1898 Cincinnati Reds season

The 1898 Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. The team finished in third place in the National League with a record of 92–60, 11.5 games behind the Boston Beaneaters.

1898 Cincinnati Reds
League	National League
Ballpark	League Park
City	Cincinnati
Owners	John T. Brush
Managers	Buck Ewing
Seasons

Regular season

The Cincinnati Reds came into the 1898 season with high hopes, and hoping not to have a late season collapse, which had happened the previous three seasons.

The club retained manager Buck Ewing for a fourth season, and made a few player changes in the off-season. Cincinnati was involved in a seven player trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, as the Reds sent Bill Gray, Jack McCarthy, Billy Rhines, Pop Schriver and Ace Stewart to the Pirates for Pink Hawley, Mike Smith and $1,500. Hawley had a record of 18–18 with Pittsburgh in 1897, posting an ERA of 4.80. His best season was in 1895 with the Pirates, as he was 31–22 with a 3.18 ERA in a National League high 56 games pitched. Smith batted .310 with six home runs and 54 RBI with the Pirates in 1897. He also previously played for the Reds when they were members of the American Association, as he saw limited playing time in Cincinnati from 1886 to 1889. The Reds also acquired Algie McBride, who spent the 1897 season with the St. Paul Saints of the Western League, hitting .381 there. McBride had previous major league experience, appearing in nine games with the Chicago Colts in 1896.

Jake Beckley led the offense, as he hit a solid .294 with a team high four home runs, while earning 72 RBI. Tommy Corcoran led the club with 87 RBI, while Mike Smith hit a team best .342, as well as hitting one home run and driving in 66 runners.

On the mound, Hawley was very solid, going 27–11 with a 3.37 ERA in 43 games pitched. Ted Breitenstein cracked the 20 win plateau, as he was 20–14 with a 3.42 ERA. Frank Dwyer and Bill Dammann each went 16–10.

Season summary

The Reds got off to a great start, as they posted a record of 18–4 in their first twenty-two games, three games ahead of the second place Cleveland Spiders. Cincinnati remained hot, as their record improved to 27–7, and took a four-game lead over the Spiders, however, a 7–12 slump in their next nineteen games saw their lead dwindle down to one game over the second place Boston Beaneaters.

The Reds held on to first place, as they got hot once again, and took a five-game lead over the Beaneaters with a 65–32 record during the first week of August. The team then fell into a 2–8 slump over their next ten games and found themselves in second place, 3.5 games behind Boston. Cincinnati regained first place, and hung on to it going into the start of September, with a 78–44 record, but a 2–9 mark during their next eleven games saw the Reds fall out of first place for good, as they fell into third, 6.5 games behind the Beaneaters. Cincinnati finished out the season in third place with a 92–60 record, 11.5 games behind Boston.

Season standings

National League

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Boston Beaneaters	102	47	.685	—	62‍–‍15	40‍–‍32
Baltimore Orioles	96	53	.644	6	58‍–‍15	38‍–‍38
Cincinnati Reds	92	60	.605	11½	58‍–‍28	34‍–‍32
Chicago Orphans	85	65	.567	17½	58‍–‍31	27‍–‍34
Cleveland Spiders	81	68	.544	21	36‍–‍19	45‍–‍49
Philadelphia Phillies	78	71	.523	24	49‍–‍31	29‍–‍40
New York Giants	77	73	.513	25½	45‍–‍28	32‍–‍45
Pittsburgh Pirates	72	76	.486	29½	39‍–‍35	33‍–‍41
Louisville Colonels	70	81	.464	33	43‍–‍34	27‍–‍47
Brooklyn Bridegrooms	54	91	.372	46	30‍–‍41	24‍–‍50
Washington Senators	51	101	.336	52½	34‍–‍44	17‍–‍57
St. Louis Browns	39	111	.260	63½	20‍–‍44	19‍–‍67

Record vs. opponents

1898 National League record Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Team	BLN	BSN	BRO	CHC	CIN	CLV	LOU	NYG	PHI	PIT	STL	WHS
Baltimore	—	5–7	8–5–1	9–5	8–6–1	8–6–1	9–5	10–3–1	10–3–1	10–4	12–2	7–7
Boston	7–5	—	11–2	9–5	9–4–1	6–7–1	8–6–1	10–4	10–4	9–5	12–2	11–3
Brooklyn	5–8–1	2–11	—	4–10	3–11	6–7	2–10–1	3–11	6–6	9–5–1	7–6–1	7–6
Chicago	5–9	5–9	10–4	—	6–8	7–7	9–5	9–5–1	6–7	7–4–1	10–4	11–3
Cincinnati	6–8–1	4–9–1	11–3	8–6	—	8–5–2	9–5	6–8–1	7–7	12–2	12–2	9–5
Cleveland	6–8–1	7–6–1	7–6	7–7	5–8–2	—	9–5	6–8	7–7	5–8	10–3–1	12–2–2
Louisville	5–9	6–8–1	10–2–1	5–9	5–9	5–9	—	6–8	4–10	4–9–1	10–4	10–4
New York	3–10–1	4–10	11–3	5–9–1	8–6–1	8–6	8–6	—	6–7	5–9–1	10–3–2	9–4–1
Philadelphia	3–10–1	4–10	6–6	7–6	7–7	7–7	10–4	7–6	—	6–8	9–5	12–2
Pittsburgh	4–10	5–9	5–9–1	4–7–1	2–12	8–5	9–4–1	9–5–1	8–6	—	9–4	9–5
St. Louis	2–12	2–12	6–7–1	4–10	2–12	3–10–1	4–10	3–10–2	5–9	4–9	—	4–10
Washington	7–7	3–11	6–7	3–11	5–9	2–12–2	4–10	4–9–1	2–12	5–9	10–4	—

Game log

Legend
Reds Win	Reds Loss	Game Tied/Postponed

1898 Game Log: 92–60 (Home: 58–28; Away: 34–32)
April: 9–2 (Home: 7–2; Away: 2–0) # Date Opponent Score Stadium Attendance Record Streak 1 April 15 Spiders 3–2 League Park 11,000 1-0 W1 2 April 16 Spiders 1–3 League Park 5,641 1-1 L1 3 April 17 Spiders 12–1 League Park 15,504 2-1 W1 - April 20 Pirates Postponed (cold); Makeup: April 21 4 April 21 Pirates 11–6 League Park 3,000 3-1 W2 5 April 22 Pirates 11–0 League Park 2,467 4-1 W3 - April 23 Pirates Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 28 - April 24 Orphans Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 10 6 April 25 Orphans 4–7 League Park 500 4-2 L1 7 April 26 Orphans 3–2 League Park 2,396 5-2 W1 8 April 27 Orphans 5–3 League Park 2,400 6-2 W2 9 April 28 Spiders 5–3 League Park 1,900 7-2 W3 10 April 29 @ Pirates 5–2 Exposition Park 4,200 8-2 W4 11 April 30 @ Pirates 11–2 Exposition Park 4,500 9-2 W5
May: 18–5 (Home: 13–5; Away: 5–0) # Date Opponent Score Stadium Attendance Record Streak 12 May 1 Pirates 5–11 League Park 14,000 9-3 L1 13 May 2 @ Pirates 7–3 Exposition Park 800 10-3 W1 14 May 3 @ Pirates 5–2 Exposition Park 2,000 11-3 W2 - May 4 Browns Postponed (rain, site change); Makeup: June 28 - May 5 Browns Postponed (rain, site change); Makeup: June 28 - May 6 Browns Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 3 - May 7 Browns Postponed (rain); Makeup: October 1 15 May 8 Colonels 7–1 League Park 10,000 12-3 W3 - May 9 @ Browns Postponed (site change); Makeup: May 9 16 May 9 Browns 5–6 League Park 1,900 12-4 L1 - May 10 @ Browns Postponed (rain, site change); Makeup: May 12 - May 11 @ Browns Postponed (site change); Makeup: May 11 17 May 11 Browns 2–1 League Park 4,000 13-4 W1 - May 12 @ Browns Postponed (site change); Makeup: May 12 18 May 12 1 Browns 8–5 League Park N/A 14-4 W2 19 May 12 2 Browns 3–2 League Park 3,200 15-4 W3 20 May 14 Colonels 7–1 League Park 2,500 16-4 W4 21 May 15 Colonels 4–3 League Park 6,800 17-4 W5 22 May 19 Beaneaters 5–4 League Park 4,804 18-4 W6 23 May 20 Beaneaters 4–5 League Park 3,100 18-5 L1 24 May 21 Beaneaters 3–4 League Park 4,600 18-6 L2 25 May 22 Pirates 2–0 League Park 6,500 19-6 W1 26 May 23 Bridegrooms 7–2 League Park 1,900 20-6 W2 27 May 24 Bridegrooms 3–6 League Park 1,925 20-7 L1 28 May 25 Bridegrooms 5–4 League Park 1,750 21-7 W1 29 May 26 Giants 12–6 League Park 2,450 22-7 W2 30 May 27 Giants 13–4 League Park 3,340 23-7 W3 31 May 28 Giants 11–7 League Park 3,500 24-7 W4 32 May 30 1 @ Bridegrooms 6–4 Washington Park 3,900 25-7 W5 33 May 30 2 @ Bridegrooms 3–2 Washington Park 5,000 26-7 W6 34 May 31 @ Bridegrooms 7–2 Washington Park 1,500 27-7 W7
June: 13–16 (Home: 4–6; Away: 9–10) # Date Opponent Score Stadium Attendance Record Streak 35 June 1 @ Bridegrooms 3–4 Washington Park 1,500 27-8 L1 36 June 2 @ Giants 0–3 Polo Grounds 4,000 27-9 L2 37 June 3 @ Giants 10–16 Polo Grounds 3,000 27-10 L3 38 June 4 @ Giants 5–3 Polo Grounds 10,000 28-10 W1 39 June 6 @ Giants 10–1 Polo Grounds 3,000 29-10 W2 40 June 7 @ Beaneaters 2–9 South End Grounds 3,500 29-11 L1 41 June 8 @ Beaneaters 1–10 South End Grounds 3,500 29-12 L2 42 June 9 @ Beaneaters 5–6 South End Grounds 2,800 29-13 L3 43 June 10 @ Beaneaters 4–3 South End Grounds 3,500 30-13 W1 44 June 12 @ Colonels 4–5 Eclipse Park 4,000 30-14 L1 45 June 13 @ Colonels 6–4 Eclipse Park 400 31-14 W1 46 June 14 @ Colonels 7–3 Eclipse Park 1,000 32-14 W2 47 June 15 @ Colonels 5–1 Eclipse Park 300 33-14 W3 48 June 16 @ Orphans 1–9 West Side Park 3,900 33-15 L1 49 June 17 @ Orphans 2–1 West Side Park 5,300 34-15 W1 50 June 18 @ Orphans 4–10 West Side Park 9,700 34-16 L1 51 June 19 @ Orphans 1–10 West Side Park 22,400 34-17 L2 52 June 20 Orioles 2–17 League Park 3,060 34-18 L3 53 June 21 Orioles 2–4 League Park 2,200 34-19 L4 54 June 22 Orioles 3–2 League Park 2,200 35-19 W1 55 June 23 Orioles 13–4 League Park 2,350 36-19 W2 56 June 24 Senators 8–10 League Park 1,600 36-20 L1 57 June 25 Senators 8–5 League Park 3,100 37-20 W1 58 June 26 Senators 4–13 League Park 5,634 37-21 L1 59 June 27 Senators 2–9 League Park 600 37-22 L2 60 June 28 1 @ Browns 3–2 New Sportsman's Park N/A 38-22 W1 61 June 28 2 @ Browns 5–0 New Sportsman's Park 2,500 39-22 W2 62 June 29 Phillies 9–8 League Park 2,800 40-22 W3 63 June 30 Phillies 3–17 League Park 1,800 40-23 L1
July: 22–6 (Home: 12–0; Away: 10–6) # Date Opponent Score Stadium Attendance Record Streak 64 July 1 Phillies 14–2 League Park 2,200 41-23 W1 65 July 2 Phillies 8–4 League Park 2,600 42-23 W2 66 July 3 1 Browns 7–5 League Park N/A 43-23 W3 67 July 3 2 Browns 10–7 League Park 8,204 44-23 W4 68 July 4 1 Colonels 9–4 League Park 5,200 45-23 W5 69 July 4 2 Colonels 11–0 League Park 5,612 46-23 W6 70 July 7 @ Orphans 7–5 West Side Park 2,900 47-23 W7 71 July 8 @ Orphans 11–8 West Side Park 2,400 48-23 W8 72 July 9 @ Orphans 3–5 West Side Park 6,800 48-24 L1 73 July 10 Orphans 11–7 League Park 7,852 49-24 W1 74 July 11 @ Orioles 4–6 Union Park 2,814 49-25 L1 75 July 12 @ Orioles 10–5 Union Park 2,327 50-25 W1 76 July 13 @ Orioles 11–6 Union Park 1,952 51-25 W2 77 July 14 @ Orioles 5–5 Union Park 1,278 51-25 W2 78 July 15 @ Phillies 3–7 National League Park 3,412 51-26 L1 79 July 16 @ Phillies 2–6 National League Park 8,288 51-27 L2 80 July 18 @ Phillies 5–4 National League Park 3,873 52-27 W1 - July 19 @ Phillies Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 19 81 July 20 @ Senators 2–3 Boundary Field 1,000 52-28 L1 82 July 21 1 @ Senators 12–6 Boundary Field N/A 53-28 W1 83 July 21 2 @ Senators 7–4 Boundary Field 2,000 54-28 W2 84 July 22 @ Senators 5–1 Boundary Field 800 55-28 W3 85 July 23 @ Pirates 3–2 Exposition Park 2,500 56-28 W4 86 July 24 Pirates 6–5 League Park 7,203 57-28 W5 - July 25 @ Pirates Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 26 87 July 26 1 @ Pirates 6–3 Exposition Park N/A 58-28 W6 88 July 26 2 @ Pirates 2–3 Exposition Park 4,000 58-29 L1 89 July 28 Bridegrooms 7–1 League Park 1,773 59-29 W1 90 July 29 Bridegrooms 6–5 League Park 2,400 60-29 W2 91 July 30 Bridegrooms 8–2 League Park 3,350 61-29 W3 92 July 31 Bridegrooms 9–5 League Park 6,616 62-29 W4
August: 11–14 (Home: 8–9; Away: 3–5) # Date Opponent Score Stadium Attendance Record Streak 93 August 2 Giants 5–7 League Park 3,350 62-30 L1 - August 3 Giants Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 4 94 August 4 1 Giants 5–6 League Park N/A 62-31 L2 95 August 4 2 Giants 5–5 League Park 4,703 62-31 L2 96 August 5 1 Giants 5–9 League Park N/A 62-32 L3 97 August 5 2 Giants 9–1 League Park 4,585 63-32 W1 98 August 6 Beaneaters 2–1 League Park 6,650 64-32 W2 99 August 7 Beaneaters 4–1 League Park 12,400 65-32 W3 - August 8 Beaneaters Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 10 100 August 9 Beaneaters 0–8 League Park 6,000 65-33 L1 101 August 10 1 Beaneaters 4–7 League Park N/A 65-34 L2 102 August 10 2 Beaneaters 5–6 League Park N/A 65-35 L3 103 August 12 @ Bridegrooms 4–3 Washington Park 500 66-35 W1 104 August 13 @ Bridegrooms 1–2 Washington Park 2,300 66-36 L1 105 August 15 @ Bridegrooms 8–0 Washington Park 1,500 67-36 W1 106 August 16 @ Giants 0–4 Polo Grounds 3,000 67-37 L1 107 August 17 @ Giants 1–3 Polo Grounds 3,000 67-38 L2 108 August 18 @ Giants 0–7 Polo Grounds 3,000 67-39 L3 - August 19 @ Beaneaters Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 22 109 August 20 @ Beaneaters 1–2 South End Grounds 10,000 67-40 L4 110 August 22 1 @ Beaneaters 7–2 South End Grounds N/A 68-40 W1 111 August 22 2 @ Beaneaters 5–5 South End Grounds 12,000 68-40 W1 - August 24 Orioles Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 26 112 August 25 Orioles 1–14 League Park 2,650 68-41 L1 113 August 26 Orioles 10–0 League Park 2,044 69-41 W1 114 August 27 Phillies 3–2 League Park 3,000 70-41 W2 115 August 28 1 Pirates 9–4 League Park N/A 71-41 W3 116 August 28 2 Pirates 6–5 League Park 15,904 72-41 W4 117 August 29 Phillies 7–8 League Park 1,800 72-42 L1 118 August 30 Phillies 1–9 League Park 1,200 72-43 L2 119 August 31 Senators 9–5 League Park 900 73-43 W1
September: 12–14 (Home: 8–5; Away: 4–9) # Date Opponent Score Stadium Attendance Record Streak 120 September 1 Senators 5–4 League Park 1,125 74-43 W2 121 September 3 Senators 4–2 League Park 2,275 75-43 W3 122 September 4 Spiders 2–0 League Park 8,700 76-43 W4 123 September 5 1 Spiders 6–8 League Park N/A 76-44 L1 124 September 5 2 Spiders 1–0 League Park 11,098 77-44 W1 125 September 6 Orphans 9–8 League Park 7,800 78-44 W2 126 September 7 Orphans 2–13 League Park 7,200 78-45 L1 - September 8 Orphans Postponed (Grand Army of the Republic parade); Makeup: September 9 - September 9 Browns Postponed (schedule change); Makeup: October 1 127 September 9 Orphans 6–4 League Park 3,405 79-45 W1 128 September 10 Colonels 1–3 League Park 3,500 79-46 L1 129 September 11 Colonels 5–9 League Park 4,500 79-47 L2 130 September 14 @ Orioles 1–3 Union Park 2,316 79-48 L3 131 September 15 1 @ Orioles 1–15 Union Park N/A 79-49 L4 132 September 15 2 @ Orioles 3–6 Union Park N/A 79-50 L5 133 September 16 @ Orioles 2–3 Union Park 2,063 79-51 L6 134 September 17 @ Phillies 10–9 National League Park 4,358 80-51 W1 135 September 19 1 @ Phillies 0–8 National League Park N/A 80-52 L1 136 September 19 2 @ Phillies 1–9 National League Park 4,300 80-53 L2 137 September 20 @ Phillies 7–5 National League Park 1,703 81-53 W1 138 September 21 @ Senators 15–3 Boundary Field 800 82-53 W2 - September 22 @ Senators Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 23 139 September 23 1 @ Senators 1–3 Boundary Field N/A 82-54 L1 140 September 23 2 @ Senators 10–6 Boundary Field 1,800 83-54 W1 - September 24 @ Spiders Postponed (site change); Makeup: April 28 - September 25 @ Spiders Postponed (site change); Makeup: September 25 141 September 25 1 Spiders 5–4 League Park N/A 84-54 W2 142 September 25 2 Spiders 2–2 League Park 6,800 84-54 W2 - September 26 @ Spiders Postponed (site change); Makeup: September 26 143 September 26 Spiders 3–4 League Park 1,200 84-55 L1 - September 27 @ Spiders Postponed (site change); Makeup: September 27 144 September 27 Spiders 9–2 League Park 1,200 85-55 W1 145 September 28 @ Spiders 1–4 New Sportsman's Park 3,000 85-56 L1 146 September 29 @ Spiders 2–7 New Sportsman's Park 2,000 85-57 L2
October: 7–3 (Home: 6–1; Away: 1–2) # Date Opponent Score Stadium Attendance Record Streak 147 October 1 1 Browns 4–3 League Park N/A 86-57 W1 148 October 1 2 Browns 3–7 League Park 1,248 86-58 L1 149 October 2 1 Browns 6–2 League Park N/A 87-58 W1 150 October 2 2 Browns 4–0 League Park 2,744 88-58 W2 - October 3 @ Spiders Postponed (site change); Makeup: September 25 151 October 3 1 Browns 8–0 League Park N/A 89-58 W3 152 October 3 2 Browns 7–5 League Park 600 90-58 W4 - October 4 @ Spiders Postponed (site change, played at New Sportsman's Park); Makeup: September 28 - October 5 @ Spiders Postponed (site change, played at New Sportsman's Park); Makeup: September 29 153 October 9 1 Spiders 12–5 League Park N/A 91-58 W5 154 October 9 2 Spiders 6–6 League Park 4,880 91-58 W5 155 October 10 @ Colonels 3–6 Eclipse Park 1,000 91-59 L1 - October 11 @ Colonels Postponed (rain); Makeup: October 12 156 October 12 1 @ Colonels 5–2 Eclipse Park N/A 92-59 W1 157 October 12 2 @ Colonels 1–4 Eclipse Park 2,877 92-60 L1 - October 13 @ Browns Postponed (site change); Makeup: October 2 - October 14 @ Browns Postponed (site change); Makeup: October 3 - October 15 @ Browns Postponed (site change); Makeup: October 3

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	Heinie Peitz	105	330	90	.273	1	43
1B	Jake Beckley	118	459	135	.294	4	72
2B	Bid McPhee	133	486	121	.249	1	60
SS	Tommy Corcoran	153	619	155	.250	2	87
3B	Charlie Irwin	136	501	120	.240	3	55
OF	Algie McBride	120	486	147	.302	2	43
OF	Dusty Miller	152	586	175	.299	3	90
OF	Mike Smith	123	486	166	.342	1	66

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
Harry Steinfeldt	88	308	91	.295	0	43
Farmer Vaughn	78	275	84	.305	1	46
Bob Wood	39	109	30	.275	0	16
Bug Holliday	30	106	25	.236	0	7
Herm McFarland	19	64	18	.281	0	11

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
Pink Hawley	43	331.0	27	11	3.37	69
Ted Breitenstein	39	315.2	20	14	3.42	68
Bill Hill	33	262.0	13	14	3.98	75
Frank Dwyer	31	240.0	16	10	3.04	29
Percy Coleman	1	9.0	0	1	3.00	2

Other 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
Bill Dammann	35	224.2	16	10	3.61	51

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
Jot Goar	1	0	0	0	9.00	0
Mike Smith	1	0	0	0	18.00	0

External links

• 1898 Cincinnati Reds season at Baseball Reference