1988 Cincinnati Reds season

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}

{{Infobox baseball team season

| name = Cincinnati Reds

| season = 1988

| misc =

| league = National League

| division = West

| ballpark = Riverfront Stadium

| city = Cincinnati

| record = 87–74 (.540)

| divisional_place = 2nd

| owners = Marge Schott

| general_managers = Murray Cook

| managers =Pete Rose

| television = WLWT
(Jay Randolph, Johnny Bench)

| radio = WLW
(Marty Brennaman, Joe Nuxhall)

|}}

The 1988 Cincinnati Reds season was the 119th season for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 19th and 18th full season at Riverfront Stadium. It marked the last of four consecutive winning seasons for the Reds, all of which resulted in second place finishes in the National League West. Led by manager Pete Rose, the Reds finished with the best record of these four seasons at 87 wins and 74 losses, but finished seven games back of the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The 1988 season would be Pete Rose's last full season as Reds manager.

Offseason

Regular season

Danny Jackson became the last pitcher to win at least 20 games in one season for the Reds in the 20th Century. The 1988 season also marked the final season for the gifted shortstop, Dave Concepción, an integral member of the Big Red Machine of the 1970s in which he played the last of 19 years with the club.Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.98, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, {{ISBN|978-0-451-22363-0}}

=Suspension of Pete Rose=

The stage was set in a dramatic end of a home game on April 30 against the New York Mets, in which the score was tied 5–5 leading into the ninth inning. The game had been contentious throughout, with two hit batsman and a bench-clearing brawl in the seventh inning that resulted in the ejections of both Tom Browning and Darryl Strawberry.{{cite news|title=Mets frustrate Reds (Part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24111402/|first=Greg|last=Hoard|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|page=13|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 1, 1988|access-date=September 28, 2018}}{{Open access}}{{cite news|title=Mets frustrate Reds (Part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24111412/|first=Greg|last=Hoard|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|page=15|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 1, 1988|access-date=September 28, 2018}}{{Open access}} With the Mets batting with two outs in the top of the ninth, Mookie Wilson hit a ground ball to shortstop Barry Larkin, whose throw to first base was wide and pulled first baseman Nick Esasky's foot from the bag. First-base umpire Dave Pallone, who'd long been seen as unfair by the Reds, hesitated before making a delayed safe call. Esasky, waiting for the call, failed to make a throw to the plate on Howard Johnson's attempt to score from second base. Johnson's bold baserunning proved to be the difference and stood as the game-winning run for the Mets. A furious Pete Rose rushed from the dugout, vehemently arguing the call. Rose later claimed that Pallone hit him in the cheek with his finger, prompting Rose to shove Pallone twice with his shoulder and forearm knocking him backward. Rose was then ejected and had to be restrained by his own coaches. At the same time, fans in the stadium began showering the field with debris, at which time Pallone left the field with the players retreating to the dugouts.

After a nearly 15-minute suspension of play, the game was resumed with the remaining three umpires.{{cite news|title=Stadium uproar (Part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24111181/|first1=Greg|last1=Hoard|first2=John|last2=Erardi|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|page=1|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 1, 1988|access-date=September 28, 2018}}{{Open access}}{{cite news|title=Stadium uproar (Part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24111215/|first1=Greg|last1=Hoard|first2=John|last2=Erardi|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|page=9|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 1, 1988|access-date=September 28, 2018}}{{Open access}} National League president A. Bartlett Giamatti suspended Rose for thirty days, which was the longest suspension ever levied for an on-field incident involving a manager. Rose was also fined. In addition, Reds radio announcers Marty Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall were criticized for inciting the fan response with what were characterized by "inflammatory and completely irresponsible remarks". At the time, especially given Brennaman's and Nuxhall's iconic status in Cincinnati, it was common for spectators at ballparks to listen to their teams' radio broadcasts using portable radios.{{cite news|last = Chass| first = Murray |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/03/sports/pete-rose-is-suspended-30-days.html|title=Pete Rose Is Suspended 30 Days|access-date=May 15, 2015 | work=The New York Times | date=May 3, 1988}}

=Season standings=

{{1988 NL West standings}}

=Record vs. opponents=

{{1988 NL Record vs. opponents|team=CIN}}

=Notable transactions=

  • March 29, 1988: Guy Hoffman was released by the Reds.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hoffmgu01.shtml Guy Hoffman page at Baseball Reference]
  • May 14, 1988: Skeeter Barnes was signed as a free agent by the Reds.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/barnesk01.shtml Skeeter Barnes page at Baseball Reference]
  • June 1, 1988: Paul Byrd was drafted by the Reds in the 13th round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/byrdpa01.shtml Paul Byrd page at Baseball Reference]
  • June 20, 1988: Mario Soto was released by the Reds.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sotoma01.shtml Mario Soto page at Baseball Reference]
  • July 11, 1988: Max Venable was signed as a free agent by the Reds.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/v/venabma01.shtml Max Venable page at Baseball Reference]
  • July 13, 1988: Tracy Jones and Pat Pacillo were traded by the Reds to the Montreal Expos for Jeff Reed, Herm Winningham, and Randy St. Claire.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/j/jonestr01.shtml Tracy Jones page at Baseball Reference]
  • August 2, 1988: Ken Griffey, Sr. was signed as a free agent by the Reds.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/g/griffke01.shtml Ken Griffey page at Baseball Reference]

=Roster=

class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%;"
colspan="10" style="background:#c6011f; color:#fff; text-align:center;"| 1988 Cincinnati Reds
colspan="10" style="background:black; color:#fff; text-align:center;"| Roster
valign="top" | Pitchers

{{MLBplayer|40|Jack Armstrong}}

{{MLBplayer|48|Tim Birtsas}}

{{MLBplayer|38|Keith Brown}}

{{MLBplayer|32|Tom Browning}}

{{MLBplayer|37|Norm Charlton}}

{{MLBplayer|49|Rob Dibble}}

{{MLBplayer|31|John Franco}}

{{MLBplayer|43|Jeff Gray}}

{{MLBplayer|20|Danny Jackson}}

{{MLBplayer|46|Rob Murphy}}

{{MLBplayer|35|Pat Pacillo}}

{{MLBplayer|38|Pat Perry}}

{{MLBplayer|45|Dennis Rasmussen}}

{{MLBplayer|27|José Rijo}}

{{MLBplayer|33|Ron Robinson}}

{{MLBplayer|45|Candy Sierra}}

{{MLBplayer|36|Mario Soto}}

{{MLBplayer|35|Randy St. Claire}}

{{MLBplayer|47|Frank Williams}}

| style="width:25px;"|

| valign="top" | Catchers

{{MLBplayer| 6|Bo Díaz}}

{{MLBplayer|23|Lloyd McClendon}}

{{MLBplayer| 8|Terry McGriff}}

{{MLBplayer|34|Jeff Reed}}

Infielders

{{MLBplayer|25|Buddy Bell}}

{{MLBplayer|51|Marty Brown}}

{{MLBplayer|13|Dave Concepción}}

{{MLBplayer|10|Leon Durham}}

{{MLBplayer|12|Nick Esasky}}

{{MLBplayer|25|Ken Griffey}}

{{MLBplayer|56|Lenny Harris}}

{{MLBplayer|11|Barry Larkin}}

{{MLBplayer|16|Ron Oester}}

{{MLBplayer| 9|Luis Quiñones}}

{{MLBplayer|15|Jeff Treadway}}

| style="width:25px;"|

| valign="top" | Outfielders

{{MLBplayer|22|Dave Collins}}

{{MLBplayer|28|Kal Daniels}}

{{MLBplayer|44|Eric Davis}}

{{MLBplayer|26|Leo Garcia}}

{{MLBplayer|29|Tracy Jones}}

{{MLBplayer| 9|Eddie Milner}}

{{MLBplayer|21|Paul O'Neill}}

{{MLBplayer|39|Ron Roenicke}}

{{MLBplayer|57|Van Snyder}}

{{MLBplayer|29|Herm Winningham}}

| style="width:25px;"|

| valign="top" |

Manager

{{MLBplayer|14|Pete Rose}}

Coaches

{{MLBplayer| 2|Scott Breeden}}

{{MLBplayer|19|Tommy Helms}}

{{MLBplayer| 4|Bruce Kimm}}

{{MLBplayer

-|Lee May}}

{{MLBplayer|24|Tony Pérez}}

=All-Star Game=

The 1988 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 59th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and National League (NL), the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 12, 1988, at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, the home of the Cincinnati Reds of the National League. The game resulted in the American League defeating the National League 2-1.

=The Perfect Game=

File:Los Angeles Dodgers at Cincinnati Reds 1988-09-16 (ticket).JPG

Tom Browning pitched a perfect game on September 16, 1988 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. {{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN198809160.shtml|title=Los Angeles Dodgers at Cincinnati Reds, Box Score, September 16, 1988 |access-date=2021-09-20|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com}}

==Scorecard==

September 16, 1988, Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:425px; margin-left:3em;"
style="text-align:center; background:#e6e6e6;"

! style="text-align:left; width:28%;"|Team

!width=6%|1

!width=6%|2

!width=6%|3

!width=6%|4

!width=6%|5

!width=6%|6

!width=6%|7

!width=6%|8

!width=6%|9

!width=6%|R

!width=6%|H

!width=6%|E

style="text-align:center;"

|align=left|Los Angeles

|0

00

|0

00

|0

00

|0

01
style="text-align:center;"

|align=left|Cincinnati

|0

00

|0

01

|0

0X

|1

30
style="text-align:left;"

|colspan=13|W: Tom Browning (16-5)  L: Tim Belcher (10-5)  

style="text-align:left;"

|colspan=13|Attendance: 16,591, Time: 1:51

==Batting==

class="wikitable sortable"
Los Angeles Dodgers

!AB

!R

!H

!RBI

!Cincinnati Reds

!AB

!R

!H

!RBI

Griffin, ss

|3

|0

|0

|0

|Larkin, ss

|3

|1

|1

|0

Hatcher, 1b

|3

|0

|0

|0

|Sabo, 3b

|3

|0

|1

|0

Gibson, lf

|3

|0

|0

|0

|Daniels, lf

|3

|0

|0

|0

Gonzalez, lf

|0

|0

|0

|0

|Davis, cf

|2

|0

|0

|0

Marshall, rf

|3

|0

|0

|0

|O'Neill, rf

|3

|0

|0

|0

Shelby, cf

|3

|0

|0

|0

|Esasky, 1b

|3

|0

|0

|0

Hamilton, 3b

|3

|0

|0

|0

|Reed, c

|3

|0

|0

|0

Dempsey, c

|3

|0

|0

|0

|Oester, 2b

|3

|0

|1

|0

Sax, 2b

|3

|0

|0

|0

|Browning, p

|3

|0

|0

|0

Belcher, p

|2

|0

|0

|0

|None

|0

|0

|0

|0

Woodson, ph

|1

|0

|0

|0

|None

|0

|0

|0

|0

Totals

|27

|0

|0

|0

|Totals

|26

|1

|3

|0

==Pitching==

class="wikitable sortable"
Los Angeles Dodgers

!IP

!H

!R

!ER

!BB

!SO

!Cincinnati Reds

!IP

!H

!R

!ER

!BB

!SO

Belcher, L (10-5)

|8.0

|3

|1

|0

|1

|7

|Browning, W (16-5)

|9.0

|0

|0

|0

|0

|7

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

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#ddf; width:5%;"| Pos

! style="background:#ddf; width:16%;"| Player

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| G

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| AB

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| H

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| Avg.

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| HR

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| RBI

align="center"

| C

{{sortname|Bo|Díaz}}9231569.2191035
align="center"

| 1B

{{sortname|Nick|Esasky}}12239195.2431562
align="center"

| 2B

{{sortname|Jeff|Treadway}}10330176.252223
align="center"

| SS

{{sortname|Barry|Larkin}}151588174.2961256
align="center"

| 3B

{{sortname|Chris|Sabo}}137538146.2711144
align="center"

| LF

{{sortname|Kal|Daniels}}140495144.2911864
align="center"

| CF

{{sortname|Eric|Davis|Eric Davis (baseball)}}135472129.2732693
align="center"

| RF

{{sortname|Paul|O'Neill|Paul O'Neill (baseball)}}145485122.2521673

==Other batters==

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

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#ddf; width:16%;"| Player

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| G

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| AB

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| H

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| Avg.

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| HR

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| RBI

align="center"

| Dave Concepción

8419739.19808
align="center"

| Dave Collins

9917441.236014
align="center"

| Ron Oester

5415042.280010
align="center"

| Jeff Reed

4914233.23217
align="center"

| Lloyd McClendon

7213730.219314
align="center"

| Herm Winningham

5311326.230015
align="center"

| Terry McGriff

359619.19814
align="center"

| Tracy Jones

378319.22919
align="center"

| Buddy Bell

215410.18503
align="center"

| Luis Quiñones

235212.231111
align="center"

| Leon Durham

215111.21612
align="center"

| Eddie Milner

23519.17602
align="center"

| Ken Griffey Sr.

255014.28024
align="center"

| Lenny Harris

164316.37208
align="center"

| Ron Roenicke

14375.13505
align="center"

| Leo García

23284.14300
align="center"

| Van Snider

11286.21416
align="center"

| Marty Brown

10163.18802

=Pitching=

==Starting pitchers==

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

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#ddf; width:16%;"| Player

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| G

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| IP

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| W

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| L

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| ERA

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| SO

style="text-align:center;"

| Danny Jackson

35261.02382.73161
style="text-align:center;"

| Tom Browning

36250.21853.41124
align="center"

| Mario Soto

1487.0374.6634
align="center"

| Ron Robinson

1778.2374.1238
align="center"

| Jack Armstrong

1465.1475.7945
align="center"

| Norm Charlton

1061.1453.9639
align="center"

| Dennis Rasmussen

1156.1265.7527

==Other pitchers==

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

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#ddf; width:16%;"| Player

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| G

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| IP

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| W

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| L

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| ERA

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| SO

align="center"

| José Rijo

49162.01382.39160
align="center"

| Keith Brown

416.1212.766

==Relief pitchers==

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

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#ddf; width:16%;"| Player

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| G

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| W

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| L

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| SV

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| ERA

! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| SO

align="center"

| John Franco

7066391.5746
align=center

| Rob Murphy

760633.0874
align="center"

| Frank Williams

603212.5943
align="center"

| Rob Dibble

371101.8259
align="center"

| Tim Birtsas

361304.2038
align="center"

| Pat Perry

122205.6611
align="center"

| Randy St. Claire

101002.638
align="center"

| Pat Pacillo

61005.0611
align="center"

| Jeff Gray

50003.865
align="center"

| Candy Sierra

10004.504
align="center"

| Dave Concepción

10000.001

Farm system

{{See also|Minor League Baseball}}

{{MLB Farm System|level15=AAA|team15=Nashville Sounds|league15=American Association|manager15=Jack Lind, Wayne Garland, Jim Hoff,
George Scherger and Frank Lucchesi

|level16=AA |team16=Chattanooga Lookouts|league16=Southern League|manager16=Tom Runnells

|level17=A |team17=Cedar Rapids Reds|league17=Midwest League|manager18=Marc Bombard

|level18=A |team18=Greensboro Hornets|league18=South Atlantic League|manager17=Dave Miley

|level19=Rookie|team19=GCL Reds|league19=Gulf Coast League|manager19=Sam Mejías

|level20=Rookie|team20=Billings Mustangs|league20=Pioneer League|manager20=Dave Keller

}}LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Chattanooga, Cedar RapidsJohnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007

Awards and honors

  • Ron Oester, Hutch Award{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_hut.shtml |title=Hutch Award |publisher=Baseball-almanac.com |access-date=August 24, 2012}}

References

{{Reflist}}

  • [https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/1988.shtml 1988 Cincinnati Reds season at Baseball Reference]
  • [http://baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1988&t=CN5 1988 Cincinnati Reds season at Baseball Almanac]

{{1988 MLB season by team}}

{{Cincinnati Reds|width=53em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1988 Cincinnati Reds Season}}

Cincinnati Reds Season, 1988

Category:Cincinnati Reds seasons

Cinc