Growing up in the 1970s as a Cincinnati Reds fan was a wonderful time.
It was like going to your grandmother’s house and being spoiled with whatever you wanted.
However, when your favorite players were traded or went to another team and had success, it was like that family member who enjoyed stirring up trouble showed up at Thanksgiving dinner.
Tony Perez was my favorite of the Big Red Machine era Cincinnati teams. I was devastated when he was traded after the 1976 season. It did make me kind of a Montreal Expos fan that hid in the closet.
Over the years, it always seemed like Cincinnati would send good players to other teams and that was frustrating as they had success against the Reds. Sometimes, it was even the guys fans didn’t want to stay with the Reds did things that made me groan.
I was only three when Frank Robinson was sent to Baltimore, but 50 years ago the Orioles beat the Reds in the World Series. There is nothing worse than that situation.
Milt Pappas was the main guy picked up in the deal that many would call the worst trade ever for the Reds. Although for me, Perez to the Expos turned out about the same.
Anyway, on this date in 1970 former Reds dominated the headlines.
Pappas, Vada Pinson and Johnny Edwards led their respective teams to victory on July 23.
Unfortunately for Cincinnati, Pappas was really good blanking the Reds in Chicago as the Cubs won 1-0 at Wrigley Field.
The run for the Cubs scored in the eighth on an error by Reds shortstop Woody Woodward. Pappas allowed four hits and fanned seven as he posted what was the first shutout of the Reds that season.
A superstar for the Reds in the 1960s, Pinson was with the Cleveland Indians after being swapped for Jose Cardenal prior to the 1970 season.
With a two-run shot off Joe Horlen in Cleveland, Pinson picked up his seventh homer of the season to give the Indians the lead for good in a 5-2 win over the Chicago White Sox.
Edwards helped future Reds pitcher Jack Billingham as the Houston Astros beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2. Edwards smacked a solo homer off Bob Gibson in Busch Stadium during the fifth inning with what turned out to be the game-winning run.
Big Red Machine Parts
When Pappas, Pinson and Edwards were traded to other teams, the Reds did get something in return, which would be positive for a few years.
Although Pappas would would go on to win 209 games in his career, he lasted in Cincinnati until the middle of the 1968 season.
Clay Carroll, Tony Cloninger and the previously mentioned Woodward would show up in Cincinnati when a deal was made with the Atlanta Braves.
All three would help Reds reach the World Series in 1970, but it was Carroll who turned out to be the best. A two-time all-star, he would be a leader of the bullpen and topped the National League in saves in 1972 with 37.
Pinson was sent to the Cardinals after 1968 for Bobby Tolan and Wayne Granger.
Injuries would be factor for both of those players, who would be important for the 1970 Reds. Tolan topped the NL in stolen bases with 57, while Granger led the way with 35 saves. They would both eventually be traded away.
Edwards was traded to the Cardinals for Pat Corrales and Jimy Williams before the 1968 season.
Corrales would be a back-up for Johnny Bench before getting sent to San Diego for Bob Barton. Williams would be lost to the Expos in the expansion draft.