The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team that play in the National League's Central Division. Originally known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the team was founded as an amateur club in 1863. In 1869, the club became the first ever fully professional baseball team.

Sparky Anderson was hired in 1970 to manage the Reds. This would mark the beginning of a decade of excellent play from a team that became known as "The Big Red Machine." With players such as Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, and Johnny Bench, the Reds would go on to win the National League Pennant in 1970, '72, '75, and '76. They would also win the World Series in 1975 and 1976 of that decade. The Reds became the first National League team to win back-to-back World Series titles since the 1921-22 San Francisco Giants.

Under the direction of manager Lou Piniella, the Reds would lead the NL West for the entire season. Behind players Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, and "Nasty Boys" Rob Dibble, Norm Charlton and Randy Myers, the Reds defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NLCS. Although the Oakland Athletics were heavily favored to win the World Series, the Reds won the series in four straight games to win their fifth World Series Championship.