Groeschen: 1982 Cincinnati Reds: Age against the Machine

Sufferin’ Scherrerers…a look back at the 1982 Reds.

The ’82 Reds had a lethal combination of lackluster young players, veterans who had off-years and big-name players on the downside of their careers. Result: Last in the National League West, 28 games out.

“I try to forget everything I can about that year,” said Ron Oester, second baseman on the ’82 team. “That was the longest year of my baseball career.”

...After ’81, then-Reds general manager Dick Wagner engineered a roster makeover with an eye on finances. Outfielders Ken Griffey Sr. and George Foster were traded, as was third baseman Ray Knight. Outfielder Dave Collins left as a free agent.

Some predicted the Reds could not win after losing that much talent, and those forecasts proved painfully accurate.

“We realized early on it was not a very good baseball team, but I don’t think anybody believed the depths of how bad that team really was,” said Marty Brennaman, then and now the Reds’ primary radio voice. “It was a team with a bunch of great guys, but you had guys with limited ability and guys who had seen their better years.”