Reds Heroes

These were the heroes who owned the summers of the 1960s. Bob Purkey and Frank Robinson. Johnny Edwards and Jim Maloney. Joey Jay and Vada Pinson. Pete Rose and Tony Perez. During the summers of the 1960s, the heroes of Cincinnati wore Reds uniforms. On their best days (which were, admittedly, too few after 1961), they were entertaining and inspiring. They smote hated rivals and sent their best to the All-Star game, in the decade when that mid-summer classic moved under the lights ... and into prime time. On their worst days, these Reds heroes broke our hearts, squandering late-inning leads and pre-season hopes ... but they never lost our devotion. They were the heroes of our youth. Now their stories are collected in Reds Heroes: Remembering the Cincinnati Reds Who Helped Make the 1960s Baseball's Real Golden Age. The book profiles the best (and a few of the worst) of the Cincinnati Reds of the 1960s. In all, there are 74 profiles of the infielders, outfielders, catchers and pitchers who played for the Reds in the 1960s. Do you remember ... The right-handed fireballer who pitched a pair of no-hitters plus a 10-inning hitless game that he lost 1-0 in the eleventh? (page 96) The All-Star center fielder who led the major leagues in triples twice? (page 43) The knuckle-baller who won 23 games in 1963? (page 116) The 150-pound, four-time All-Star shortstop who batted in 81 runs in 1966? (page 9) The pitcher who notched the Reds' only victory in the 1961 World Series? (page 91) The switch-hitter who won a pair of National League batting titles in the 1960s? (page 24) The relief pitcher who was also a best-selling author? (page 77) The All-Star catcher who won a Gold Glove his rookie season? (page 66) The slugging first baseman who, according to Pete Rose, was the hardest hitter in baseball? (page 15) The Hall of Fame slugger who hit 316 home runs during the 1960s ... 190 with the Reds? (page 49) Their stories are here. Enjoy the memories.