America’s First Professional Baseball Team

“Everywhere you turn in Great American Ballpark you run into something that hearkens back to the rich history and tradition of the Queen City and the Cincinnati Reds” (20).

The Book

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Heart-Pounding, Jaw-Dropping, and Gut-Wrenching Moments from Cincinnati Reds History by Mike Shannon takes readers on a topical journey through the history of the first professional baseball team. It could be tempting to only focus on the successful teams and gloss over the poor choices or embarrassing moments. But Shannon doesn’t do that. He writes like a fan would talk: punctuating the ups and downs with commentary and tidbits. 

The Reds (originally the Cincinnati Red Stockings) are considered the first professional baseball team because they were the first to pay all of the players and expect them to take the job seriously. Throughout their history, they’ve played in eight different home ballparks, and have won five World Series. In just one decade (1970s), the Reds won six division championships, four National League pennants, and two World Series. They’ve had their share of highly talented players and players that made poor decisions, just like any other ball club. 

When you’ve been around since 1869, there are plenty of ups and downs to highlight. Shannon does a good job of using examples from through Reds history and spotlighting a wide variety of players. The main narrative is supplemented with text boxes that provide additional facts and photos. These supplements help prevent the main text from reading like a list. The final section, on Reds culture, was difficult to finish. It felt out of place and either could have been an appendix or reorganized to focus on the fans themselves. That being said, any fan of baseball and the Reds would find this book interesting.

The Place

The Reds Hall of Fame & Museum is located at the Great American Ballpark (the home stadium of the Cincinnati Reds). The museum is a must for Reds fans, but also very interesting for baseball fans and those with a passing interest. I took my mom, who became a Reds fan in middle school, for her birthday. It was great experiencing the museum through her eyes and watching her relive her memories. I also enjoyed learning about the history of baseball and the many accomplishments of the Reds. Visitors are treated to exhibits about the Reds ballparks, the very first team, the evolution of baseball equipment, a timeline with artifacts, and the Reds Hall of Fame. The last room of the museum houses the five World Series trophies and runs footage from the games. It was clear that the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum was designed by fans who love the team. 

The museum hours of operation vary, depending on the time of year and if there is a game that day, so make sure to check the website before planning a visit. There is a price of admission and tickets can be purchased ahead of time. You don’t have to have a ticket for a baseball game to tour the museum; and if you want an even more in-depth experience, tours of the ballpark and clubhouse are available.