/A 62-57 W1 122 September 17 @ Colonels 5–1 Eclipse Park N/A 63-57 W2 123 September 18 @ Colonels 4–3 Eclipse Park N/A 64-57 W3 124 September 19 @ Colonels 0–8 Eclipse Park N/A 64-58 L1 125 September 21 @ Browns 5–4 Sportsman's Park N/A 65-58 W1 126 September 22 @ Browns 17–6 Sportsman's Park N/A 66-58 W2 127 September 23 @ Browns 1–5 Sportsman's Park N/A 66-59 L1 128 September 26 @ Cowboys 6–8 Exposition Park N/A 66-60 L2 129 September 27 @ Cowboys 16–8 Exposition Park N/A 67-60 W1 130 September 28 @ Cowboys 7–9 Exposition Park N/A 67-61 L1 - September 29 @ Cowboys Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 30 131 September 30 @ Cowboys 9–8 Exposition Park N/A 68-61 W1
October: 8–2 (Home: 8–2; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Stadium Attendance Record Streak 132 October 3 Colonels 14–3 American Park N/A 69-61 W2 133 October 4 Colonels 9–2 American Park N/A 70-61 W3 134 October 5 Colonels 8–1 American Park N/A 71-61 W4 - October 6 Colonels Postponed (Sunday game stopped); Makeup: October 7 135 October 7 Colonels 9–3 American Park N/A 72-61 W5 136 October 8 Cowboys 10–3 American Park N/A 73-61 W6 137 October 9 Cowboys 13–1 American Park N/A 74-61 W7 138 October 10 Cowboys 10–2 American Park N/A 75-61 W8 - October 12 Browns Postponed (wet grounds); Makeup: October 15 - October 13 Browns Postponed (rain); Makeup: October 15 139 October 14 Browns 1–5 American Park 3,000 75-62 L1 140 October 15 1 Browns 8–3 American Park N/A 76-62 W1 141 October 15 2 Browns 1–2 American Park N/A 76-63 L1

Roster

1889 Cincinnati Red Stockings
Roster
Pitchers Theodore Conover Jesse Duryea Tony Mullane Charlie Petty Mike Smith Lee Viau		Catchers Kid Baldwin Jim Keenan Infielders Ollie Beard Hick Carpenter Bid McPhee John Reilly		Outfielders Billy Earle Bug Holliday Hugh Nicol George Tebeau		Manager Gus Schmelz

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C	Jim Keenan	87	300	86	.287	6	60
1B	John Reilly	111	427	111	.260	5	66
2B	Bid McPhee	135	540	145	.269	5	57
SS	Ollie Beard	141	558	159	.285	1	77
3B	Hick Carpenter	123	486	127	.261	0	63
OF	Hugh Nicol	122	474	121	.255	2	58
OF	Bug Holliday	135	563	181	.321	19	104
OF	George Tebeau	135	496	125	.252	7	70

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
Kid Baldwin	60	223	55	.247	1	34
Billy Earle	53	169	45	.266	4	31

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Jesse Duryea	53	401.0	32	19	2.56	183
Lee Viau	47	373.0	22	20	3.79	152
Tony Mullane	33	220.0	11	9	2.99	112
Mike Smith	29	203.0	9	12	4.88	104
Charlie Petty	5	44.0	2	3	5.52	10

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Theodore Conover	1	0	0	1	13.50	1

References

1. "Reds owners". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 3, 2005. p. 20. Retrieved September 14, 2020 – via newspapers.com.

External links

• 1889 Cincinnati Red Stockings season at Baseball Reference