1973 Cincinnati Reds season

1973 Cincinnati Reds
National League West Champions
LeagueNational League
DivisionWest
BallparkRiverfront Stadium
CityCincinnati
Record99–63 (.611)
Divisional place1st
OwnersLouis Nippert[1]
General managersBob Howsam
ManagersSparky Anderson
TelevisionWLWT
(Charlie Jones, Wes Parker)
RadioWLW
(Al Michaels, Joe Nuxhall)
← 1972 Seasons 1974 →

The 1973 Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds winning the National League West with a Major League-best record of 99–63, 3+12 games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers, before losing the NLCS to the New York Mets in five games. The Reds were managed by Sparky Anderson, and played their home games at Riverfront Stadium.

The season started well but entered a slump, which ended on July 1, 1973, when third-string catcher Hal King hit a season-changing home run, pinch-hitting a walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth with the score at 3-1 Dodgers, two on base, and the count at 2 balls and 2 strikes. The play was credited with turning the season around, and the Reds ended the season by winning the division. The Cincinnati Enquirer called the home run one of the most dramatic in Reds history.

  1. ^ "Louis Nippert Gains Control Of Cincinnati Reds Franchise". Coshocton Tribune. Coshocton, Ohio. UPI. January 12, 1973. p. 8. Retrieved August 24, 2020 – via newspapers.com.