September 23, 1893: Elton “Ice Box” Chamberlin fires a seven-inning no-hitter (shortened by darkness) as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Boston Beaneaters, 7-0.
Chamberlin was a star pitcher who bridged the days of the American Association and the National League as well as the lengthening of the pitching distance from 50′ to 60’6″. Chamberlin pitched three seasons for the Reds (1892-94), compiling a 45-44 record with a 4.00 ERA (105 ERA+). For his 10 year career, Chamberlin was 157-120 with a 3.57 ERA (112 ERA+). He was a 32 game winner for the St. Louis Browns in 1889 and finished in the top five in ERA each year from 1888-1890.
The 1893 Reds finished the year 65-63, sixth place in the National League.
September 23, 1901: The Reds lose, 25-6, to the Brooklyn Superbas, the first of three consecutive lopsided losses to the Brooklyn team. The last place Reds, who finished the year 52-87, lost the games by scores of 25-6, 16-2, and 9-2. The 1901 Reds lost 19 of their 25 games in Hall of Famer Bid McPhee’s first year of managing the team. McPhee lasted 64 games into 1902 (27-37) before being replaced as manager. His overall record was 79-124.
The 1901 team boasted two Hall of Famers, first baseman Jake Beckley (.307 BA, 130 OPS+) and outfielder Sam Crawford (.330, league leading 16 homers, 104 rbi, .903 OPS, 167 OPS+) along with star pitcher Noodles Hahn. Hahn was 22-19 with a 2.71 ERA (118 ERA+) for a team that only 52 games. However, the guys had very little help and the lack of overall talent led to a last place Cincinnati team.
September 23, 1966: Jim Maloney strikes out 13 batters in a 7-0 win over the New York Mets. Maloney gave up five hits and walked three on his way to finishing the year 16-8 with a 2.80 ERA. The 1966 Reds finished the year 76-84, in seventh place, 18 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
September 23, 1977: George Foster cracks his 50th home run of the year, breaking Ted Kluszewski’s record of 49 set in 1949. Foster’s Reds’ record breaking home run was hit off Atlanta Braves pitcher Buzz Capra. Foster finished the year with 52 home runs, leading the majors along with his total of 149 rbi (also a Reds record). Foster batted .320 (finishing fourth) and won the National League Most Valuable Player Award. The 1977 Reds finished second in the National League Western Division with a 88-74 record, ten games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
September 23, 1992: Bip Roberts goes 3-3 with two doubles to finish a streak of ten consecutive hits to tie the National League record set by another Red, Woody Williams back in 1943. During the streak, Roberts had five doubles and five singles, and scored seven runs.
Roberts had his best season in 1992, batting .323 with a .393 OBP, 44 steals, and a 132 OPS+. The 1992 Reds finished the year 92-70 in second place in the National League Western Division, eight games behind the Atlanta Braves. In two seasons with the Reds, Roberts batted .294; in 12 major league seasons, Roberts batted .294 with an OPS+ of exactly 100.