If you happen to be attending a Reds game this year and you happen to be enjoying an ice cold beer, raise your cup and give thanks to a stubborn newspaperman named Oliver Perry Caylor.

Not just for the beer mind you, but for the Cincinnati Reds.

In 1880, the Cincinnati Reds franchise of the National League was expelled for among other things, playing on Sunday and selling beer.  Two major no-no’s in baseball at the time.  NL President William Hulbert lowered the boom and professional baseball was no more, in the city where it all began.

But a determined newspaperman would have none of it.

Oliver Perry Caylor, or “Opie” as he was known, was a lawyer and baseball columnist for the Cincinnati  Commercial.   Caylor was appalled at the “outrageous proceedings” of the National League and vowed to bring a team back to the Queen City.  In the spring of 1881, urged by other baseball-less cities who fell out of favor with the National League, Caylor  set into motion a plan to form a new baseball franchise. What would he call this new independent team?

Why, the Cincinnati Reds of course.

You won’t find much information on these Reds of 1881. But this hastily formed squad would do battle with other blacklisted NL teams like St. Louis and Philadelphia.  Large crowds came and the beer flowed.  Oliver Perry Caylor saw an opportunity.

Now he just needed a league.

On November 2, 1881, a meeting was held at the Gibson Hotel in Cincinnati and the American Association was born.  The league would not only allow the sale of beer, an important factor considering Cincinnati’s German heritage, but games could be played on Sunday.  Two other major innovations came from the new league: winning percentage would determine the champion and permanent umpires were hired.

The Reds would post a 55-25 record in that inaugural year, winning the American Association championship with stars such as Will White, Bid McPhee, and Hick Carpenter.

Professional baseball was back in Cincinnati.

During the Association years from 1882-1889, the Reds went 549-396 winning one championship and established themselves once again as a major force in the baseball world.  Following the 1889 season, the Reds franchise was granted re-admission back into the National League where they have been ever since.

Thank you Oliver Perry Caylor.

Feb 22, 2013; Goodyear, AZ, USA; A general view of Goodyear Ballpark against the skyline looking West during the spring training game between the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians. Much has changed since that day in New Orleans. (Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports)

When all was said and done, the Red Stockings scored 51 runs to the Pelicans 1.  Harry Wright and his band of ballers stayed in the Crescent City for the next five days, demolishing every local amateur team the city threw at them.

And thus the practice of “spring training” had begun.

Of course it wasn’t dubbed spring training then, but the idea was to travel to a warm climate early in the spring and avoid the unpredictable weather of the Midwest.  It was an opportunity to get back into playing shape.

In 1886, Cap Anson and his Chicago White Stockings traveled to Hot Springs, AR to prepare for the season.  In the late 19^th century, hydrotherapy was all the rage and Hot Springs boasted popular bathhouses.  The players would train all day and soak their aches and pains at night.  The team would go on to win the National League championship that year.

After a fourth place finish in 1890, Cincinnati Reds manager Tom Loftus took his 1891 squad to Hot Springs in hopes that some spring training and the pure mineral water would help improve the team.  This was the first official spring camp in Reds history.  Unfortunately, neither hydrotherapy nor Tom Loftus was the answer. The team finished in last place and Loftus was fired.

Since 1891, the Reds have had spring training in 24 different out-of-town cities.  The team stayed in Cincinnati to train from 1892-1894 and 1901-1902.  Tampa, FL has the distinction of being the city to host the Reds for the longest period of time.  Cincinnati trained there from 1931-1942 and again from 1946-1987.  From 1943-1945, the Reds trained in Bloomington, IN in order to reduce travel expenses during World War II.

In 2010, the Reds left Florida for Goodyear, AZ.  It marked the first time since 1945 that a Reds team would not hold spring training in the Sunshine State and the first time since 1922 (Mineral Wells, TX) that they would train west of the Mississippi.

Bid McPhee and Joe Morgan (Photo courtesy of Cincinnati Reds)

This second baseman had 6,545 putouts, the most by a second baseman in major league history.  529 of those came in one season, also a record.  He batted .300 or better 4 times and scored 100 or more runs 10 times.  He regularly led the league in double plays, fielding average and assists.  He ranks 24^th on the all-time stolen base list with 568.  He’s a Hall of Famer and was a Cincinnati fan favorite.

And no, his name is not Joe Morgan.

His name is John Alexander McPhee.

But you can call him Bid.

In 18 seasons, all with the Cincinnati Reds, Bid McPhee was a model of consistency, sportsmanship and skill.  In McPhee’s era, (1882-1899) ballplayers found little use for fielding gloves.  In fact, Bid McPhee was one of the last players to give in and don the leather.  And he did so only because of a finger injury suffered to begin the 1896 campaign.  Somehow I don’t imagine guys with handle bar mustaches go on the disabled list too often.

Morgan on the other hand, set the standard for modern second baseman.  He combined power, speed and excellence in the field. When one thinks of great ballplayers, no matter the position, Joe Morgan usually ranks near the top.

It is neither fair nor practical to compare McPhee and Morgan.  Both Hall of Famers are considered the premiere players at their position in their respective eras.  McPhee was a gamer that demonstrated a high baseball I.Q. before anyone thought of having a high baseball I.Q.  Morgan was a smart, dynamic and fierce competitor that found your weakness and exposed it.  McPhee played in front of relatively small crowds (at least compared to today) and was at the mercy of unforgiving 19^th century newspaper reporters.  Morgan played in front of much larger audiences, more media and in the age of endorsements. (Although I am willing to bet that if Bid McPhee had a horse and buggy dealership, business would have been good)

But let’s be unfair and impractical for a moment. McPhee was known for his stellar defense, while Morgan displayed power and speed.   However, if you look at the Reds all-time offensive records, you’ll see McPhee near or the top of the heap.  Stolen bases?  McPhee is number one with 568 while Morgan sits at number two with 406. Runs?  McPhee is second with 1,678 and Morgan comes in tenth with 816.  Walks?  Bid McPhee again at number two with 981 and Morgan at number five with 881.  McPhee played in 2,138 games batting .272.  Morgan played in 2,649 games batting .271.  Different eras. Same results.

When it comes to second baseman, the Reds have been fortunate to have two of the greatest to ever play the position.

One did it without a glove, the other with a flap of the arm.

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