Making the Big Red Machine: Bob Howsam and the Cincinnati Reds of the 1970s

by Daryl Smith

Overview

With a line-up that included future Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez and Pete Rose, Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine" powered its way in the 1970s to six division titles, four pennants, and two World Series. Three other times in that decade they finished second in their division to the eventual pennant winner.

While much has been written about the players and manager Sparky Anderson, no book until now has given adequate attention to the man behind the Machine, general manager Bob Howsam. From his hire in 1967 through the end of his first stint with the Reds in 1978, Howsam brought about a remarkable change in fortune for the Reds, who had claimed only one pennant in the 26 years before his arrival. This detailed history of baseball's last dynasty shows not only how the team performed but why, delving into the off-field strategy and moves behind the Reds' success.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786439805
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	05/18/2009
Pages:	360
Sales rank:	453,600
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Daryl Smith is the Dean of the School of Business at Cincinnati Christian University where he teaches leadership in for profit (to include sports) as well as non-profits organizations. He is a lifelong Reds fan, who attended the first game at Riverfront Stadium and World Series games in 1970, 1972, and 1975.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     
Foreword by Lee May     
Preface     
Introduction     

1. A New Beginning     
2. Entering the Big Time     
3. The New Era Begins: January–April 1967     
4. More Talent, Little Improvement: 1967–1969     
5. A New Captain: October 1969     
6. The Big Red Machine: April–September 1970     
7. The First Series: October 1970     
8. The Dismal Year: 1971     
9. The Trade: December 1971     
10. Rolling Again: April–September 1972     
11. A Second Series: October 1972     
12. Adversity: November 1972–August 1973     
13. Trying Again: August 1973–October 1973     
14. The NL West: October 1973–September 1974     
15. The Missing Piece: October 1974–September 1975     
16. The Greatest Series Ever Played: October 1975     
17. The Greatest Game Ever Played: October 1975     
18. A Machine in Motion: December 1975–October 1976     
19. Complete and Total Domination: October 1976     
20. Two Trades, One Year: December 1976–September 1977     
21. Time to Move On: December 1977–February 1978     
22. A New Sheriff in Town: March 1978–September 1978     
23. The Machine Stops Running: Fall 1978–October 1979     

Epilogue     
Appendix. Where Are They Now?     
Chapter Notes     
Bibliography     
Index     

Editorial Reviews

gives the reader a new take on well known events and situations...definitely a book for every Reds collection”—Reds Report.

From the Publisher

gives the reader a new take on well known events and situations...definitely a book for every Reds collection

Reds Report