The 1981 Cincinnati Reds won more games than any other team in baseball. But thanks to the players strike and the resulting split-season format they did not qualify for the playoffs.
Like recent Reds management, the Cincinnati front office shed some of the best players heading into the following season, including their entire starting outfield of George Foster, Dave Collins, and Ken Griffey.
After a 3-8 start to the season, Reds second baseman Ron Oester, a Cincinnati native, wrote an open letter to Reds fans that was published in the Cincinnati Enquirer on April 20. Here is what he wrote:
As if you haven’t noticed, we’re not going that good. And I’ll tell you another thing – it sure isn’t fun.
I know everyone is saying the Reds should have signed Dave Collins, Ken Griffey, and George Foster. But all I’m asking from the fans of Cincinnati is that you don’t give up on us. We’re not.
We have a good ballclub. I’ll admit we sure haven’t played the way we’re capable of playing. But looking at the positive side – if there is one – we’re only one game behind Los Angeles and I still think the two of us are the teams to beat.
I know what you’re thinking. Everyone we’ve played has beaten us. But we’ve only played 11 games. We have 151 games left. I don’t want to sound like I’m making excuses. I don’t have an excuse for the way we’ve played.
We get good pitching and we don’t hit. We get good hitting and our pitching goes bad. There are three things you need in baseball to win: good hitting, good pitching, and good defense. So far, we’ve only been able to put two out of three of these things together and it’s not enough.
We have the type of team that is going to win ball games, We have great pitching, good hitting, and very good defense. It’s just a matter of time.
I guess the reason I’m writing this article is because, as I’ve said before, it’s no fun losing. We’re on our way to Atlanta now and it’s an off day, but I cab’t quit thinking about baseball. And there are 24 other players, five coaches, a manager, and a general manager who feel the same way.
The attitude on this club is the best it’s been in the three years I’ve been here. We know we’re going to win. There is no doubt about it, We have a winning attitude and everyone is giving 100% every day.
The man I feel most sorry for is John McNamara, our manager. He takes all the heat for losing, yet how many times has he been up to bat with men on first and second? There’s only so much a manager can do. But I don’t think Mac is too worried, either. He knows it’s just a matter of time.
It’s frustrating, yes, but we’re going to win a lot more ball games than we’re going to lose. I will guarantee that.
I know the fans in Cincinnati. They are, I think, the finest fans around. Maybe I’m prejudiced because I grew up there, but I really believe that. I’ve been to other cities and I wouldn’t trade Cincinnati and its fans for any of the others.
I would like you to feel the same way about us.
Unfortunately for Oester and the Reds, his guarantee didn’t materialize. The Reds were awful in 1982, finishing with a record of 61-101, which cost McNamara his job in July.
Still, you have to admire him for writing the letter in the first place.
