What Is 1921 Cincinnati Reds baseball team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1921 Cincinnati Reds finished the season with a 70–83 record, placing sixth in the National League. Managed by Pat Moran, the team played its home games at Redland Field and featured stars like Eppa Rixey and Jake Daubert.

Key Facts

The 1921 Cincinnati Reds had a 70–83 win-loss record, finishing sixth in the National League.
They played home games at Redland Field, later renamed Crosley Field in 1934.
Pat Moran managed the team during the 1921 season.
Left-handed pitcher Eppa Rixey led the staff with 17 wins and a 3.53 ERA.
First baseman Jake Daubert batted .308 in 97 games before his death in September 1921.

Overview

The 1921 Cincinnati Reds were a Major League Baseball team competing in the National League during a transitional era in the sport. Coming off a World Series championship in 1919, the team struggled to maintain consistent performance in the early 1920s, and the 1921 season reflected those challenges.

Despite a subpar record, the Reds showcased individual talent and resilience amid a shifting roster. The season was also marked by tragedy, as veteran first baseman Jake Daubert passed away suddenly during the year, impacting the team and fans alike.

Record and Standing: The team finished with a 70–83 record, placing them sixth in the eight-team National League, 23.5 games behind the first-place New York Giants.
Home Field: All home games were played at Redland Field, a ballpark located in Cincinnati’s West End, which later became known as Crosley Field.
Manager:Pat Moran, who had led the Reds to their 1919 World Series title, returned as manager for the 1921 season.
Key Player: Pitcher Eppa Rixey was the team’s most reliable arm, winning 17 games with a 3.53 ERA over 278 innings pitched.
Tragedy: Veteran first baseman Jake Daubert died on September 15, 1921, from complications following an emergency appendectomy, shocking the baseball world.

Key Players and Performance

The 1921 Reds relied on a mix of experienced veterans and developing talent, though injuries and underperformance limited their competitiveness. Several players delivered notable individual performances despite the team’s overall struggles.

Batting Average:Jake Daubert led the team with a .308 batting average in 97 games, showcasing his consistent contact skills before his untimely death.
Home Runs: Outfielder Pat Duncan topped the team with 8 home runs, a modest total by modern standards but significant in the dead-ball era.
Runs Batted In:George Kelly of the New York Giants led the league with 124 RBIs, while the Reds’ best was Pat Duncan with 54.
Starting Rotation: Besides Rixey, Tom Shearn contributed 11 wins, though his 4.31 ERA reflected the team’s pitching inconsistencies.
Defensive Play: The Reds committed 178 errors during the season, ranking them near the bottom in fielding percentage at .956.
Attendance: Fan support remained steady, with the Reds drawing approximately 270,000 spectators for the season, averaging around 3,500 per game.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1921 Cincinnati Reds compared to other top teams in the National League:

Team	Record (W-L)	Win %	Runs Scored	Runs Allowed
New York Giants	94–60	.610	751	584
Pittsburgh Pirates	90–63	.588	756	617
St. Louis Cardinals	87–67	.565	758	641
Cincinnati Reds	70–83	.458	631	690
Brooklyn Robins	77–75	.507	714	686

The Reds ranked near the bottom in both runs scored and allowed, highlighting offensive and defensive shortcomings. While other teams like the Giants and Pirates contended for the pennant, Cincinnati struggled to compete consistently, finishing well out of contention.

Why It Matters

The 1921 season serves as a historical snapshot of the Reds during a transitional period, reflecting both on-field performance and off-field human drama. It underscores the volatility of early 20th-century baseball, where individual legacies were shaped amid limited media coverage and evolving league dynamics.

Legacy of Jake Daubert: His death at age 37 cut short a Hall of Fame-caliber career, and he was posthumously recognized for his contributions to the game.
Stadium History: Redland Field’s role in 1921 laid the foundation for Cincinnati’s long-standing baseball tradition at that location.
Player Development: The season highlighted the need for stronger farm systems, which the Reds would later improve in the 1930s.
League Parity: The gap between top and bottom teams in 1921 revealed growing disparities in management and talent acquisition.
Historical Context: Occurring just after the 1919 Black Sox scandal, the season unfolded amid growing scrutiny of baseball’s integrity.
Fandom and Culture: Despite a losing record, steady attendance showed that Cincinnati remained a passionate baseball city.

The 1921 Cincinnati Reds may not be remembered for championships, but they represent an important chapter in the franchise’s evolution and the broader narrative of early professional baseball.