According to a release by MLB on April 8, fans can visit MLB.com/FranchiseFour to select the four most impactful players for each franchise who best represent the history of each franchise out of eight choices from its lineage. There is also a space for a write-in selection. Voting is live now until May 8.
The Ballot:
Johnny Bench (1967-1983)
Dave Concepcion (1970-1988)
Eric Davis (1984-1991, 1996)
Barry Larkin (1986-2004)
Joe Morgan (1972-1979)
Tony Perez (1964-1976, 1984-1986)
Frank Robinson (1956-1965)
Pete Rose (1963-1978, 1984-1986)
Shoestring Catches Recommendations for the Cincinnati Reds:
Johnny Bench: A member of Major League Baseball’s All-Century Team in 1999, Johnny Bench was inducted in the the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Bench was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1968 and won Most Valuable Player awards in 1970 and 1972. With 389 career homers, he was a 14-time all-star with 10 Gold Gloves behind the plate.
Barry Larkin: A key member of the 1990 Reds that won the World Series, Barry Larkin played all 19 of his years in the Cincinnati. Larkin was the NL MVP in 1995 and was a 12-time all-star. Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012, he had nine Silver Sluggers and three Gold Gloves.
Joe Morgan: Joining the Reds prior to the 1972 season, Joe Morgan was one of the leaders of the “Big Red Machine” during the 1970s. The NL MVP during the Reds world championship seasons of 1975 and 1976, Morgan was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990. He also was an eight-time all-star for the Reds.
Pete Rose: Although Pete Rose received a lifetime ban from baseball in 1989, his impact on the game continues today as his possible reinstatement is frequently discussed. Rose had 3,358 of his record 4,256 hits with the Reds and played 2,722 games, while with Cincinnati. The NL Rookie of the Year in 1963 and NL MVP in 1973, Rose was 16-time all-star. He won two Gold Gloves and with the Phillies won a Silver Slugger in 1981.