Best Reds Player To Wear Each Uniform Number

[foster15]

Hmmm, Jay Bruce over Tom Browning? I would disagree, anyone else?

[foster15]

Derringer wore 25 for three years and thus becomes a possible candidate.

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The real answer to #37 is Bob Purkey

Good call. But still, if they were going to somehow stumble into a reliever for that position, I still say Granger over Charlton. But Purkey beats them both.

[Bruce Berenyi]

how about number 18 gordie coleman vs mike de la hoz a Gordian knot a difficult decision Scylla vs Charybdis

[Big Klu]

The real answer to #37 is Bob Purkey

What about Corky Miller?

[marcshoe]

The best Reds player to wear 42 was Joey Votto, not Roger Salkeld.

[Big Klu]

That number has one of the best histories for usage by players over multiple years with the REds.
Michael Lorenzen (2016-2020)
Todd Frazier (2011-2015)
Chris Dickerson (2008-2010)
Scott Hatteberg (2006-2008)
Sean Casey (1998-2005)
Deion Sanders (1995-1997)
Mark Portugal (1995-1996)
Tony Fernandez (1994)
Jack Daugherty (1993)
Paul O'Neill (1985-1992)
Skeeter Barnes (1984)
Paul Householder (1981-1983)
Arturo DeFreites (1979)
Rafael Santo Domingo (1979)
Mike Lum (1976-1978)
Tom Hall (1972-1975)

Sean Casey was a good choice, but the first name I associated with #21 was Paul O'Neill.

[Big Klu]

The best Reds player to wear 42 was Joey Votto, not Roger Salkeld.

I think of Rick Mahler or Bill Bonham when I think of #42 for the Reds, though for one season Mike Jackson beats them both.

[foster15]

It's a shame that we didn't retire Frank Robinson's number earlier. Then maybe Geronimo would've chosen #60 instead and we wouldn't have to see JJ Groover there.

[Bruce Berenyi]

there neil fiala at 63

[westofyou]

The longer I read these lists the more my repressed feelings resurface and cause me renewed trauma

[Bruce Berenyi]

the trauma would be placated,, assuages, mollified and appeased if you would just concentrate on the promise and process of Terry Lee

[sdm24]

0-Curtis Goodwin
1-Jim Bottomley
2-Zack Cozart
3-Ken Griffey Jr
4.Brandon Phillips
5.Johnny Bench
6.Drew Stubbs
7.Eugenio Suarez
8.Joe Morgan
9.Hal Morris
10.Frank McCormick
11.Barry Larkin
12.Nick Esasky
13.Dave Concepcion
14.Pete Rose
15.George Foster
16.Ron Oester
17.Chris Sabo
18.Ted Kluszewski
19.Joey Votto
20.Frank Robinson
21.Sean Casey
22.Dan Dreissen
23.Lee May
24.Tony Perez
25.Gus Bell
26.Raisel Iglesias
27.Jose Rijo
28. Vada Pinson
29.Bret Boone
30.Ken Griffey Jr.
31.John Franco
32.Tom Browning
33.johnny Vander Meer
34.Homer Bailey
35.Don Gullett
36.Mario Soto
37.Norm Charlton
38.Gary Nolan
39.Joe Nuxhall
40.Pat Zachry
41.Tom Seaver
42.Billy McCool
43.Jack Billingham
44. Eric Davis
45.Jeff Brantley
46.Jim Maloney
47.Johnny Cueto
48.Ted Power
49.Rob Dibble
50.Amir Garrett
51.Mike LaCoss
52.Tony Cingrani
53.Reggie Sanders
54.Aroldis Chapman
55.Matt Latos
56.Scott Sullivan
57.John Smiley
58.Luis Castillo
59.Todd Jones
60.J.J. Hoover
61.Bronson Arroyo
62.Felipe Lopez
63.Sam LeCure
64.Juan Francisco
65.Ryan Hanigan
66.Yasiel Puig
67.Matt Bowman
68.Didi Gregorius
69.D.T. Cromer
70.Jumbo Diaz
71.Juan Cerros
73.Josh Smith
77.Mariano Duncan
81.Eddie Guardado
87.Jose DeLeon

[Big Klu]

sdm24,

I agree with a lot of your choices, and disagree with some of them, but good call on Mariano Duncan for #77. He is normally associated with #7, due to that being the number he wore as the 2B on the 1990 World Champions, but he wore #77 (after briefly wearing #44) on his return to the club for the 1995 stretch run and postseason. He's a much better choice than Sheldon's pick of Ben Weber.

[foster15]

sdm24,

I agree with a lot of your choices, and disagree with some of them, but good call on Mariano Duncan for #77. He is normally associated with #7, due to that being the number he wore as the 2B on the 1990 World Champions, but he wore #77 (after briefly wearing #44) on his return to the club for the 1995 stretch run and postseason. He's a much better choice than Sheldon's pick of Ben Weber.

If only he'd remove Charlton and insert Granger, then remove Granger and insert Purkey. Then it would be acceptable.

Also, cannot put Gullet over a hall of fame catcher,

[RedsBaron]

The MLB.com selection of Jim O'Toole as the greatest Reds player to ever wear no. 31 overlooked a much better player. O'Toole was a fine player and he had five solid years with the Reds from 1960 through 1964, appearing with the Reds overall in nine seasons from 1958 (one game) through 1966. He had a 94-81 record with the Reds and 21.1 career WAR. His best seasons were 1961, when he went 19-10 with a 3.10 ERA for the NL champs, and 1964 when he was 17-7 with a 2.66 ERA.
However consider Bucky Walters. He had more than twice as many career WAR with the Reds, 43.8, than did O'Toole, going 160-107 in 11 seasons in a Reds uniform. Walters ranks 11th all time in Reds career WAR. In 1939 he went 27-11 with a 2.29 ERA, 137 strikeouts, 31 complete games and 319 innings pitched, leading the NL in wins, ERA, Ks, CG and IP, and being selected as the NL MVP for the pennant winning Reds. In 1940 he was nearly as great, going 22-10 with a 2.48 ERA, 29 complete games and 305 innings pitched, leading the NL in wins, ERA, CG and IP, for the 1940 World Champions. In 1941 the Reds faltered but Walters was still terrific, going 19-15 with a 2.83 ERA, 27 complete games and 302 innings pitched, leading the NL in CG and IP. In 1944 Walters again lead the NL in wins, going 23-8 with a 2.40 ERA, 27 complete games and 285 innings pitched.
Had the Cy Young Award been in effect in Walters career he clearly would have won the Cy Young in 1939 and 1940 and probably in 1944. I believe he is the only Reds pitcher to win pitching's "triple crown" of leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts in one season [1939]. I also believe he is the only Red player ever named as NL MVP who was not selected by MLB.com as the greatest Red to wear his particular uniform number. The omission of Walters is a terrible decision IMO.