Top 8 Greatest Home Runs in Cincinnati Reds History

Greatest Home Runs

8) 2017 Scooter Gennett hits his fourth Home run of the game

Gennett became the first and the only Reds player ever to hit four home runs in one game – an astounding feat achieved only 18 times before in Major League baseball history!!

Scooter Gennett’s four-homer, 10-RBI game

7) 1996 Barry Larkin: First Shortstop to go 30/30

Barry Larkin is often mentioned when discussing how special the 1995 Reds were, with many crediting his contributions as the reason the Reds would advance to the NLCS..

The 1995 National League Most Valuable Player led the Cincinnati Reds all the way to the National League Championship Series but ultimately fell to the Atlanta Braves in four games.

But Larkin will likely always be remembered for the next year hitting his 30th home run of the season – the 30/30 Club remains an honorable and unique place in baseball, and Barry Larkin holds an exclusive position within it as its first shortstop member.

STL@CIN: Larkin joins the 30-30 club

6) 2004 Ken Griffey 500th Home Run on Father’s Day

No matter how bad the Reds may have been in the 2000s, one cannot take away from Ken Griffey Jr’s incredible moments of creation for them.

On Father’s Day 2004, Ken Griffey Jr stepped into Busch Stadium’s batter’s box and promptly hit his 500th career home run – marking a tremendous momentous milestone in his baseball career. With family present, Griffey connected on the pitch, sending it soaring over the wall for what became one of his finest performances to hit this historic home run milestone.

After touching all three bases, his teammates surrounded home plate to give their congratulations and celebrate together with him. When done, Ken Griffey Sr and family were also present and shared in this momentous event together.

Griffey hits his 500th career home run

5) 1990 World Series Game 1 Eric Davis

In 1990s World Series against the Oakland A’s, the Reds were considered underdogs.

As many stories about how the A’s didn’t take the Reds seriously and didn’t think they could beat them have shown, in Game 1 of the World Series, Eric Davis proved otherwise. He made sure they realized the Reds could compete.

Davis entered the batter’s box for his inaugural World Series at-bat against Oakland Ace Dave Stewart. Davis unleashed a strike to ignite the Reds fans and lead them on a path toward sweeping the A’s out of contention.

WS1990 Gm1: Davis’ homer gives Reds 2-0 lead in first

4) In 2010 Jay Bruce sends the Reds to the Playoffs

The first pitch of the bottom of the ninth inning, Bruce smashes the ball to Center field, bouncing it off of the batter’s eye at Great American Ball Park to a screaming ovation from the sell-out crowd which was just electric. It was one of those moments where everyone in the audience just watched the ball soar into Center Field for what felt like five minutes.

The Reds clinch NL Central on walk-off homer

3) 1975 World Series Game 7 Tony Perez

We all remember Carlton Fisk hitting his Walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series to force Game 7, giving Boston Red Sox hope of ending their curse and giving them another shot at winning it all.

At first, it appeared the Reds would lose. Going into the sixth inning with Boston ahead 3-0 and one runner on, Tony Perez faced Bill Lee for one pitch before hitting an incredible homer that cut their lead down to one run and gave hope that they might come back and claim their first World Championship since 1940.

That was precisely what transpired as the Reds rallied to score two more runs and win game seven by a final score of 4-3.

1975 WS Gm7: Perez crushes a two-run blast to left

2) 1983 Johnny Bench night

Riverfront Stadium hosted Johnny Bench Night on September 17, 1983.

Johnny Bench had no doubt this would be his final appearance ever in baseball and addressed the crowd before the game to thank them for everything during his tenure with the Reds, promising them that he would do his best ” Try hard as Hell to play good for you guys tonight”.

Johnny Bench made good on his promise and hit his 389th career home run during his final at-bat in Major League baseball – earning a standing ovation from fans! This was a special night for a special player.

HOU@CIN: Bench hits a game-tying homer on his night

1) 1972 NLCS Game 5 Johnny Bench

In Game 5 of the 1972 National League Championship Series, the Reds were three outs away from elimination.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are leading 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth, just three outs away from reaching the World Series. Pitcher Dave Giusti was called upon to face none other than 1972 National League MVP Johnny Bench and ensure his defeat.

Giusti throws Johnny Bench an easy change-up that he takes advantage of to tie the game and keep the Reds alive, ultimately leading to Tony Perez getting a single and being replaced by George Foster who scores the winning run via wild pitch – propelling them onto victory and an appearance in 1972 World Series.

Johnny Bench homers, George Foster scores on a wild pitch as the Reds win the 1972 NLCS