1978 Cincinnati Reds season


The 1978 Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. The Reds finished in second place in the National League West with a record of 92-69, 2½ games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Reds were managed by Sparky Anderson and played their home games at Riverfront Stadium. Following the season, Anderson was replaced as manager by John McNamara, and Pete Rose left to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies for the 1979 season.

Offseason

In honor of Saint Patrick's Day, Reds general manager Dick Wagner had green versions of the Reds' uniforms made. The Reds hosted the New York Yankees at Al Lopez Field on March 17, 1978. This was the first time a major league team wore green trimmed uniforms on March 17, a practice adopted in subsequent years by multiple major league teams.

Regular season

During the season, Pete Rose tied the National League record with a 44-game hitting streak held by Willie Keeler. The streak began on June 14, and came to an end on August 1.
On June 16, 1978 at Riverfront Stadium, Tom Seaver recorded a 4-0 no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the only no-hitter of his professional career.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

On May 5, 1978, Rose became the 13th and youngest player in major league history to collect his 3,000th career hit, with a single off Expos pitcher Steve Rogers. On June 14 in Cincinnati, Rose singled in the first inning off Cubs pitcher Dave Roberts; Rose would proceed to get a hit in every game he played until August 1, making a run at Joe DiMaggio's record 56-game hitting streak, which had stood virtually unchallenged for 37 years. The streak started quietly, but by the time it had reached 30 games, the media took notice and a pool of reporters accompanied Rose and the Reds to every game. On July 19 against the Phillies, Rose was hitless going into the ninth with his team trailing. He ended up walking and the streak appeared over. But the Reds managed to bat through their entire lineup, giving Rose another chance. Facing Ron Reed, Rose laid down a perfect bunt single to extend the streak to 32 games.
He eventually tied Willie Keeler's single season National League record at 44 games; but on August 1, the streak came to an end as Gene Garber of the Braves struck out Rose in the ninth inning. The competitive Rose was sour after the game, blasting Garber and the Braves for treating the situation "like it was the ninth inning of the 7th game of the World Series" and adding that "Phil Niekro would have given me a fastball to hit."
GameDatePitcherTeamSinglesDoubles
106-14-1978Dave RobertsChicago Cubs20
206-16-1978John DennySt. Louis Cardinals21
306-17-1978Pete VukovichSt. Louis Cardinals20
406-18-1978Silvio MartinezSt. Louis Cardinals10
506-20-1978John MontefuscoSan Francisco Giants21
606-21-1978Ed HalickiSan Francisco Giants10
706-22-1978Bob KnepperSan Francisco Giants10
806-23-1978Burt HootonLos Angeles Dodgers10
906-24-1978Bob WelchLos Angeles Dodgers10
1006-25-1978Tommy JohnLos Angeles Dodgers20
1106-26-1978Mark LemongelloHouston Astros10
1206-27-1978Joe NiekroHouston Astros10
1306-28-1978Tom DixonHouston Astros10
1406-29-1978Floyd BannisterHouston Astros11
1506-30-1978Lance RautzhanLos Angeles Dodgers10
1606-30-1978Bob WelchLos Angeles Dodgers30
1707-01-1978Rick RhodenLos Angeles Dodgers11
1807-02-1978Doug RauLos Angeles Dodgers11
1907-03-1978Floyd BannisterHouston Astros31
2007-04-1978J. R. RichardHouston Astros10
2107-05-1978Joe NiekroHouston Astros10
2207-07-1978Vida BlueSan Francisco Giants30
2307-07-1978Jim BarrSan Francisco Giants10
2407-08-1978John MontefuscoSan Francisco Giants10
2507-09-1978Ed HalickiSan Francisco Giants30
2607-13-1978Jerry KoosmanNew York Mets21
2707-14-1978Pat ZachryNew York Mets20
2807-15-1978Craig SwanNew York Mets10
2907-16-1978Paul SiebertNew York Mets11
3007-17-1978Stan BahnsenMontreal Expos10
3107-18-1978Hal DuesMontreal Expos21
3207-19-1978Ron ReedPhiladelphia Phillies10
3307-20-1978Jim KaatPhiladelphia Phillies10
3407-21-1978Ross GrimsleyMontreal Expos10
3507-22-1978Dan SchatzederMontreal Expos10
3607-22-1978Steve RogersMontreal Expos21
3707-24-1978Pat ZachryNew York Mets10
3807-25-1978Craig SwanNew York Mets31
3907-26-1978Nino EspinosaNew York Mets11
4007-28-1978Randy LerchPhiladelphia Phillies11
4107-28-1978Steve CarltonPhiladelphia Phillies10
4207-29-1978Jim LonborgPhiladelphia Phillies30
4307-30-1978Larry ChristensonPhiladelphia Phillies20
4407-31-1978Phil NiekroAtlanta Braves10

Roster

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
PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
C120393102.2602373
1B153524131.2501670
2B132441104.2361375
3B159655198.302752
SS153565170.301667
LF158604170.28140120
CF12229667.226527
RF158614177.2881063

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
8915740.255011
8614639.267623
6414424.167319
5011317.150011
5210525.23816
10210222.21607
836513.20014
635518.32725
13359.25713
9194.21112
683.37501
441.25000
530.00000

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
36259.216142.88226
31177.11193.70111
26145643.9788
23140.11153.5383
1696484.5031

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
421748114.1490
518102.5013
611019.829

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGWLSVERASO
7076281.9791
639754.3872
628244.9835
579145.7832
151124.1325
31001.802

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Billings