Reds Relic Report: Cincinnati abandoned a tradition fans haven't seen since Barry Larkin retired

Welcome back to the latest edition of the Reds Relic Report where some of the most hotly-debated topics centered around Cincinnati Reds baseball are discussed, but with an antiquated (and correct) point of view.

Leadership is key to success in any sport, but it's especially significant in baseball. Whether that leadership comes from a seasoned manager or a veteran player on the field, finding a voice to lead the team throughout the grind of a 162-game season is a vital part of winning at the highest level.

The Cincinnati Reds haven't had that type of leadership since Joey Votto's contract expired following the 2023 season. While some fans may argue that Votto overstayed his welcome, he'll no doubt go down in history as one of the greatest Reds' players of all-time.

Votto's résumé is Hall of Fame worthy. The six-time All-Star compiled 356 home runs, 1,144 RBI, and has a career .294/.409/.511 slash line. In addition to his six trips to the Midsummer Classic, Votto was the NL MVP in 2010 and probably should've won the award again in 2017. He led the league in walks five times, and was tops in on-base percentage seven times during a nine-year stretch.

But despite all of his accolades, Votto never received one of the highest honors bestowed upon some the Reds' greatest players; he was never named team captain. In fact, the last time a Reds player received that mantle was back in 1997 when Barry Larkin had the letter 'C' embroidered on his chest. The Hall of Fame shortstop served as the Reds captain from 1997 until he retired in 2004.

The Reds haven't had a team captain since Barry Larkin retired

Captaincy is an honor that few players throughout the history of the Reds' franchise have ever received. In addition to Larkin, former Cincinnati stalwarts Pete Rose (1970-1978) and Davey Concepcíon (1983-1988) were also declared team captain.

Currently, there's only two Major League Baseball franchises that recognize a player as the team's captain. Aaron Judge was given the title of New York Yankees team captain in 2022 after signing a nine-year, $360 million extension, and the Kansas City Royals named catcher Salvador Perez team captain in 2023.

Some of the all-time greats to have ever played the game were dubbed team captain during their Major League careers. Derek Jeter (Yankees), Willie Stargell (Pittsburgh Pirates), Mike Schmidt (Philadelphia Phillies), Gary Carter (New York Mets), and Harmon Killebrew (Minnesota Twins) all carried the label of captain during their time in the big leagues.

Of course, with today's game dominated by free agency, accelerated prospect promotions, and blockbuster trades, most organizations rarely keep players past their arbitration windows. Players are chasing big pay days, and franchises fear losing their top talent to free agency for little-to-nothing, so it's become exceedingly rare to see a player remain with an organization much beyond five years.

If the Reds didn't give the title of captain to Votto, it's doubtful that any future Cincinnati star will receive such a distinction — at least not among those on the current roster.

Being a team captain carries a lot weight, and is something that few players have the mettle to handle. It'll be curious to see if a future leader emerges from this young crop of Reds' talent currently trying to find their footing in the big leagues.

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