1973 Cincinnati Reds season

1973 Cincinnati Reds 1973 NL West Championship
Major league affiliations
National League (since 1890) Western Division (since 1969)
Location
Riverfront Stadium (since 1970) Cincinnati, Ohio (since 1882)
1973 information
Owner(s)	Francis L. Dale
General manager(s)	Bob Howsam
Manager(s)	Sparky Anderson
Local television	WLWT (Charlie Jones, Wes Parker)
Local radio	WLW (Al Michaels, Joe Nuxhall)
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The 1973 Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds winning the National League West with a record of 99-63, 3½ games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers, before losing the NLCS to the New York Mets in five games. The Reds were managed by Sparky Anderson, and played their home games at Riverfront Stadium.

Offseason

• November 27, 1972: Nardi Contreras was drafted from the Reds by the New York Mets in the 1972 minor league draft.
• November 30, 1972: Hal McRae and Wayne Simpson were traded by the Reds to the Kansas City Royals for Roger Nelson and Richie Scheinblum.
• March 27, 1973: Mel Behney was traded by the Reds to the Boston Red Sox for Andy Kosco and Phil Gagliano.

Regular season

The Reds won their division despite having three regular players (Denis Menke, César Gerónimo, and Bobby Tolan) hit a combined .204 for the season, and being in fourth place, 11 games behind the Dodgers on June 30. After that point, the Reds went 60-26 to finish the season. Pete Rose won his third and final batting title with a .338 average, collected a career-high 230 hits and was named the NL MVP.

1973 Cincinnati Reds Team Schedule

April

4-5-73  San Francisco Giants      L 4-1
4-7-74  San Francisco Giants      L 7-5
4-8-73  San Francisco Giants      W 3-1
4-9-73  @ Atlanta Braves          W 8-7
4-11-73 @ Los Angeles Dodgers     W 4-1
4-12-73 @ Los Angeles Dodgers     W 5-2
4-13-71 @ San Francisco Giants    L 5-4
4-14-73 @ San Francisco Giants    W 3-0
4-15-73 @ San Francisco Giants    W 11-0  W 7-3  Doubleheader
4-16-73 @ San Diego Padres        W 7-6
4-17-73 @ San Diego Padres        W 3-0
4-18-73 @ San Diego Padres        L 4-2
4-20-73  Atlanta Braves            W 4-2
4-21-73  Atlanta Braves            L 5-4
4-22-73  Atlanta Braves            W 6-3
4-24-73  Montreal Expos            L 7-2
4-25-73  Montreal Expos            W 7-4
4-27-73  Philadelphia Phillies     L 3-1
4-28-73  Philadelphia Phillies     L 1-0
4-29-73  Philadelphia Phillies     W 8-0

May

5-2-73  @ New York Mets             W 6-1
5-3-73  @ New York Mets             W 6-5
5-4-73  @ Montreal Expos            L 6-3
5-5-73  @ Montreal Expos            L 8-6
5-6-73  @ Montreal Expos            W 6-1
5-7-73  @ Philadelphia Phillies     L 3-2
5-8-73  @ Philadelphia Phillies     W 7-1
5-9-73  @ Philadelphia Phillies     W 9-7
5-11-73 @ Houston Astros            L 5-1
5-12-73 @ Houston Astros            L 7-1
5-13-73 @ Houston Astros            W 2-0
5-15-73 Los Angeles Dodgers         W 4-1
5-16-73 Los Angeles Dodgers         L 8-6
5-17-73 Los Angeles Dodgers         L 3-1
5-18-73 San Diego Padres            W 5-4
5-19-73 San Diego Padres            W 10-4
5-20-73 San Diego Padres            L 2-1  W 3-2  Double Header
5-22-73 Houston Astros              W 6-3
5-23-73 Houston Astros              W 4-3
5-25-73 Chicago Cubs                L 7-2
5-26-73 Chicago Cubs                L 2-0
5-27-73 Chicago Cubs                L 6-0
5-28-73 Chicago Cubs                W 6-5
5-29-73 @ St. Louis Cardinals       L 2-0
5-30-73 @ St. Louis Cardinals       L 5-2
5-31-73 @ St. Louis Cardinals       W 3-2

June

6-1-73  @ Pittsburgh Pirates        L 9-6
6-2-73  @ Pittsburgh Pirates        L 4-3
6-3-73  @ Pittsburgh Pirates        W 5-1
6-4-73  New York Mets               W 5-0
6-5-73  New York Mets               W 6-5
6-8-73  @ Chicago Cubs              L 6-5
6-9-73  @ Chicago Cubs              W 8-4
6-10-73 @ Chicago Cubs              L 9-7
6-11-73 St. Louis Cardinals         L 12-4
6-12-73 St. Louis Cardinals         L 11-5
6-13-73 St. Louis Cardinals         L 8-0
6-15-73 Pittsburgh Pirates          W 6-0
6-16-73 Pittsburgh Pirates          L 5-0
6-17-73 Pittsburgh Pirates          W 3-1  W 5-1  Doubleheader
6-19-73 @ San Francisco Giants      W 4-0
6-20-73 @ San Francisco Giants      W 7-5
6-21-73 @ San Francisco Giants      L 7-1
6-22-73 @ Los Angeles Dodgers       L 3-2
6-23-73 @ Los Angeles Dodgers       W 4-1  L 5-1  Doubleheader
6-24-73 @ Los Angeles Dodgers       L 5-2
6-25-73 @ Houston Astros            L 13-2
6-26-73 @ Houston Astros            W 5-1
6-27-73 @ Houston Astros            L 10-2
6-28-73   San Diego Padres          L 6-1
6-29-73   San Diego Padres          W 4-0
6-30-73   Los Angeles Dodgers       L 8-7

July

7-1-73   Los Angeles Dodgers        W 4-3  W 3-2  Doubleheader
7-2-73   Los Angeles Dodgers        W 4-2
7-3-73   San Francisco Giants       W 6-3
7-4-73   San Francisco Giants       L 6-2
7-5-73   San Francisco Giants       W 4-3
7-6-73   @ Philadelphia Phillies    W 8-2
7-7-73   @ Philadelphia Phillies    W 5-4
7-8-73   @ Philadelphia Phillies    W 4-0
7-9-73   @ Montreal Expos           W 11-6
7-10-73  @ Montreal Expos           W 6-2
7-11-73  @ Montreal Expos           L 4-3
7-13-73  New York Mets              W 2-1  L 7-5  Doubleheader
7-14-73  New York Mets              L 5-2
7-15-73  New York Mets              W 3-1
7-16-73  Philadelphia Phillies      W 1-0
7-17-73  Philadelphia Phillies      L 2-1
7-18-73  Philadelphia Phillies      W 7-3
7-19-73  Montreal Expos             W 3-2
7-20-73  Montreal Expos             W 4-0
7-21-73  Montreal Expos             W 6-4
7-22-73  Montreal Expos             W 6-0
7-26-73  Atlanta Braves             W 5-3  L 6-4  Doubleheader
7-27-73  Atlanta Braves             W 12-2
7-28-73  @ San Diego Padres         W 2-1
7-29-73  @ San Diego Padres         L 7-1  W 4-2   Doubleheader
7-31-73  @ Atlanta Braves           W 9-5  W 13-11 Doubleheader

August

8-1-73   @ Atlanta Braves           L 14-6
8-2-73   @ Atlanta Braves           W 17-2
8-3-73   Houston Astros             L 1-0  W 11-5  Doubleheader
8-4-73   Houston Astros             W 7-6
8-5-73   Houston Astros             W 7-1
8-6-73   Houston Astros             L 5-4
8-7-73   Chicago Cubs               W 1-0
8-8-73   Chicago Cubs               W 4-3
8-10-73  @ St. Louis Cardinals      W 8-4
8-11-73  @ St. Louis Cardinals      W 7-5
8-12-73  @ St. Louis Cardinals      W 7-2
8-13-73  @ Pittsburgh Pirates       L 3-2
8-14-73  @ Pittsburgh Pirates       W 5-4
8-15-73  @ Pittsburgh Pirates       W 1-0
8-17-73  @ New York Mets            W 2-1
8-18-73  @ New York Mets            L 12-1
8-19-73  @ New York Mets            L 2-1
8-20-73  @ New York Mets            W 8-3
8-21-73  @ Chicago Cubs             L 6-4
8-22-73  @ Chicago Cubs             L 6-5
8-23-73  @ Chicago Cubs             L 4-3
8-24-73  St. Louis Cardinals        L 5-4
8-25-73  St. Louis Cardinals        W 6-4
8-26-73  St. Louis Cardinals        W 4-1
8-28-73  Pittsburgh Pirates         L 8-3
8-29-73  Pittsburgh Pirates         W 5-3
8-31-73  @ San Diego Padres         W 10-4

September

9-1-73  @ San Diego Padres          W 3-2
9-2-73  @ San Diego Padres          W 6-1
9-3-73  @ Houston Astros            W 4-3
9-4-73  @ Houston Astros            W 12-7
9-5-73  @ Houston Astros            W 9-3
9-7-73  @ Atlanta Braves            L 5-0
9-8-73  @ Atlanta Braves            L 3-2
9-9-73  @ Atlanta Braves            W 14-6  W 7-0  Doubleheader
9-11-73 Los Angeles Dodgers         W 6-3
9-12-73 Los Angeles Dodgers         W 7-3
9-14-73 Atlanta Braves              W 7-6
9-15-73 Atlanta Braves              W 3-2
9-16-73 Atlanta Braves              W 4-3
9-17-73 Houston Astros              L 5-2
9-18-73 Houston Astros              W 1-0
9-19-73 @ San Francisco Giants      W 5-1
9-20-73 @ San Francisco Giants      L 7-5
9-21-73 @ Los Angeles Dodgers       W 4-1
9-22-73 @ Los Angeles Dodgers       W 11-9
9-23-73 @ Los Angeles Dodgers       L 6-4
9-24-73 San Diego Padres            W 2-1
9-25-73 San Diego Padres            W 3-2
9-26-73 San Diego Padres            L 5-1
9-28-73 San Francisco Giants        L 5-3
9-29-73 San Francisco Giants        W 13-6
9-30-73 San Francisco Giants        L 4-3

Season standings

NL West	W	L	GB	Pct.
Cincinnati Reds	99	63	--	.611
Los Angeles Dodgers	95	66	3.5	.590
San Francisco Giants	88	74	11	.543
Houston Astros	82	80	17	.506
Atlanta Braves	76	85	22.5	.472
San Diego Padres	60	102	39	.370

Notable transactions

• June 12, 1973: Gene Locklear and Mike Johnson were traded by the Reds to the San Diego Padres for Fred Norman.

Roster

1973 Cincinnati Reds
Roster
Pitchers 44 Dick Baney 43 Jack Billingham 34 Pedro Borbón 36 Clay Carroll 48 Ross Grimsley 35 Don Gullett 21 Tom Hall 31 Jim McGlothlin 45 Roger Nelson 38 Gary Nolan 32 Fred Norman 44 Ed Sprague 49 Dave Tomlin		Catchers  6 Bob Barton  5 Johnny Bench  6 Hal King  9 Bill Plummer Infielders 12 Darrel Chaney 13 Dave Concepción 17 Ed Crosby 22 Dan Driessen 15,16 Phil Gagliano 11,16 Denis Menke  8 Joe Morgan 24 Tony Pérez		Outfielders 33 Ed Armbrister 15 George Foster 20 César Gerónimo 30 Ken Griffey 25 Joe Hague 23 Andy Kosco 27 Gene Locklear 14 Pete Rose 26 Richie Scheinblum 29 Larry Stahl 28 Bobby Tolan		Manager 10 Sparky Anderson Coaches  2 Alex Grammas 18 Ted Kluszewski  3 George Scherger  4 Larry Shepard

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	Bench, JohnnyJohnny Bench	152	557	141	.253	25	104
1B	Pérez, TonyTony Pérez	151	564	177	.314	27	101
2B	Morgan, JoeJoe Morgan	157	576	167	.290	26	82
3B	Menke, DenisDenis Menke	139	241	46	.191	3	26
SS	Concepción, DaveDave Concepción	89	328	94	.287	8	46
CF	Gerónimo, CésarCésar Gerónimo	139	324	68	.210	4	33
RF	Tolan, BobbyBobby Tolan	129	457	94	.206	9	51

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
Kosco, AndyAndy Kosco	47	118	33	.280	9	21
Gagliano, PhilPhil Gagliano	63	69	20	.290	0	7
Scheinblum, RichieRichie Scheinblum	29	54	12	.222	1	8
Locklear, GeneGene Locklear	29	26	5	.192	0	0

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
Billingham, JackJack Billingham	40	293.1	19	10	3.04	155

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
Nelson, RogerRoger Nelson	14	54.2	3	2	3.46	17

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
Borbón, PedroPedro Borbón	80	11	4	14	2.16	60
Carroll, ClayClay Carroll	53	8	8	14	3.69	41
Baney, DickDick Baney	11	2	1	2	2.93	17

1973 National League Championship Series

Main article: 1973 National League Championship Series

The Reds lost the National League Championship Series to the Mets 3 games to 2 despite heroics by Rose and Bench in Game 1 and Rose again in Game 4. Rose's eighth-inning home run against Tom Seaver tied the score at 1-1 and Bench won it in the 9th with another solo home run. Rose also hit a game-winning home run in the 12th-inning to tie the series at 2-2. During Game Three of the series, Rose got into a fight with the popular Mets shortstop Bud Harrelson while trying to break up a double play; the fight resulted in a bench-clearing brawl. The game was nearly called off when, after the Reds took the field, fans threw objects from the stands at Rose, causing the Reds team to leave the field until order was restored.

Game 1

October 6: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	0
Cincinnati	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	6	0
W: Pedro Borbón (1-0)   L: Tom Seaver (0-1)   S: None
HR: NYM – None  CIN – Pete Rose (1), Johnny Bench (1)
Pitchers: NYM – Seaver  CIN – Billingham, Hall (9), Borbón (9)
Attendance: 53,431

Game 2

October 7: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	4	5	7	0
Cincinnati	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
W: Jon Matlack (1-0)   L: Don Gullett (0-1)   S: None
HR: NYM – Rusty Staub (1)  CIN – None
Pitchers: NYM – Matlack  CIN – Gullett, Carroll (6), Hall (9), Borbón (9)
Attendance: 54,041

Game 3

October 8: Shea Stadium, New York City, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	1
New York	1	5	1	2	0	0	0	0	x	9	11	1
W: Jerry Koosman (1-0)   L: Ross Grimsley (0-1)   S: None
HR: CIN – Denis Menke (1)  NYM – Rusty Staub (2), (3)
Pitchers: CIN – Grimsley, Hall (2), Tomlin (3), Nelson (4), Borbón (7)  NYM – Koosman
Attendance: 53,967

Game 4

October 9: Shea Stadium, New York City, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	R	H	E
Cincinnati	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	8	0
New York	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	2
W: Clay Carroll (1-0)   L: Harry Parker (0-1)   S: Pedro Borbón (1)
HR: CIN – Tony Pérez (1), Pete Rose (2)  NYM – None
Pitchers: CIN – Norman, Gullett (6), Carroll (10), Borbón (12)  NYM – Stone, McGraw (7), Parker (12)
Attendance: 50,786

Game 5

October 10: Shea Stadium, New York City, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	7	1
New York	2	0	0	0	4	1	0	0	x	7	13	1
W: Tom Seaver (1-1)   L: Jack Billingham (0-1)   S: Tug McGraw (1)
HR: CIN – None  NYM – None
Pitchers: CIN – Billingham, Gullett (5), Carroll (5), Grimsley (7)  NYM – Seaver, McGraw (9)
Attendance: 50,323

Awards and honors

• Pete Rose – National League Most Valuable Player
• Pete Rose – National League Batting Champion

Farm system

See also: Minor league baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Indianapolis Indians	American Association	Vern Rapp
AA	Trois-Rivières Aigles	Eastern League	Jim Snyder
A	Tampa Tarpons	Florida State League	Russ Nixon
Short-Season A	Seattle Rainiers	Northwest League	Jim Hoff
Rookie	GCL Reds	Gulf Coast League	Ron Plaza

References

• 1973 Cincinnati Reds Statistics and Roster

Preceded by Cincinnati Reds 1972

NL West Championship Season 1973

Succeeded by Los Angeles Dodgers 1974