Today in Cincinnati Reds History: December 12

Today in Cincinnati Reds history…

1908: The Reds execute a trade with the Cardinals, acquiring Art Fromme and Ed Karger in exchange for Admiral Schlei, who had been a somewhat-effective catcher for Cincinnati over the previous five years.

Fromme won 19 games the following season, with a 1.90 ERA. Over five seasons in Cincinnati, he went 49-50 with a 2.74 ERA (112 ERA+), but was ultimately trade to the Giants for, among others, Heinie Groh, who would go on to become one of the best 3Bs in Reds history. For his part, Karger pitched nine games for the Reds in 1909 (1-3, 4.46 ERA) before he was sold to St. Paul of the American Association.

1911: Hank O’Day is named manager of the Reds. Cincinnati was 75-78-2 in O’Day’s only season at the helm.

1933: Donie Bush resigns as manager of the Reds after the club finishes 58-94, in last place in the National League. It was his only season as Cincinnati’s manager, and his final season as a big league skipper (Bush had also managed the Washington Senators, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago White Sox).

1934: According to Redleg Journal:

The National League grants the Reds permission to play seven night games at Crosley Field in 1935. The vote was 5-3, with the Dodgers, Giants, and Pirates lining up against the idea of nocturnal baseball. Powel Crosley announced that the Reds would install the finest lighting equipment available at a cost of nearly $50,000. Four light towers were placed on the grandstand roof and another four around the outfield.

The first night game in baseball history would take place the following May, at Crosley Field.

1975: After winning their first World Series in 35 years, the Reds make three trades to shore up the roster for the following season. Clay Carroll was dealt to the White Sox (for Jeff Sovern and Rich Hinton), Clay Kirby was traded to Montreal (for Bob Bailey), and Darrell Chaney was sent to Atlanta (for Mike Lum).

Bailey hit .298/.376/.508 in a reserve role for the 1976 Reds, and Mike Lum hit .228 in 84 games as the Reds won their second consecutive championship.

1989: Cincinnati acquires Hal Morris — who would hit .340 as a rookie for the 1990 World Champions — and Rodney Imes in exchange for Tim Leary and Van Snider. Morris would go on to hit .305/.362/.444 in a ten-year Cincinnati career.

(No, not that Tim Leary.)

1998: The Reds release 1B Eduardo Perez, who had hit .246/.322/.426 in three years as a Red. Cincinnati also agreed to terms on a one-year contract with infielder Mark Lewis. This was to be Lewis’ second stint in the Queen City. He was a valuable member of the 1995 Central Division champs, and is remembered by many for his grand slam in that year’s National League Division Series.

Sources: Redleg Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer archives.