Let's See Some 1938-39-40 Cincinnati Reds!

[jingram058]

Everyone when I was a senior in high school and freshman in college in Memphis (that was into baseball, that is) 1975-76 was talking about the Cincinnati Reds "Big Red Machine", and what a team it was. We didn't have a big-league team, so we rooted mainly for the Cardinals, Braves and Reds, as they were the closest to us. Several of my all-time favorites were in that dynasty.

But before that, before World War II, the Reds had another powerhouse team. It began really when Powel Crosley bought the team, and vowed he would bring them to prominence. He brought in Bill McKechnie to manage, and things began to change. By 1938, things were truly looking up. That summer, Johnny Vander Meer pitched back to back no-hitters, and if he never amounted to anything after that, wasn't that enough? No one is going to break that record, maybe tie it, but three consecutive no-hitters?

1939 things really took off for the Reds. They won the pennant, and Bucky Walters, a converted third baseman, won the National League MVP award as a pitcher. It was his manager at Philly that made him into a really good pitcher, Jimmy Wilson, now one of his coaches with the Reds. Unfortunately, they ran into a buzz-saw Yankees team, some say one of the best ever, in the World Series, and got swept aside.

They put it all together in 1940, with virtually the same team, and for the second year in a row, won the pennant. But late in that season of 1940, with regular catcher Ernie Lombardi hurt, they went into a bit of a funk with Willard Hershberger doing the catching. Tragically, he took his own life over it, the only in-season action like that in MLB history. 40 year-old Jimmy Wilson stepped in as a catcher in the pennant-clinching stretch drive, and the Reds won the Series against the Tigers in 7 games.

Here are some interesting items from that Cincinnati Reds brief dynasty. The colorized 1940 team photo shows them with the correct color socks. Do a search on Google or eBay and you will see what I mean. I think it's a pretty cool era for the old Redlegs. Let's see some of yours.

[MikeGarcia]

[Jay Wolt]

1940 /41 Hartman set

[mrreality68]

I am not a reds fan

But nice stuff and nice history behind some of that stuff

[CobbSpikedMe]

This is the only one I have scanned at the moment, but here it is.



.

[todeen]

4 of 5 Ernie Lombardi Wheaties



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[brianp-beme]

W711-1 Paul Derringer has a leg up on his W711-1 Peaches Davis competition.

Brian (card not mine, but heck if I don't have one in lesser condition that is scan-shy)

[Big Red Machine]

These team issues are so tough to find in nice condition.

[Big Red Machine]

A nice autograph on this Bucky Walters Play Ball.

[jingram058]

Here are a few more:

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Big Red Machine

These team issues are so tough to find in nice condition.

But they are a relatively inexpensive way to get a pretty cool set of cards, yes?

[pitchernut]

Couple of Vander Meer's, a bit later than 1940...

[MikeGarcia]

[MikeGarcia]

..Leo in Major and Leslie in Minor.........from my Scarcella Master Set.....now they go back into the safety-deposit box because I could not replace these two with anything short of selling an organ...

..

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by MikeGarcia

..Leo in Major and Leslie in Minor.........from my Scarcella Master Set.....now they go back into the safety-deposit box because I could not replace these two with anything short of selling an organ...

..

Those are great cards there. I love the Toronto uniform, and his mitt!

[jingram058]

I used to see quite a few of those semi-colorized Reds team issue cards, w711-1, at card shows down here in Florida 20 to 25 years ago. I never bought or traded for any until the past few years. Even now, for pre-war, they are not super expensive, in fact very reasonable. I am going to start collecting them, I think. They are pretty good looking cards. These were originally sold at Crosley Field, in packages/boxes, is that right?

[todeen]

Originally Posted by jingram058

I used to see quite a few of those semi-colorized Reds team issue cards, w711-1, at card shows down here in Florida 20 to 25 years ago. I never bought or traded for any until the past few years. Even now, for pre-war, they are not super expensive, in fact very reasonable. I am going to start collecting them, I think. They are pretty good looking cards. These were originally sold at Crosley Field, in packages/boxes, is that right?

The 1940 set was in a box, and you can occasionally find them for sale. I believe an entire set with box just sold on Net54 earlier this month. The 1938/39 set is currently unknown for packaging. No box or envelope is currently known to exist. BumpusJones has a scan saying they were a Dairy related item. However, multiple people, including the Reds Hall of Fame doubt that claim because there is NO advertising evidence to support the local dairy produced them. However, it is also not known how they were distributed. It could be the cards were not team issued - thus not sold as a "set." Instead they could have been locally made and sold outside the stadium. If anyone knows of an envelope or box, it is highly sought after. It is also unknown why some players are EXTREMELY rare. I believe one card in the set only has five known copies.

[Bumpus Jones]

Great topic. Here's probably my favorite item relating to these Reds teams. This jacket once belonged to reliever and spot starter Milt "Pinky" Shoffner.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Bumpus Jones

Great topic. Here's probably my favorite item relating to these Reds teams. This jacket once belonged to reliever and spot starter Milt "Pinky" Shoffner.

That jacket is fantastic, even more so with the connection to the player. Very nice!

[jingram058]

So much baseball history gone forever in the name of progress, Redland/Crosley Field being just one of many. I went to old Comiskey Park, and I bet the White Sox surely regret having it demolished. Especially in light of Wrigley and Fenway. What was so bad about Crosley Field that it had to go? No luxury boxes, not big enough, or was it in bad shape?

[Bumpus Jones]

From what I've read parking was an issue and that part of town had fallen on hard times.

[MikeGarcia]

[IronHorse2130]

I don't really collect autographs but I do have this 1939 signed team ball.

[jingram058]

1939 Reds Orcajo postcard (not mine).