It might be a while since the Reds were among the favourites in MLB odds, but as one of baseball’s oldest franchises, they have a rich history. Whittling down the best Cincinnati Reds players of all time to just seven was a stern challenge.
From their first title in 1919 through to the Big Red Machine’s consecutive World Series wins in the 1970s and a string of playoff appearances in the early 2010s, Cincinnati has had several eras of title contention. Only six franchises have won more World Series.
Here are my seven greatest Reds.
Who Are the Best Cincinnati Reds?
| Rank | Player | Position | Reds Years |
| 1 | Johnny Bench | Catcher | 1967-1983 |
| 2 | Joe Morgan | Second Baseman | 1972-1979 |
| 3 | Pete Rose | First Baseman/Outfielder | 1963-1978, 1984-1986 |
| 4 | Joey Votto | First Baseman | 2007-2023 |
| 5 | Frank Robinson | Outfielder | 1956-1965 |
| 6 | Barry Larkin | Shortstop | 1986-2004 |
| 7 | George Foster | Left Fielder | 1971-81 |
1. Johnny Bench
Twice named MVP and a 14-time All-Star, Johnny Bench is the greatest catcher in MLB history. Bench was an elite defender and had eight seasons with a 129 OPS+ or better, which is a remarkable return for a catcher.
Of course, Bench was integral to the Big Red Machine. He won World Series MVP in 1976, becoming just the second catcher ever to receive the award.
He might not have the most bWAR in franchise history, and others have better offensive numbers, but Bench’s peak performance gives him the edge over the others in these rankings. Being the best at your position earns bonus points, too.
2. Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan was the National League MVP in 1975 and 1976. Those two seasons ended with the Reds winning the World Series. Morgan was also named an All-Star in all eight of his seasons in Cincinnati and collected five straight Gold Gloves.
Like Bench, Morgan has a strong claim as the greatest ever at his position. The fact that he’s only sixth in Reds bWAR is because he returned to the Astros as a free agent in 1980. Being sixth is an impressive achievement, considering 25 hitters have played more games for the franchise.
Morgan has the third-highest OPS+ as a Red. Where others have superior counting stats, I couldn’t look past Morgan for the second spot in these rankings.
3. Pete Rose
Despite being banned from the sport in 1989, Pete Rose was still a lock to be included among the best Cincinnati Reds players of all time. Rose has played the most games and recorded the most hits in MLB history.
Rose’s longevity means he has the highest bWAR in Reds history. His career was not all quantity over quality, however, as he was also a 17-time All-Star and won MVP in 1973.
4. Joey Votto
Has there been a player more universally liked than Joey Votto in the 21st century?
Votto was selected in the second round of the 2002 MLB draft and built a Hall of Fame career in Cincinnati. Named MVP in 2010, Votto received votes in nine other seasons, including a runner-up finish in 2017.
Just three players in franchise history (two of whom are featured in these rankings) have a better OPS+. Bench is the only player to hit more homers as a Red.
5. Frank Robinson
Ranking fifth in franchise bWAR after playing 10 seasons with the Reds, placing Frank Robinson in these rankings was tricky. The Beaumont, Texas, native doesn’t have the counting stats of some other Reds greats, yet he’s got the best OPS+ in franchise history.
In 1960, 1961, and 1962, Robinson posted the best OPS in the National League. He was named MVP in the second of those seasons.
Traded to the Orioles after the 1965 season, Robinson could well have taken the top spot in these rankings if he had played out his prime in Cincinnati.
6. Barry Larkin
A 12-time All-Star and MVP in 1995, Barry Larkin was a consistently good hitter from 1988 to 2000. He was also a prolific base stealer, averaging 33.2 stolen bases per 162 games between 1988 and 1999.
Third in games played and fourth in plate appearances as a Red, Larkin’s longevity meant he wasn’t far off breaking into the top five. I personally favoured the offensive production of Robinson and Votto, but there was no way Larkin would be outside the top seven.
7. George Foster
George Foster doesn’t have the most outstanding counting stats, but his peak earns him seventh place in my rankings. Between 1975 and 1981, Foster averaged 6.2 bWAR per 162 games.
During that period, he won MVP and finished as runner-up. He was an integral part of the lineup that won back-to-back titles, posting a 151 OPS+ from 1976 to 1981.
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