Sunday, October 31, 1999Cincinnati's All-Century Team
Jim Gray's inquisition of Pete Rose might have taken some of the shine off the All-Century team's big night last Sunday, but it was still a great baseball moment and a great night for Cincinnati baseball.
The Reds put two former players — Rose and Johnny Bench — on the All-Century team. There were also two Cincinnati-area natives — Rose and Ken Griffey Jr. — on the team. That got us thinking about who deserves to be on a Cincinnati All-Century team.
After a few hours of studying The Baseball Encyclopedia and The Cincinnati Game by Lonnie Wheeler and John Baskin, Enquirer reporter John Fay came up with a team of eight position players and five pitchers. We'll take the Cincinnati crew against any other city's:
Left field: JIMMY WYNN, 1963-1977: “The Toy Cannon.” .250 lifetime average, 291 home runs, 225 stolen bases. Star of the Houston Astros for a decade. Set a National League record with 148 walks in 1969. Taft High product. Only weighed 160 but hit 20 or more home runs seven times, more than 30 three times.
Center field: KEN GRIFFEY JR., 1989-present: Lifetime average .299, 398 home runs, 1,152 RBI. Could be the only player to make the All-Century team in the 20th and 21st centuries. Moeller High product. Reached the majors at 19. Has a shot at Henry Aaron's all-time home run mark. Led the American League in home runs three straight years. Gold Glover.
Right field, DAVE PARKER, 1973-1991: .290 lifetime average, 339 HRs, 1,497, RBI. Two batting titles. Won world titles with Pittsburgh in 1979 and Oakland in 1989. A rare combination of speed and power. Had one of the best arms in baseball. Product of old Courter Tech High, where he starred in football and basketball as well as baseball.
Third base, BUDDY BELL, 1972-1989: .279 lifetime average, 201 home runs, 1,106 RBI. Second generation of a three-generation baseball family. Son of Gus, father of David. Great fielder. Won six straight Gold Gloves. Moeller High product.
Shortstop, BARRY LARKIN, 1986-present: .300 lifetime average, 178 home runs, 345 steals. Was 1995 NL MVP. First 30-30 shortstop in major-league history. Has played his entire career with the Reds. Moeller High product, one of three on our All-Century team.
Second base, BILLY DORAN, 1982-1993: .266 lifetime average, 84 home runs, 209 steals. Played eight years in Houston before being traded to the Reds. A member of Reds' 1990 World Championship team (was on DL for the postseason). Product of Mount Healthy High and Miami University.
First base, PETE ROSE, 1963-86: .303 lifetime average. All-time leader in hits (4,256), at-bats (14,053) and games (3,562). Second in doubles (746). Western Hills High product. Won three batting titles. Played on three World Series winners.
Catcher, RED DOOIN, 1902-1916: .240 lifetime average. Credited with inventing shin guards. First catcher to catch more than 100 games. Holds record for assists by a catcher. Spent most of his career with Philadelphia, including five as player-manager. Played with Reds in 1915.
Right-handed pitcher, JIM BUNNING, 1955-1971: 224-184 lifetime record, 3.27 ERA. Elected to Hall of Fame 1996. Won 20 games once, 19 games four times. Pitched perfect game with Phillies in 1964, first in NL in 84 years. St.Xavier High product.
Right-handed pitcher, SAM LEEVER, 1898-1910: 194-101 lifetime record, 2.47 ERA. Three-time 20-game winner. Went 25-7, with a 2.06 ERA and seven shutouts in 1903. Born and died in Goshen. Taught school there before beginning career at age 26.
Left-handed pitcher, CLAUDE OSTEEN, 1957-1975: 196-195 lifetime record, 3.30 ERA. Twice won 20 games. Signed out of Reading High School by the Reds and went right to majors. ????
Left-handed pitcher, JOE NUXHALL, 1944-66: 135-117 lifetime record, 3.90 ERA. Youngest ever to pitch in majors at 16. 17-12 with 3.47 ERA and an NL-leading five shutouts in 1955. Hamilton High product.
Relief pitcher: KENT TEKULVE, 1974-1988: 94-90 lifetime record, 184 saves, 2.85 ERA. Saved three games for Pittsburgh in 1974 World Series. Didn't make majors until he was 28. Product of old Hamilton Catholic High.
Worthy backups
The following players did not make the final cut but got strong consideration:Ethan Allen, outfielder: Went straight from UC to the Reds in 1926. Led league in doubles and hit .330 in 1934 for Phillies. Couldn't crack Wynn-Griffey-Parker outfield.
Jim Brosnan, relief pitcher: Best major-leaguer produced by Elder, the area's best baseball school. Lifetime record of 55-47 with 634 saves.
Richard Dotson, pitcher: Anderson High product may have made our All-Century club if arm problems hadn't slowed him. Lifetime record of 94-88, won 22 games in 1983.
Leon Durham, first baseman: Woodward High product hit .277 and 147 home runs. Came close, but we had to find a place for Rose. Bell was a lock at third, and Wynn deserves an outfield spot.
Joe Heving, relief pitcher: A relief pitcher before the age of specialization. Went 76-48 with 63 saves from 1930 to '45. Born and dies in Covington.
Johnny Hodapp, shortstop: Injuries kept him from putting up big career numbers. But he hit .354 with 51 doubles in 1930, the only time he played more than 122 games.
David Justice, outfield: He has 212 home runs, 698 RBI. Product of Covington Latin. Eventually will surpass Wynn.
Russ Nixon, catcher: Hit .268 in 12 years in the majors. Nod went to Dooin, because Nixon, a West Hi product, was mostly a backup.
Ron Oester, second baseman: Steady player for the Reds in the post-Big Red Machine Era. Member of 1990 World Championship team. Doran gets the nod at second on our team because of more power and speed.
Jack Pfiester, pitcher: Led the league in ERA at 1.15 in 1907 with the Cubs. Career record 71-44.
Jeff Russell, relief pitcher: Led the American League in saves with 38 for Texas in 1988. From Wyoming High. Reds traded him to Texas for Buddy Bell.
Pat Tabler, utility: Hit .282 in 12 seasons but rarely played full-time. From McNicholas High.
Jesse Tannehill, pitcher: 197-116 record, 2.79 ERA, with six 20-win seasons — good enough to make our club — but a lot of his best work came before 1900. Born and died in Dayton, Ky.
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