On March 15, 1869, Harry Wright’s squad boldly led the charge in the professionalization of American sports. The Cincinnati Red Stockings, the trailblazing first professional baseball club, revolutionized baseball from a pastime into a lucrative career.
In the mid-19th century, baseball was mainly an amateur sport played by gentlemen and clubs that promoted sportsmanship. However, teams started paying their players as the sport became more popular. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club was founded in 1866 to reflect a more advanced professional policy. It became America’s first professional baseball team after they decided to pay their players in 1869. The Red Stockings selected top players nationwide, including Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and New York stars. Among them were future Hall of Famers Harry and George Wright.
On May 4, 1869, the Red Stockings triumphed over the Cincinnati-based Great Western Base Ball Club with a 45–9 victory in their inaugural game. They continued to dominate every game throughout the season, culminating in an unprecedented record of 64-0, including a remarkable 57-0 against the National Association of Baseball Players. Their victories, including a challenging cross-country trip that made them the first baseball club to play on both coasts, and a thrilling 4-2 win against the Mutual Baseball Club of New York, set a new standard for player compensation and proved the viability of professional baseball. In 1869, the NABBP formally permitted professional teams after recognizing this monumental shift.
Despite the financial constraints that led to the disbandment of the Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1871, Harry Wright and some of his associates played a pivotal role in forming the Boston Red Stockings. Their influence on the early development of professional baseball was significant, as the Boston Red Stockings eventually evolved into the Atlanta Braves. The Cincinnati Red Stockings’ impact was not limited to their era, as they also influenced the formation of the National League and then Major League Baseball.