Big Red Machine
The "Great Eight" players from the Cincinnati Reds' Big Red Machine era - above, from left: Johnny Bench, Ken Griffey Sr., Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, George Foster, Cesar Geronimo and Dave Concepcion - gathered at Great American Ball Park on Saturday, Sept. 7 2013, to participate in a statue dedication for Hall-of-Famer Morgan.
Use the interactive below to view more information on the careers of the eight players, who were together in Cincinnati for just four seasons from 1973-76 and produced World Series titles in '75 and '76. Players are listed in the regular batting order from that era.
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1. Rose
2. Griffey
3. Morgan
4. Perez
5. Bench
6. Foster
7. Concepcion
8. Geronimo
A's
Astros
Braves
Expos
Giants
Mariners
Mets
Phillies
Reds
Red Sox
Royals
White Sox
Yankees
Building the Big Red Machine
  • March 12, 1960: Tony Perez signed by the Reds as an amateur free agent.
  • July 8, 1960: Pete Rose signed by the Reds as a free agent.
  • June 8, 1965: The Reds select Johnny Bench in the second round of the amateur draft.
  • Sept. 12, 1967: Dave Concepcion signed by the Reds as an amateur free agent.
  • June 5, 1969: The Reds select Ken Griffey Sr. in the 29th round of the amateur draft.
  • May 29, 1971: The Reds send Frank Duffy and Vern Geishert to the Giants in exchange for George Foster.
  • Nov. 29, 1971: In a blockbuster trade, the Reds acquire Joe Morgan, Cesar Geronimo, Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham and Denis Menke by trading Tommy Helms, Lee May and Jimmy Stewart to the Houston Astros.
'Great Eight' departures
  • Dec. 16, 1976: The Reds trade Tony Perez to the Expos along with Will McEnaney for Woodie Fryman and Dale Murray. Perez later returned to the Reds in December 1983.
  • Nov. 2, 1978: Pete Rose granted free agency. He later signed with the Phillies in December 1978 and returned to the Reds in August 1984.
  • Nov. 1, 1979: Joe Morgan granted free agency. He later signed with the Astros in January 1980.
  • Jan. 21, 1981: The Reds trade Cesar Geronimo to the Royals in exchange for German Barranca.
  • Nov. 4, 1981: The Reds trade Ken Griffey Sr. to the Yankees for a player to be named later and Brian Ryder (completed in December when the Yankees send Freddie Toliver to the Reds). Griffey returned to the Reds in August 1988.
  • Feb. 10, 1982: The Reds trade George Foster to the Mets for Greg Harris, Jim Kern and Alex Trevino.
  • Sept. 29, 1983: Johnny Bench plays in his final game, completing a 17-year career during which he only played for the Reds.
  • Sept. 15, 1988: Dave Concepcion plays in his final game, completing a 19-year career during which he only played for the Reds.
Data visualization by Kyle Nagel | Source: Baseball-Reference.com |
Rose
1963: Reds

Made Major League debut on April 8

Rose
1964: Reds
Rose
1965: Reds
Rose
1966: Reds
Rose
1967: Reds
Rose
1968: Reds
Rose
1969: Reds
Rose
1970: Reds
Rose
1971: Reds
Rose
1972: Reds
Rose
1973: Reds
Rose
1974: Reds
Rose
1975: Reds
Rose
1976: Reds
Rose
1977: Reds
Rose
1978: Reds

Granted free agency by the team after the season

Rose
1979: Phillies
Rose
1980: Phillies
Rose
1981: Phillies
Rose
1982: Phillies
Rose
1983: Phillies
Rose
1984: Expos and Reds

Traded by the Expos to the Reds for Tom Lawless on Aug. 16

Rose
1985: Reds
Rose
1986: Reds
Griffey
1973: Reds

Made Major League debut on Aug. 25

Griffey
1974: Reds
Griffey
1975: Reds
Griffey
1976: Reds
Griffey
1977: Reds
Griffey
1978: Reds
Griffey
1979: Reds
Griffey
1980: Reds
Griffey
1981: Reds

Traded to the Yankees after the season for a player to be named later

Griffey
1982: Yankees
Griffey
1983: Yankees
Griffey
1984: Yankees
Griffey
1985: Yankees
Griffey
1986: Yankees and Braves
Griffey
1987: Braves
Griffey
1988: Braves and Reds

Released by the Braves on July 28 and signed as a free agent with the Reds shortly after

Griffey
1989: Reds
Griffey
1990: Reds and Mariners

Released by the Reds on Aug. 24

Griffey
1991: Mariners
Morgan
1963: Colt .45s

Made Major League debut on Sept. 21

Morgan
1964: Colt .45s
Morgan
1965: Astros
Morgan
1966: Astros
Morgan
1967: Astros
Morgan
1968: Astros
Morgan
1969: Astros
Morgan
1970: Astros
Morgan
1971: Astros

Traded to the Reds along with Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham, Cesar Geronimo and Denis Menke after the season for Tommy Helms, Lee May and Jimmy Stewart in November 1971

Morgan
1972: Reds
Morgan
1973: Reds
Morgan
1974: Reds
Morgan
1975: Reds
Morgan
1976: Reds
Morgan
1977: Reds
Morgan
1978: Reds
Morgan
1979: Reds

Granted free agency by the Reds after the season

Morgan
1980: Astros
Morgan
1981: Giants
Morgan
1982: Giants
Morgan
1983: Phillies
Morgan
1984: A's
Perez
1964: Reds

Made Major League debut on July 26

Perez
1965: Reds
Perez
1966: Reds
Perez
1967: Reds
Perez
1968: Reds
Perez
1969: Reds
Perez
1970: Reds
Perez
1971: Reds
Perez
1972: Reds
Perez
1973: Reds
Perez
1974: Reds
Perez
1975: Reds
Perez
1976: Reds

Traded by the Reds to the Expos after the season along with Will McEnaney for Woodie Fryman and Dale Murray

Perez
1977: Expos
Perez
1978: Expos
Perez
1979: Expos
Perez
1980: Red Sox
Perez
1981: Red Sox
Perez
1982: Red Sox
Perez
1983: Phillies

Purchased by the Reds from the Phillies after the season

Perez
1984: Reds
Perez
1985: Reds
Perez
1986: Reds
Bench
1967: Reds

Made Major League debut on Aug. 28

Bench
1968: Reds
Bench
1969: Reds
Bench
1970: Reds
Bench
1971: Reds
Bench
1972: Reds
Bench
1973: Reds
Bench
1974: Reds
Bench
1975: Reds
Bench
1976: Reds
Bench
1977: Reds
Bench
1978: Reds
Bench
1979: Reds
Bench
1980: Reds
Bench
1981: Reds
Bench
1982: Reds
Bench
1983: Reds
Foster
1969: Giants

Made Major League debut on Sept. 10

Foster
1970: Giants
Foster
1971: Giants and Reds

Traded by the Giants to the Reds for Frank Duffy and Vern Geishert on May 29

Foster
1972: Reds
Foster
1973: Reds
Foster
1974: Reds
Foster
1975: Reds
Foster
1976: Reds
Foster
1977: Reds
Foster
1978: Reds
Foster
1979: Reds
Foster
1980: Reds
Foster
1981: Reds

Traded by the Reds to the Mets for Greg Harris, Jim Kern and Alex Trevino in February 1982

Foster
1982: Mets
Foster
1983: Mets
Foster
1984: Mets
Foster
1985: Mets
Foster
1986: Mets and White Sox
Concepcion
1970: Reds

Made Major League debut on April 6

Concepcion
1971: Reds
Concepcion
1972: Reds
Concepcion
1973: Reds
Concepcion
1974: Reds
Concepcion
1975: Reds
Concepcion
1976: Reds
Concepcion
1977: Reds
Concepcion
1978: Reds
Concepcion
1979: Reds
Concepcion
1980: Reds
Concepcion
1981: Reds
Concepcion
1982: Reds
Concepcion
1983: Reds
Concepcion
1984: Reds
Concepcion
1985: Reds
Concepcion
1986: Reds
Concepcion
1987: Reds
Concepcion
1988: Reds
Geronimo
1969: Astros

Made Major League debut on April 16

Geronimo
1970: Astros
Geronimo
1971: Astros

Traded to the Reds along with Joe Morgan, Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham and Denis Menke for Tommy Helms, Lee May and Jimmy Stewart in November 1971

Geronimo
1972: Reds
Geronimo
1973: Reds
Geronimo
1974: Reds
Geronimo
1975: Reds
Geronimo
1976: Reds
Geronimo
1977: Reds
Geronimo
1978: Reds
Geronimo
1979: Reds
Geronimo
1980: Reds

Traded by the Reds to the Royals for German Barranca in January 1981

Geronimo
1981: Royals
Geronimo
1982: Royals
Geronimo
1983: Royals