11 Facts You Didn't Know About Reds Franchise

1) Originally named the "Red Stockings" upon their founding in 1882, the franchise was part of the American Association from 1882-89 before joining the National League in 1890.  The AA was eventually dissolved shortly thereafter in 1891.
2) Charles Comiskey, a Baseball HOF inductee (1939), a key founder of the American League and former owner of the Chicago White Sox in which Comiskey Park (1910-1991) was named after him, served as a player/manager for the Reds during the 1892-94 seasons compiling a 202-206 record.

Matthewson

3) Three Baseball HOF's (inducted as players) have also served as Reds managers in the franchise's history.  Bid McPhee acted as manager from 1901-02 (79-124), Christy Matthewson from 1916-19 (164-176), and Roger Hornsby from 1952-53 (91-106).  All three had losing managerial records for the team.  
4) After the franchise went bankrupt in 1931, the Crosley family (who had helped start WLW radio) bought the club in 1933.  The Reds' home at the time, Redland Field, was renamed to Crosley Field during 1934 in their honor.
5) The first Major League Baseball night game occurred on May 24th, 1935 at Crosley Field as Cincinnati beat Philadelphia 2-1.
6) Former Reds' lefty Johnny Vander Meer still remains the only pitcher to ever throw two consecutive no-hitters after accomplishing the remarkable feat in 1938.

Nuxhall

7) At 15 years and 316 days old, Cincinnati native Joe Nuxhall became the youngest person ever to play in a big league game (June 10th, 1944) -- a record that he still holds today.
8) To date, the Reds have accumulated the 6th most wins of any team in MLB history -- sporting an overall mark of 9969-9676.
9) The organization has never had a Cy Young Award Winner since the award's inception back in 1956.
10) Throughout the team's 130-year history, it has suffered only one season in which the club lost 100 or more games (1982).  Conversely, the franchise has exceeded 100 or more wins in four different seasons (1940, '70, '75, '76).
11) Beginning in the 1960's the organization implemented a strict rule barring facial hair of any kind.  That policy was ceased in 1999 when the team acquired slugger Greg Vaughn -- who was reluctant to shave his goatee.