Ranking every Reds player who's had his jersey retired

The Cincinnati Reds is oldest professional baseball franchise. The club celebrated 150 years of Reds baseball during the 2019 season, and the team is just embarked on season No. 154 as the 2023 Opening Day is now in the rearview mirror.

Throughout their history, the Reds have retired 10 different jersey numbers (this does not include MLB's league-wide retirement of No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson).

But which one of those 10 players and managers deserves the top spot in the Reds organization? It's time to rank every Cincinnati Reds great who's had his number retired by the organization.

10. Reds manager Fred Hutchinson (No. 1)

It's fair to say that a majority of Reds fans who grew up watching the Big Red Machine know who wore Nos. 5 and 14. Another generation of Cincinnati faithful grew up watching No. 11 locking down the left side of the infield. And No. 19 has been part of the Cincinnati Reds roster for over 15 years.

But when you look up above the lower-levels of Great American Ball Park and see the No. 1, it's quite possibile that very few Reds fans actually know the man who used to don that jersey. It was former Cincinnati skipper Fred Hutchinson.

Hutch, as he was commonly referred to, spent 10 years as a major league pitcher and was named an All-Star in 1951. But it was Hutchinson's time as a manager that saw him receive the distinct honor of having his jersey number retired by the Cincinnati Reds.

Hutchinson was a player/ manager for the Detroit Tigers from 1952-1953 and after a three-year stop with the St. Louis Cardinals, he became the skipper of the Cincinnati Reds in 1959. Hutchinson led the Redlegs back to the postseason in 1961, though his Cincinnati team fell in five game to the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Fred Hutchinson was ready to lead his troops into battle during the 1964 season, but was diagnosed with cancer shortly before the season began. Hutchinson appeared in just over 100 games during the 1964 season and succumb to the disease in November of that year. The Reds honored Hutchinson's courage by retiring his No. 1 jersey.

9. Reds shortstop Dave Concepcion (No. 13)

Arguably one of the best Reds players to never be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Davey Concepcion locked down the shortstop position during the greatest era in Cincinnati baseball history.

Concepcion does not fit the newer mold of shortstops like Corey Seager, Alex Rodriguez, or even Barry Larkin. Concepcion will never be confused for a power-hitter. During his illustrious career, Concepcion on cracked 101 homers and only twice reached double-digit round trippers during a season.

Concepcion was a five-time recipient of a Gold Glove and went to the Midsummer Classic nine times. Four of Concepcion's five Gold Glove Awards came during the Big Red Machine's dominance from 1974 to 1977.

Dave Concepcion spent his entire 19-year career with the Redlegs and played over 100 games 16 times. In 11 of those 19 seasons, Concepcion eclipsed 140 games played. Concepcion ranks second among all Reds players in games played.

Concepcion may not have been the best shortstop in Cincinnati Reds history, but he paved the way for a future Hall of Famer and mentored Barry Larkin during the infancy of his career. Concepcion's No. 13 was retired by the Reds in 2007.

8. Reds first baseman Ted Kluszewski (No. 18)

Ted Kluszewski might be known more for his jersey with the cutoff sleeves than his actual career, but that's a shame, because Big Klu was one of the most feared hitters throughout his entire career with the Cincinnati Reds.

Kluszewski played for 16 seasons, 11 of which came as a member of the Reds. Kluszewski hit over 250 home runs during his Cincinnati career and recorded 886 RBIs. In 1954, Kluszewski led the National League with 49 blasts.

Kluszewski was a four-time All-Star and was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1962. Big Klu may be one of the most under-appreciated players of his era. Kluszewski retired with a toal of 279 home runs, and his 251 as a Red rank him sixth all-time in team history.

Kluszewski ranks in the Top 10 in Reds history in RBIs as well, just ahead of the great George Foster and slightly behind longtime Cincinnati shortstop Dave Concepcion. Ted Kluszewski had his jersey number retired in 1998. Could you imagine being a pitcher during the mid-1950s and facing the likes of Kluszewski, Frank Robinson, and Wally Post?

Kluszewski may be remembered more for his fashion statement than his production, but his No. 18 is hanging above Great American Ball Park and denotes his success while in a Reds uniform.

7. Reds manager Sparky Anderson (No. 10)

Sparky Anderson would be the first one to tell you that he has no business having his jersey number retired by the Cincinnati Reds. Anderson always gave the praise to his players. But Anderson was the best manager in Reds history and one of the best in the history of baseball.

When you think of all-time great coaches and managers, names like Phil Jackson, Bill Belichick, and Nick Saban come to mind. Those are some of the best coaches in their sport, and Sparky belongs in that conversation.

Now, those aforementioned coaches had or, in Saban's case, still have something that Anderson had during his time in Cincinnati - great players. And while many fans and pundits will argue about how easy it is to lead top talent like the Alabama football program, the Tom Brady-led Patriots, the Chicago Bulls dynasties, or the Big Red Machine, it can be difficult to manage all those egos.

Sparky Anderson did a great job during his tenure in Cincinnati and brought two World Championships to the Queen City. He then did the same with the Detroit Tigers in 1984 and was elected to Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 2000.

Anderson had his No. 10 jersey retired by the Reds, as he led the team to the National League pennant four times during his nine years in Cincinnati. Anderson finished his managerial career with 2,194 wins, five league pennants, and three World Series titles.

6. Reds first baseman Tony Perez (No. 24)

I think it's fair to say that we've reached the point where the debate is going to become much more intense. While Fred Hutchinson, Dave Concepcion, and Sparky Anderson are all players and managers that fans have rooted for in the past, these six players are just on a different level.

There are a number of Reds fans who will tell you how great Tony Perez is and that he belongs on the Mount Rushmore of past Cincinnati players. But he's just not as good as the other five players who've had their numbers retired by the franchise.

Perez was a great player who came up huge in the clutch and was the heart and soul of the Big Red Machine. You'll get no argument from most fans in those areas. But the numbers just don't back up the perceived dominance of the Big Doggie.

Perez, who was elected to the Hall of Fame after nine years on the ballot, was a seven-time All-Star and helped the Reds to two World Championships as the first baseman on those great Cincinnati teams of the 1970s. For his career in Cincinnati, Perez hit .283 with 287 round trippers.

Tony Perez's No. 24 is hanging high above the playing surface at Great American Ball Park. Perez was an all-time great within the Reds organization, but he's just outside the Top 5.

5. Reds outfielder Frank Robinson (No. 20)

There are plenty of people who will argue that Frank Robinson was the best player in Cincinnati Reds history. If you're talking about Robinson's entire career, then that conversation definitely deserves consideration.

The fact is, however, Robinson spent only 10 of his 21 major league season in Cincinnati. In one of the worst trades in major leauge history, Robinson was traded to the Baltimore Orioles following his 1965 All-Star season.

One might think that Robinson took umbrage with the decision of Reds owner Bill DeWitt. Robinson turned his 1966 season with Baltimore into an MVP campaign while also winning the Triple Crown. The Orioles also took home the World Series trophy that season, in no small part to the contributions of Robinson.

Robinson's 10 years in the Queen City saw him racked up 324 of his 586 home runs. Robinson went to six All-Star Games in a Reds uniform and also won NL Rookie of the Year and was the National League MVP in 1961.

Frank Robinson is oftentimes cited as a Top 20 player of all-time in the sport. Robinson was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1982 and had his No. 20 retired by the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, and Baltimore Orioles.

4. Reds shortstop Barry Larkin (No. 11)

Barry Larkin was the greatest shortstop in Cincinnati Reds history, and one of the best to ever do it. Period! Larkin, who was born in Cincinnati, was beloved during his time as a Red, and is now serving as an analyst alongside John Sadak in the broadcast booth.

Larkin played college baseball for the University of Michigan and was a two-time All-American for the Wolverines. The Reds selected Larkin with the fourth-overall pick in the 1985 MLB Draft. Larkin debuted the following year, playing 41 games while drawing Rookie of the Year consideration. He finished seventh in the voting that season.

Larkin became the Reds starting shortstop the following season, and one year later had already made it to his first All-Star Game. Larkin won his first Silver Slugger Award in 1988 as well while slashing .296/.347/.429. Larkin also swiped 40 bags that year.

That season propelled Larkin to have one of the greatest career in Cincinnati Reds history. Over 19 years, all with the Redlegs, Larkin would go on to appear in 12 All-Star Games, win the Silver Slugger Award nine times, take home three Gold Gloves, and be crowned NL MVP in 1995.

Barry Larkin's jersey was retired by the Reds in 2012, the same year he was inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Strangely it took Larkin three tries to finally make it to Cooperstown despite being one of the best players to ever play the shortstop position.

2. Reds player/ manager Pete Rose (No. 14)

The No. 14 may not be immortalized in Cooperstown, but for most fans of the Cincinnati Reds, it is. Pete Rose, the hometown kid who became The Hit King, did more for the sport of baseball while wearing a Reds uniform than almost any other player who's set foot on the field in the Queen City.

Regardless of your personal beef with Rose, if you have one, there's no denying the talent that he when he laced up his cleats and came out of the dugout. Rose is synonymous with Reds baseball, and the former player/ manager had his jersey retired by the Reds in 2016.

Rose was, during his playing career, one of the best to ever do it. Rose won the NL MVP in 1973 and finished in the Top 10 for the award on nine other times. That's incredible. Rose was Rookie of the Year in 1963 and has many other accolades attached to his name.

Rose was a versatile fielder and won two Gold Gloves during his storied career. Rose was part of three World Championship teams, with two of titles coming during his time in Cincinnati. Rose also has a Silver Slugger and is three-time batting champion.

Pete Rose also has the record for most hit ever in a career with 4,256. Most fans of the Cincinnati Reds know exactly where they were when Rose hit No. 4,192. While he may not be honored by the baseball writers, Rose has statue outside Great American Ball Park and his No. 14 hanging above the concourse.

1. Reds catcher Johnny Bench (No. 5)

We've arrived at No. 1, and it is, of course, No. 5. Johnny Bench is the probably the most likable of almost any player who's donned a Cincinnati Reds jersey. The greatest catcher of all-time just so happened to spend his entire career in the city of Cincinnati.

Bench was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989 with 96.42-percent of the vote. Bench's career began after being taken in Round 2 of the 1965 MLB Draft. He debuted just two years later at 19 years old.

Bench went to the All-Star Game, won a Gold Glove, and was named Rookie of the Year in 1968. He also placed 16th in the NL MVP voting that season. That was just the beginning for Johnny Bench, as he went on to win a record 10 Gold Gloves for a catcher. Bench also went to 14 All-Star Games and won two NL MVPs.

Bench led the league in home runs on two different occasions and was the RBI champion three times. Bench helped lead the Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 World Championship and is the team leader in home runs with 389 round trippers to his credit.

Johnny Bench's No. 5 jersey was retired in 1986. While other catchers have come along since the great Johnny Bench retired, it's highly unlikely that any catcher will ever surpass what he did. During his game at Riverfront Stadium in 1983, Bench smacked a game-tying homer over the left field wall on Johnny Bench Night.