Cincinnati Reds Logo

Cincinnati Reds LogoCincinnati Reds Logo PNG

The brand identity reflects the team’s long history, its victories, and defeats. The Cincinnati Reds logo symbolizes its affiliation with the city, emphasizing its sports profile.

Cincinnati Reds: Brand overview

Founded:1881
Founder:Bob Castellini
Headquarters:
Cincinnati, U.S,
Website:mlb.com

The Cincinnati Reds are a professional baseball team founded in 1882. The club plays in the MLB and is part of the NL Central Division. Until 1889, the team was a registered member of the American Association. Today, the club is based in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Previously, there were two clubs with the same name in the city, but their careers were unsuccessful. The third franchise consists of new players. O.P. Caylor, the sports editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer, was an active advocate for the club’s creation.

Justus Thorner was the team’s first owner. He led the team until it joined the National League. For two years, John T. Brush managed the team until he sold it to August Herrmann in 1902. In turn, the new owner controlled the club until 1927, after which a series of owners quickly succeeded each other: 1927-1929 – C.J. McDiarmid, 1929-1933 – Sidney Weil.

The Cincinnati Reds stayed in the hands of Powel Crosley Jr. longer – from 1933 to 1961. Then its owners were Bill DeWitt (1961-1967), Francis L. Dale (1967-1973), Louis Nippert (1973-1980), William and James Williams (1980-1984), and Marge Schott (1984-1998). The rule passed to Carl Lindner, who sold the team to Robert Castellini in 2006, the current owner.

The club’s name, Cincinnati Red Stockings, was derived from a tradition established in the city. After joining the NL, the team received an abbreviated name – Cincinnati Reds. In this form, the team existed until 1953 – when it was renamed Cincinnati Redlegs. But just three years later, the club returned to its previous name.

Meaning and History

Cincinnati Reds Logo History

Over more than 135 years of its existence, the franchise has changed several branding variations. It has had 20 logos, most of which are connected to the letter “C” – the first letter in the team’s name. A graphic font was developed in 1913, which replicates the modern logo.

What is Cincinnati Reds?

It’s a baseball team from Cincinnati that joined the National League in 1890. It was founded in 1881 to become part of the new league – the American Association. Initially, its original owners wanted to create an organization that could compete with the NL. However, over time, the club left the AA. Currently, it plays for the NL Central.

1890 – 1899

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1890-1899

Originally, the club was named “Cincinnati Red Stockings.” The team’s first logo depicted a classic Old English red letter “C,” symbolizing the city of Cincinnati.

1900

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1900

In 1900, the club changed its name to “Cincinnati Reds.” The logo used a classic print letter “C” in a dark red color.

1901 – 1904

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1901-1904

The font of the letter “C” changed to a rounder and thicker one. The color remained red.

1905

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1905

A new font for the letter “C,” symbolizing the team’s location – Bruce Double Pica. The ends of the letter “C” almost touch, giving the letter an eye shape.

1906 – 1907

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1906-1907

Another version of the Bruce Double Pica font, where the dark red letter “C” is given more curves and details.

1908 – 1911

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1908-1911

Another version of the letter “C,” having forked ends, appeared in 1908. The color of the letter has not changed.

1912

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1912

The letter “C” now has a more elongated vertical shape but otherwise resembles its previous version, except for a white diamond on the back.

1913

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1913

For the first time, the team’s name was partially used on the emblem. Inside the letter “C,” the word “Reds” appeared in the same red color.

1914

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1914

 

The letter “C” became rounder and bolder. The font in the team’s name changed and became more classical.

1915 – 1919

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1915-1919

Another new design appeared in 1915. The letters in the word “Reds” became larger, and the letter “C” acquired a more elongated and thinner shape.

1920 – 1938

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1920-1938

The main letter “C” has even more closed ends, and a thin black outline is added. The word “Reds” remains unchanged.

1939 – 1952

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1939-1952

On the Cincinnati Reds emblem, white outlines were added between the red and black, making the letter “C” more voluminous. The inner letters were reduced in size and made bolder.

1953 – 1958

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1953-1958

In the 1950s, the team underwent a complete rebranding. The Cincinnati Reds logo featured a baseball player character in classic red and white uniforms with a baseball in place of the front. He holds a white bat in his right hand, and the character is in motion. This is the first logo in over 70 years without a letter or team name. The character, Mr. Redlegs, was later changed slightly, adding some details. The logo with the running baseball player in uniform, holding a baseball bat, lasted until 1967.

1959 – 1967

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1959-1967

1968 – 1992

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1968-1992

Artists decided to combine several logos from previous years. The logo’s background is a red letter “C” with the inscription “Cincinnati Reds” on it. In the foreground is a character – a baseball player with a baseball in front and in classic red and white uniforms. The player is depicted in motion.

1993 – 1998

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1993-1998

In the 1990s, there was a return to a more traditional emblem with the team’s name depicted. The emblem consists of a white letter “C,” located on a red background. Inside the letter is the word “Red,” executed in white.

1999 – 2012

Cincinnati Reds Logo 1999-2012

The team’s penultimate emblem is a reworked, more voluminous version of the 1993 emblem. Dark shadows were added to the letter “C” and the team’s name, giving the logo expressiveness.

2013 – today

Cincinnati Reds Logo 2013-Present

The current club logo is the team’s name placed inside a white letter “C,” symbolizing Cincinnati. “C” has a horizontally elongated and teardrop shape, white, with black shadows at the bottom, making it voluminous. The mark serves as a border for the inscription “REDS,” located in the center (inside it). Dark shadows were added to all the word’s elements to create volume. The font is printed. The background for the letter “C” and the team’s name is red. It precisely repeats the contours of the details placed on it. The emblem is outlined with a thin red line.

Cincinnati Reds: Interesting Facts

The Cincinnati Reds started in 1881, are one of the first pro baseball teams. Here’s what makes them stand out:

  1. Beginnings: The team first came about in 1869 as the Cincinnati Red Stockings and was the first-ever pro baseball team. They started a lot of what we see in baseball today.
  2. National League: They weren’t in the first group of National League teams in 1876 but joined in 1890, making them a key part of baseball history.
  3. Scandal in 1919: They won the World Series in 1919, which is famous because the other team, the Chicago White Sox, was caught in a cheating scandal.
  4. The Big Red Machine: In the 1970s, they were called the “Big Red Machine” because they were so good, winning the World Series in 1975 and 1976 with famous players like Johnny Bench and Pete Rose.
  5. Their Ballpark: Since 2003, they’ve played at Great American Ball Park, next to the Ohio River. The park is known for its smokestacks, which remind people of the city’s riverboat history.
  6. Radio Firsts: In 1924, they were the first team to be broadcast on the radio regularly, making it easier for fans to follow games.
  7. Night Game Firsts: They hosted the first MLB night game in 1935, changing how baseball was watched and played.
  8. Pete Rose: Pete Rose, nicknamed “Charlie Hustle,” has the most hits in MLB history and played most of his career with the Reds.
  9. Honored Numbers: The Reds have retired numbers to honor their best players, like Johnny Bench’s #5 and Joe Morgan’s #8.
  10. Hall of Fame: Many Reds players are in the Baseball Hall of Fame, which shows the team’s significant impact on the sport.

The Cincinnati Reds have a long and important history in baseball, from setting early standards to achieving great wins.

Font and Colors

Cincinnati Reds Emblem

Throughout the existence of the Cincinnati Reds club, it has had eighteen logos. They form blocks. The first part is associated with the letter “C.” In 1913, the letter first acquired a horizontally elongated shape with a fragment of the name in the middle. This is the second type of logo. The third variation is a combination of “C” and a ball. Thanks to their oval shape, they complement each other well, conveying a stylized team name.

The change of the logo mainly occurred for several reasons: renaming the club, improving the logo, and adapting it to various media. The most successful design is the “word in the letter” variant. Appearing at the beginning of the century before last, it is still used today. The emblem looks like the inscription “reds,” surrounded on three sides by the letter “C” on a red background.

Cincinnati Reds Symbol

Early versions have two types of fonts: smooth sans serifs and ornate serifs, reminiscent of Old English hieroglyphs. The modern emblem consists of a serif font. The letters have a light shading at the bottom, so they look voluminous.

The logo’s color palette is directly related to the franchise’s name – “Reds.” Therefore, it is natural that the list of primary colors includes red. There are also black and white. The main principle of color construction is simplicity and contrast, which successfully solve classic shades.

Cincinnati Reds color codes

RedHex color:#c6011f
RGB:198 33 39
CMYK:0 100 63 12
Pantone:PMS 200 C
BlackHex color:#000000
RGB:0 0 0
CMYK:0 0 0 100
Pantone:PMS Process Black C

FAQ

What does the word Reds mean in the Cincinnati Reds game?

The word Reds denotes the main color of the baseball uniform, which began to be used in the 1880s. True, at that time, the club’s name sounded slightly different: Cincinnati Red Stockings. It had to be shortened as part of the rebranding, timed to coincide with the team’s entry into the National League.

When was the “Reds” logo created?

The very first “Cincinnati Reds” logo was created in the early 1880s when the team first appeared. It looked like a red letter “C” written in Old English style. The modern version of the “C” symbol appeared in 2013. The letter is now white with a black outline. It is complemented by the same white word, “REDS,” and placed in a red oval in the shape of a teardrop.

How did “Cincinnati Reds” get its name?

Initially, the club was called “Cincinnati Red Stockings” because the media gave teams nicknames based on the colors of their uniforms. In 1890, the transition to the National League led to a change in image. Therefore, the phrase “Red Stockings” was shortened to “Reds.” In 1954, the club was renamed Redlegs, possibly because the old nickname was associated with communism. In 1961, the word “Reds” reappeared on the form.