Longest winning streak in Reds franchise history

The Cincinnati Reds franchise has been in existence for over 100 years. The Cincinnati Red Stockings, who began play in 1869, are recognized as baseball's first professional team and posted a perfect record of 57-0 that season.

And while the current Reds club identifies itself with that Red Stockings ball club, the franchise that Reds Country knows and loves was actually established in 1881 as a charter member of the American Association, and began play in 1882. The Reds later joined the National League in 1890.

When it comes to winning streaks, the Reds franchise has seen it's fair share over the years, with several stretching out over 10-plus games. And while the 2023 version of the Reds was able to string together a dozen consecutive victories, the longest winning streak in Cincinnati Reds history took place in 1899.

Longest winning streak in Reds history: July 26 - August 12, 1899

Step into the time machine, Reds fans, and go back before the turn of the 20th century to 1899. That year, the Bronx Zoo opened in New York City, notorious crime boss Al Capone was born, as was legendary actor Humphrey Bogart, and the Cincinnati Reds won 14 games in a row.

During the team's 10th year in the National League, Cincinnati strung together 14 straight wins. Fifth-year manager Buck Ewing saw his team lose the first game of a doubleheader against Boston on Wednesday, July 26, 1899, but pick up a one-run win during the second game that brought the team's overall record to 41-41.

Cincinnati then went on a winning streak that will be difficult for any future Reds team to top. During the 14-game stretch, the Reds took down the likes of the New York Giants, Louisville Colonels, and Brooklyn Superbas over the course of 18 days.

But the Reds luck finally ran out against the same team with whom they began their impressive winning streak. On Monday, August 14, 1899, Cincinnati fell to Boston by a final of 8-3. The Reds finished the season with a record of 83-67, good enough for sixth place in the National League.

That year's Reds team was led by starting pitcher Noodles Hahn. The left-hander from Nashville, Tennessee started 34 games for the Reds that season with an ERA of 2.68. Hahn led the league in strikeouts with 145. Hall of Famer Bid McPhee was also part of that Reds squad. McPhee is one of only three players in Cincinnati Reds history to spend his entire career in the Queen City. The other two are Johnny Bench and Barry Larkin.

Other Reds teams have come close to topping the feat of the 1899 club, but have fallen just short. The World Series Championship team of 1919 had a 13-game winning streak, and three teams (1939, 1957, and 2023) topped out after winning 12 straight games. If another Reds team is able to reach 15 wins in a row, they'll get to party like it's 1899.