As a Cincinnati Reds fan, I’ve nice reminiscences of when Joey Votto performed for the Reds and was the perfect third-place hitter in baseball. It didn’t matter who was pitching; Joey Votto would get his rips. Not solely that, Votto was man, an incredible teammate, and an envoy for each baseball and the Cincinnati Reds.
However let me pose this query to you, Redleg Nation. How a lot ought to the Cincinnati Reds honor a participant who’s arguably their better of the twenty first Century?
Joey Votto got here as much as the Reds in 2007. His stats communicate for themselves: 2,185 hits, 356 residence runs, 1,144 runs batted in. He had three 100-plus RBI seasons and walked 1,365 occasions.
I feel we might agree that Votto will likely be elected into the Cincinnati Reds Corridor of Fame. And if the Reds need to be elegant, they need to have a Joey Votto day subsequent season to honor their former first baseman.
However right here’s the large query: Will the Reds down the highway resolve to retire #19?
Listing of Cincinnati Reds with retired numbers
Fred Hutchinson
Johnny Bench
Joe Morgan
Sparky Anderson
Barry Larkin
Dave Concepcion
Pete Rose
Ted Kluszewski
Frank Robinson
Tony Perez
(Be aware: Jackie Robinson’s quantity was retired by MLB in 1997)
My first option to retire a quantity could be Vada Pinson, who performed centerfield for the Reds from 1958-1968. That’s nothing in opposition to Votto. However Pinson would get my vote on that one.
In baseball, it at all times goes again to numbers, particularly for one thing akin to a Corridor of Fame induction or to retire a quantity. The Reds are traditionally extra stingy in retiring numbers. The Yankees have essentially the most retired numbers with 22. Cincinnati is at the moment at 10. And I’d are likely to agree with being extra restrictive on this problem than liberal.
Each Pinson and Votto have superb numbers.
In Pinson’s case, he was the higher defensive participant in an essential place – centerfield. He had pace and was athletic. He mixed batting common with energy. Like Johnny Bench catching, he stored the Reds “off the spot” of getting a top-notch centerfielder for a decade. Pinson had 4 years with over 200 hits (Votto had none), seven years of 20-plus stolen bases and 6 years of 20-plus residence runs throughout his profession with the Reds.
Neither had spectacular submit season numbers. Pinson was 2 for 22 within the 1961 World Collection and Votto batted .244 (10 for 41) with only one RBI and no further base hits in 4 submit season appearances.
Votto was chosen as a Most Useful Participant within the NL; Pinson was by no means picked. His greatest yr (1961) was overshadowed by Robinson who gained the MVP in 1961. Votto was a six-time All-Star, whereas Pinson was chosen 4 occasions. Pinson was a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, Votto was as soon as. Each have been lefthanded hitters. Votto bought on base extra and had extra energy, and he had extra years with the Reds.
What say you? I feel both could be an incredible option to be honored with their quantity retired by the Cincinnati Reds.
Pinson or Votto? Or neither?
Or is there a greater third choice?
