The Cincinnati Reds' 1999 season was a season in American baseball. During the season the Reds became a surprising contender in the National League Central, winning 96 games and narrowly losing the division to the Houston Astros, ultimately missing the playoffs after losing a tie-breaker game to the New York Mets. As of 2019, the 1999 Reds currently hold the Major League record for the most wins by a team that failed to reach the playoffs in the Wild Card era.
In the May 19 contest versus the Colorado Rockies, the Reds won by a 24−12 final, tied for the fourth-highest run-scoring output in MLB history. The Reds' Jeffrey Hammonds hit three home runs this game; following the season, Colorado acquired him via trade. Both Hammonds and Sean Casey totaled four hits. Casey was on base seven times with three walks, and hit two home runs and six RBI. The Reds totaled six home runs; Casey added two, and Brian Johnson one. Colorado's Larry Walker and Dante Bichette both had four hits. Bichette also had five RBI, and Vinny Castilla hit a three-run home rum.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Transactions
June 2, 1999: Ben Broussard was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the 1999 amateur draft. Player signed June 2, 1999.
August 4, 1999: Jason Bere was released by the Cincinnati Reds.
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
OF
Dmitri Young
127
373
112
.300
14
56
OF
Jeffrey Hammonds
123
262
73
.279
17
41
3B
Mark Lewis
88
173
44
.254
6
28
C
Brian Johnson
45
117
27
.231
5
18
IF
Chris Stynes
73
113
27
.239
2
14
1B
Hal Morris
80
102
29
.284
0
16
C
Jason LaRue
36
90
19
.211
3
10
1B
Mark Sweeney
37
31
11
.355
2
7
SS
Travis Dawkins
7
7
1
.143
0
0
LF
Kerry Robinson
9
1
0
.000
0
0
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games Pitched; GS = Games Started; IP = Innings Pitched; W= Wins; L = Losses; K = Strikeouts; ERA = Earned Run Average; WHIP = Walks + Hits Per Innings Pitched
The 96 wins by the 1999 Cincinnati Reds were the most since the 1976 Big Red Machine who compiled 102 victories en route to their second consecutive World Series title. The Reds would not reach the 90-win plateau again until the 2010 season, when the team won the National League Central title with 91 victories. The 1999 team is regarded as one of the best teams not to make the playoffs. Since the switch to 162 game season in 1962, the Reds have the sixth-best record, only to not make the playoffs at 96-67.
Notable Records
The team scored 865 runs, which still stands as the franchise record for runs scored in a season. The team also set franchise highs in most runs batted in, most total bases, and highest slugging percentage On May 19, 1999, the Reds set three franchise records when they collected 28 hits, 15 extra base hits, and 55 total bases in a 24-12 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Sean Casey and Jeffrey Hammonds also set individual franchise records with each scoring five runs. On September 4, 1999, the Reds set a franchise record when they clubbed nine home runs in a 22-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
