Making the Big Red Machine: Bob Howsam and the Cincinnati Reds of the 1970sWith a line-up that included future Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez and Pete Rose, Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine" powered its way in the 1970s to six division titles, four pennants, and two World Series. Three other times in that decade they finished second in their division to the eventual pennant winner. While much has been written about the players and manager Sparky Anderson, no book until now has given adequate attention to the man behind the Machine, general manager Bob Howsam. From his hire in 1967 through the end of his first stint with the Reds in 1978, Howsam brought about a remarkable change in fortune for the Reds, who had claimed only one pennant in the 26 years before his arrival. This detailed history of baseball's last dynasty shows not only how the team performed but why, delving into the off-field strategy and moves behind the Reds' success. |
Contents
Foreword by Lee May | 1 |
Preface | 3 |
Introduction | 5 |
1A New Beginning | 11 |
2Entering the Big Time | 23 |
JanuaryApril 1967 | 35 |
19671969 | 46 |
October 1969 | 55 |
August 1973October 1973 | 160 |
October 1973September 1974 | 170 |
October 1974September 1975 | 184 |
October 1975 | 196 |
October 1975 | 205 |
December 1975October 1976 | 219 |
October 1976 | 239 |
December 1976September 1977 | 252 |
AprilSeptember 1970 | 67 |
October 1970 | 77 |
1971 | 91 |
December 1971 | 108 |
AprilSeptember 1972 | 116 |
October 1972 | 126 |
November 1972August 1973 | 148 |
December 1977February 1978 | 267 |
Fall 1978October 1979 | 287 |
Epilogue | 304 |
AppendixWhere Are They Now? | 319 |
Chapter Notes | 333 |