The 1901 Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. The team finished in last place in the eight-team National League with a record of 52 wins and 87 losses, 38 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Regular season The Cincinnati Reds continued to rebuild by adding younger players to their roster in 1901. They finished the 1900 season with a 62–77 record, finishing in seventh place in the National League.
The team dismissed manager Bob Allen after only one season, and replaced him with Reds legend Bid McPhee. McPhee had played second base for Cincinnati from 1882 to 1899. The Reds acquired a new shortstop, as George Magoon joined the club. He last played in the majors in 1899, splitting time between the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Orphans. Dick Harley, who played in only five games with the Reds in 1900, would get a starting job in left field. Harley's last full season was in 1899 with the Cleveland Spiders, when he hit .250 with a homer and 50 RBI.
Sam Crawford was a bright spot for the team, as he batted .330 with a league high sixteen home runs, while driving in 104 runners to lead the team offensively. Jake Beckley was solid once again, hitting .307 with three home runs and 79 RBI.
On the mound, Noodles Hahn had a very solid season, going 22–19 with a 2.71 ERA. Hahn led the league with 41 complete games, 375.1 innings pitched, and striking out 239 batters. Bill Phillips, with a 14–18 record and a 4.64 ERA, was the only other Cincinnati pitcher to have ten or more victories.
Season summary Cincinnati got the season off on a good note, as they won four of their first five games to take a very early first place lead in the National League. The Reds would continue to hold on to first place through twenty-three games in, as they had a 15–8 record, a one-game lead over the New York Giants. Even though Cincinnati went 5–6 in their next eleven games, they held on to a first place tie with the Giants before losing ten games in a row to fall to seventh place with a 20–24 record. Some of their losses were lopsided, as the Reds lost 25–13 to the Giants to begin their losing streak, and in their tenth loss, they were on the wrong side of a 21–3 pasting by the Brooklyn Superbas.
After snapping their ten-game losing streak with a victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, the Reds lost four more in a row, including losses of 8–0 and 19–1 to the Phillies. Cincinnati continued to struggle for the rest of the season, falling into the cellar, and finished the year with a 52–87 record, 38 games behind the pennant-winning Pittsburgh Pirates. This marked the first time in team history that the Reds finished the season in last place.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Roster 1901 Cincinnati Reds Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders Manager
Game log
|-style="background:#bbb;" | ― || April 18 || Pirates || colspan="10" | Postponed (rain). Rescheduled to September 15. |-style="background:#bbb;" | ― || April 19 || Pirates || colspan="10" | Postponed (rain). Rescheduled to September 17. |- | 1 || April 20 || Pirates || 2–4 || Leever (1–0) || Hahn (0–1) || League Park || 3,000 || 0–1 || L1 |-style="background:#bbb;" | ― || April 22 || Orphans || colspan="10" | Postponed (rain). Rescheduled to July 29. |-style="background:#bbb;" | ― || April 23 || Orphans || colspan="10" | Postponed (wet grounds). Rescheduled to July 30. |- | 2 || April 24 || Orphans || 10–9 || McFadden (1–0) || Taylor (0–1) || League Park || 200 || 1–1 || W1 |-style="background:#bbb;" | ― || April 25 || Orphans || colspan="10" | Postponed (wet grounds). Rescheduled to July 31. |- | 3 || April 26 || @ Orphans || 8–7 || Newton (1–0) || Menefee (0–2) || West Side Grounds || 3,200 || 2–1 || W2 |- | 4 || April 27 || @ Orphans || 9–2 || Hahn (1–1) || Taylor (1–2) || West Side Grounds || 3,900 || 3–1 || W3 |- | 5 || April 28 || @ Orphans || 6–4 || Phillips (1–0) || Cunningham (0–1) || West Side Grounds || 7,500 || 4–1 || W4 |- | 6 || April 29 || @ Orphans || 6–9 || Hughes (1–1) || McFadden (1–1) || West Side Grounds || 700 || 4–2 || L1 |- | 7 || April 30 || @ Orphans || 7–8 || Menefee (1–2) || Newton (1–1) || West Side Grounds || 600 || 4–3 || L2
| 8 || May 1 || @ Cardinals || 7–3 || Hahn (2–1) || Jones (1–2) || Robison Field || 6,000 || 5–3 || W1 |- | 9 || May 2 || @ Cardinals || 16–12 || Phillips (2–0) || Murphy (0–1) || Robison Field || 3,000 || 6–3 || W2 |- | 10 || May 4 || @ Cardinals || 4–4 || — || — || Robison Field || 5,000 || 6–3 || T1 |- | 11 || May 5 || @ Cardinals || 7–5 || Hahn (3–1) || Breitenstein (0–2) || Robison Field || 6,000 || 7–3 || W1 |- | 12 || May 6 || Cardinals || 8–13 || Jones (2–2) || McFadden (1–2) || League Park || 3,500 || 7–4 || L1 |- | 13 || May 7 || Cardinals || 4–3 || McFadden (2–2) || Powell (1–2) || League Park || 1,800 || 8–4 || W1 |- | 14 || May 8 || Cardinals || 3–14 || Harper (3–0) || Rusie (0–1) || League Park || 3,000 || 8–5 || L1 |- | 15 || May 9 || Cardinals || 9–3 || Hahn (4–1) || Breitenstein (0–3) || League Park || 1,800 || 9–5 || W1 |- | 16 || May 10 || @ Pirates || 0–3 || Tannehill (2–1) || Newton (1–2) || Exposition Park || 3,500 || 9–6 || L1 |-style="background:#bbb;" | ― || May 11 || @ Pirates || colspan="10" | Postponed (wet grounds). Rescheduled to September 14. |- | 17 || May 12 || Pirates || 6–1 || Hahn (5–1) || Leever (4–1) || League Park || 12,994 || 10–6 || W1 |- | 18 || May 13 || @ Pirates || 3–2 || McFadden (3–2) || Chesbro (1–1) || Exposition Park || 4,000 || 11–6 || W2 |- | 19 || May 14 || @ Superbas || 7–8 || Hughes (2–1) || Newton (1–3) || Washington Park || 2,500 || 11–7 || L1 |- | 20 || May 15 || @ Superbas || 6–1 || Phillips (3–0) || McJames (0–2) || Washington Park || 3,400 || 12–7 || W1 |- | 21 || May 16 || @ Superbas || 6–4 || Hahn (6–1) || Donovan (3–2) || Washington Park || 2,600 || 13–7 || W2 |- | 22 || May 17 || @ Superbas || 9–10 || Hughes (3–1) || Newton (1–4) || Washington Park || 1,900 || 13–8 || L1 |-style="background:#bbb;" | ― || May 18 || @ Beaneaters || colspan="10" | Postponed (rain). Rescheduled to July 1. |-style="background:#bbb;" | ― || May 20 || @ Beaneaters || colspan="10" | Postponed (rain). Rescheduled to September 7. |- | 23 || May 21 || @ Beaneaters || 4–1 || Phillips (4–0) || Dinneen (3–1) || South End Grounds || 2,500 || 14–8 || W1 |- | 24 || May 22 || @ Beaneaters || 4–3 || Hahn (7–1) || Willis (1–4) || South End Grounds || 2,000 || 15–8 || W2 |- | 25 || May 23 || @ Giants || 1–8 || Doheny (1–1) || Newton (1–5) || Polo Grounds || 9,150 || 15–9 || L1 |- | 26 || May 24 || @ Giants || 0–1 || Mathewson (8–0) || Phillips (4–1) || Polo Grounds || 9,620 || 15–10 || L2 |-style="background:#bbb;" | ― || May 25 || @ Giants || colspan="10" | Postponed (rain). Rescheduled to June 27. |-style="background:#bbb;" | ― || May 27 || @ Giants || colspan="10" | Postponed (rain). Rescheduled to September 13. |- | 27 || May 28 || @ Phillies || 0–1 || Donahue (4–3) || Hahn (7–2) || Baker Bowl || 1,402 || 15–11 || L3 |-style="background:#bbb;" | ― || May 29 || @ Phillies || colspan="10" | Postponed (rain). Rescheduled to June 24. |- | 28 || May 30 || @ Phillies || 1–2 || Duggleby (3–4) || Newton (1–6) || Baker Bowl || 4,877 || 15–12 || L4 |- | 29 || May 30 || @ Phillies || 4–3 || Phillips (5–1) || White (4–3) || Baker Bowl || 13,979 || 16–12 || W1
| 30 || June 1 || @ Pirates || 4–3 || Newton (2–6) || Tannehill (4–2) || Exposition Park || 5,500 || 17–12 || W2 |- | 31 || June 2 || Cardinals || 1–6 || Harper (5–2) || Hahn (7–3) || League Park || 14,494 || 17–13 || L1 |- | 32 || June 3 || Superbas || 5–4 || Phillips (6–1) || Hughes (3–3) || League Park || 2,500 || 18–13 || W1 |- | 33 || June 4 || Superbas || 3–7 || Donovan (8–2) || McFadden (3–3) || League Park || 2,800 || 18–14 || L1 |- | 34 || June 5 || Superbas || 1–1 || — || — || League Park || 2,100 || 18–14 || T1 |-style="background:#bbb;" | ― || June 6 || Giants || colspan="10" | Postponed (rain). Rescheduled to July 10. |- | 35 || June 7 || Giants || 3–2 || Newton (3–6) || Doheny (1–2) || League Park || 3,600 || 19–14 || W1 |- | 36 || June 8 || Giants || 6–4 || Hahn (8–3) || Mathewson (9–4) || League Park || 10,084 || 20–14 || W2 |- | 37 || June 9 || Giants || 13–25 || Phyle (5–0) || Phillips (6–2) || League Park || 17,984 || 20–15 || L1 |- | 38 || June 10 || Beaneaters || 5–9 || Willis (3–4) || Newton (3–7) || League Park || 2,000 || 20–16 || L2 |- | 39 || June 11 || Beaneaters || 2–3 || Dinneen (4–3) || Hahn (8–4) || League Park || 1,800 || 20–17 || L3 |- | 40 || June 12 || Beaneaters || 6–6 || — || — || League Park || 1,500 || 20–17 || T1 |- | 41 || June 13 || Phillies || 4–8 || Duggleby (4–6) || Newton (3–8) || League Park || 1,200 || 20–18 || L1 |- | 42 || June 15 || Phillies || 4–5 || Donahue (8–3) || Phillips (6–3) || League Park || 2,000 || 20–19 || L2 |- | 43 || June 16 || Pirates || 0–2 || Tannehill (4–2) || Hahn (8–5) || League Park || 6,500 || 20–20 || L3 |- | 44 || June 17 || Cardinals || 1–12 || Sudhoff (6–2) || Newton (3–9) || League Park || 1,200 || 20–21 || L4 |- | 45 || June 19 || @ Superbas || 6–10 || McJames (3–3) || Phillips (6–4) || Washington Park || 1,900 || 20–22 || L5 |- | 46 || June 20 || @ Superbas || 1–8 || Donovan (11–4) || Hahn (8–6) || Washington Park || 2,400 || 20–23 || L6 |- | 47 || June 21 || @ Superbas || 3–21 || Kennedy (11–4) || Parker (0–1) || Washington Park || 1,900 || 20–24 || L7 |- | 48 || June 22 || @ Phillies || 6–3 || Newton (4–9) || Donahue (8–5) || Baker Bowl || 4,599 || 21–24 || W1 |- | 49 || June 24 || @ Phillies || 0–8 || Duggleby (6–6) || Hahn (8–7) || Baker Bowl || N/A || 21–25 || L1 |- | 50 || June 24 || @ Phillies || 1–19 || White (5–7) || Phillips (6–5) || Baker Bowl || 5,048 || 21–26 || L2 |- | 51 || June 25 || @ Phillies || 0–3 || Orth (8–5) || Newton (4–10) || Baker Bowl || 1,495 || 21–27 || L3 |- | 52 || June 26 || @ Giants || 2–6 || Mathewson (11–6) || Scott (0–1) || Polo Grounds || 2,500 || 21–28 || L4 |- | 53 || June 27 || @ Giants || 7–5 || Hahn (9–7) || Doheny (2–4) || Polo Grounds || N/A || 22–28 || W1 |- | 54 || June 27 || @ Giants || 0–4 || Taylor (5–9) || Phillips (6–6) || Polo Grounds || 5,900 || 22–29 || L1 |- | 55 || June 28 || @ Giants || 10–11 || Phyle (6–1) || Newton (4–11) || Polo Grounds || 2,100 || 22–30 || L2 |- | 56 || June 29 || @ Beaneaters || 11–5 || Hahn (10–7) || Dinneen (6–6) || South End Grounds || 2,000 || 23–30 || W1
| 57 || July 1 || @ Beaneaters || 1–9 || Nichols (5–8) || Phillips (6–7) || South End Grounds || N/A || 23–31 || L1 |- | 58 || July 1 || @ Beaneaters || 2–4 || Dinneen (7–6) || Newton (4–12) || South End Grounds || 2,500 || 23–32 || L2 |- | 59 || July 2 || @ Beaneaters || 10–1 || Hahn (11–7) || Pittinger (5–5) || South End Grounds || 1,500 || 24–32 || W1 |- | 60 || July 4 || Beaneaters || 2–0 || Phillips (7–7) || Willis (8–6) || League Park || 3,000 || 25–32 || W2 |- | 61 || July 4 || Beaneaters || 4–6 || Nichols (6–8) || Newton (4–13) || League Park || 2,800 || 25–33 || L1 |- | 62 || July 5 || Beaneaters || 3–4 || Dinneen (8–6) || Case (0–1) || League Park || 1,100 || 25–34 || L2 |- | 63 || July 6 || Beaneaters || 4–1 || Hahn (12–7) || Pittinger (5–6) || League Park || 2,200 || 26–34 || W1 |- | 64 || July 7 || Giants || 6–5 || Phillips (8–7) || Doheny (2–5) || League Park || 4,830 || 27–34 || W2 |- | 65 || July 8 || Giants || 3–9 || Mathewson (14–6) || Scott (0–2) || League Park || 3,300 || 27–35 || L1 |- | 66 || July 9 || Giants || 5–4 || Case (1–1) || Phyle (7–3) || League Park || 1,800 || 28–35 || W1 |- | 67 || July 10 || Giants || 0–3 || Taylor (7–11) || Hahn (12–8) || League Park || 2,000 || 28–36 || L1 |- | 68 || July 11 || Superbas || 4–5 || Kitson (6–9) || Phillips (8–8) || League Park || 1,200 || 28–37 || L2 |- | 69 || July 12 || Superbas || 6–8 || Donovan (15–6) || Newton (4–14) || League Park || 1,500 || 28–38 || L3 |- | 70 || July 13 || Superbas || 8–9 || Carsey (1–0) || Newton (0–1) || League Park || 3,000 || 28–39 || L4 |-