John Lamb/MLB Photos
There is a new No. 47 in town.
With the trade of Johnny Cueto to the Kansas City Royals the Cincinnati Reds acquired pitchers John Lamb, Brandon Finnegan and Cody Reed.
Reds fans will get a look at Lamb as he makes his major league debut in Los Angeles against the Dodgers on Friday, Aug. 14. According to published reports, Lamb will wear Cueto’s old number.
This season, Lamb is 10-2 at Triple-A Omaha and Louisville with a 2.67 ERA.
Cueto wore No. 47 during his eight seasons in Cincinnati as he posted a 92-63 record. He was 20-9 last year for the Reds and made the National League All-Star team.
Lonny Frey
The First No. 47
Lamb will be the 22nd player to wear the number since Lonny Frey became the first to use it in 1938. The following season, Frey switched to No. 11 for the remainder of his time in Cincinnati.
Frey, who was elected to the Reds Hall of Fame in 1961, spent seven seasons with the Reds from 1938-1946. He served in the military during World War II from 1944-1945.
In 1940, Frey led the NL with 22 stolen bases as the Reds went on the defeat the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.
A three-time all-star with the Reds, Frey began his career in 1933 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He also played for the Chicago Cubs, New York Giants and was a member of the 1947 world champion New York Yankees.
Another Reds Hall of Famer
After Frey gave up the number, Ewell Blackwell wore No. 47 from 1946-1952. Blackwell was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1960.
Blackwell’s best year was in 1947 when he was 22-8. He won 16 consecutive contests and tossed a no-hitter against the Boston Braves. In his next outing, he had a no-hitter broken up in the ninth inning against the Dodgers.
A six-time all-star in his 10 seasons, Blackwell also pitched for the Yankees and Kansas City Athletics. He was a member of the 1952 Yankees that won the World Series.
A Longtime No. 47
Tom Hume has worn the No. 47 for the longest in the history of the Reds.
The right-hander pitched in 10 of his 11 big league seasons for the Reds. He wore No. 47 from 1977-1985. He was a coach for the organization from 1996-2007 so he used the number for 21 years until Cueto was issued No. 47 in 2008.
Hume was a member of the 1979 NL West champions and earned an all-star bid in 1982. He led the Reds in saves from 1979 to 1982 with a career-high 25 in 1980.