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.

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

Record vs. opponents

Roster

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
PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
C8730086.287660
SS141558159.285177
OF135563181.32119104
OF135496125.252770

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
6022355.247134
5316945.266431

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
5340132192.56183
4737322203.79152
332201192.99112
292039124.88104
544235.5210

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGWLSVERASO
100113.501