On July 22, 1866 the Cincinnati Reds Baseball Club was formed. At the time the event did not draw headlines even in the SW corner of the State of Ohio. The importance of this event was not known for a couple of years. In 1869, the Reds became the first openly professional baseball team. All the naysayers said they would never make any money. When the books were balanced at the end of the season, the club showed a profit of $1.39. When the first baseball league was formed for the 1871 season, the Reds were no where in sight. The city that brought the world the first professional baseball team did not even play in the first league. When the National League replaced the National Association in 1876, the Reds joined up. The team did take the 1881 season off before joining the American Association for the 1882 season, the team returned to the National League for good in time for the 1890 season. For many years the Reds were given the honor of opening the season before any one else was allowed to.
Tomorrow we will look at the Salt Lake City Trappers.
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