March 14: The Big Red Machine Reunites in Philadelphia

The Main Event

The Big Red Machine and its Philadelphia Reunion

During the 1970s, the Cincinnati Reds built one of the most dominant dynasties in modern baseball. Anchored by stars like Tony Perez, Pete Rose, and Joe Morgan, the club combined power hitting, relentless offense, and strong pitching into a machine-like lineup that overwhelmed opponents. The team won six National League West titles during the decade and captured back-to-back World Series championships in 1975 and 1976.

The nickname “Big Red Machine” emerged during the early part of that run. It is most commonly credited to Cincinnati sportswriter Bob Hertzel of the Cincinnati Enquirer, who used the phrase in 1969 while describing how the Reds’ lineup seemed to roll through opposing pitchers with mechanical efficiency. The name stuck, and by the mid-1970s it had become synonymous with one of baseball’s most feared teams.

Tony Perez, Pete Rose, and Joe Morgan were central to that identity. Each brought a different strength. Perez was the steady run producer in the middle of the lineup. Rose was the relentless table-setter whose competitive style defined the club’s attitude. Morgan was the engine that made everything go, combining power, speed, and on-base ability while playing Gold Glove defense at second base.

Tony Perez

Tony Perez joined the Reds in 1964 and developed into one of the National League’s most consistent run producers. Nicknamed “Big Dog,” he often batted behind Johnny Bench, driving in runs year after year. During Cincinnati’s championship seasons in 1975 and 1976, Perez was a central part of the offense. His leadership and clutch hitting made him one of the emotional anchors of the clubhouse.

After the Reds traded Perez to the Montreal Expos following the 1976 season, he spent several years moving between teams. By the early 1980s he was a respected veteran presence with a long résumé. The Philadelphia Phillies brought Perez into the organization in 1983 after he was released by the Boston Red Sox near the end of spring training. The move came just as Philadelphia was looking to add experienced leadership to a roster that already included several veteran stars.

Perez appeared in 91 games for the Phillies that season, serving primarily as a bench player and clubhouse mentor during their run to the National League pennant. Though his on-field role was limited, his reputation as a respected veteran and former champion made him a valuable presence on a club chasing another World Series appearance.

Pete Rose

Pete Rose was the emotional spark of the Big Red Machine. A relentless hitter who seemed to treat every at-bat like a battle, he set the tone for the Reds’ aggressive style. Rose won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1963 and eventually became the league’s MVP in 1973. He could play multiple positions and consistently produced high batting averages while setting the table for the power hitters behind him.

After the 1978 season, Rose reached free agency for the first time in his career. The Phillies, who had won three straight division titles but were still searching for a championship, made a major move by signing him to a four-year contract in December 1978. At the time it was the most lucrative deal in baseball history.

Rose immediately brought intensity and credibility to the Phillies’ lineup. He moved to first base in Philadelphia and continued to produce offensively while pushing the team’s competitive culture forward. His leadership helped the Phillies reach the 1980 World Series, where they defeated the Kansas City Royals to win the first championship in franchise history. Rose’s reputation as a relentless competitor fit perfectly with a veteran Phillies roster that was determined to break through.

Joe Morgan

Joe Morgan arrived in Cincinnati in 1972 through a trade with the Houston Astros. His impact was immediate. Morgan’s unique combination of power, speed, and patience at the plate made him one of the most complete players in baseball. He won back-to-back National League MVP Awards in 1975 and 1976 while helping lead the Reds to their consecutive World Series titles.

After leaving Cincinnati following the 1979 season, Morgan spent time with Houston, San Francisco, and Oakland. In December of 1982, the Phillies acquired Morgan from San Francisco along with Al Holland for pitchers Mark Davis and Mike Krukow along with minor leaguer C.L. Penigar.

Morgan stepped into the lineup and provided both experience and timely hitting down the stretch. Though he was no longer the MVP-level player of the mid-1970s, his knowledge of the game and postseason experience helped stabilize the infield. Like Perez, he became part of a Phillies club that captured the 1983 National League pennant before falling to the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series.

Together, the arrivals of Perez, Rose, and Morgan in Philadelphia represented a remarkable intersection of baseball eras. The core stars of the Big Red Machine had helped define one of the greatest teams in baseball history. When they later reunited with the Phillies at different moments, they brought with them the championship pedigree and competitive edge that had made Cincinnati’s dynasty so memorable.

Philadelphia Baseball Events for March 14

• March 14, 1963 – The Philadelphia Phillies purchased the contract of veteran relief pitcher Ryne Duren from the Los Angeles Angels during spring training. Duren, once a dominant closer for the New York Yankees in the late 1950s, was brought in to compete for a bullpen role and provide experienced depth as the club evaluated its pitching staff before the 1963 season.
• March 14, 1967 – The Phillies open a 4-field training facility at their Clearwater, FL complex. The new fields allow them to bring all of their minor leaguers to one camp. They had previously been split between Leesburg and Dade City, Florida.
• March 14, 1983 – Wheeze Kids Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, and Tony Perez appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated

MLB Events for March 14

• March 14, 2018 – Minor League Baseball announces some changes to the rules that will be used throughout the minor leagues starting this season. First, there will be a limit of six mound visits per game in AAA, similar to the rule change just introduced in Major League Baseball; lower classifications will allow more visits: eight in AA and ten in Class A. A 15-second pitch clock will be introduced with the bases empty, and 20 seconds with men on base. Finally, a variation of the Schiller Rule will be used beginning in the 10th inning, as each half inning will start with the batter preceding the first batter of the inning already on second base. That last rule was already in use in some Rookie-class leagues.
• March 14, 2019 – Commissioner Rob Manfred announces rule changes for the coming season. While the idea of a pitch clock has been dropped for the time being, other measures adopted include: lowering the number of mound visits from six to five, following the successful introduction of the rule in 2018. A shorter break between innings, making the July 31st trading deadline a hard one, with no trades allowed for the two remaining months of the season, a shift in procedure for nominating starters in the All-Star Game and additional bonuses for participants in the Home Run Derby, beginning next season, a clear roster limit, with 26 during the first five months and 28 for September, with all teams being required to respect the limits, and a minimum of three batters faced for relief pitchers, barring injury or the end of the half-inning, also starting with the 2020 season.

ICYMI

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Philadelphia Baseball Birthdays for March 14

• Butch Rementer (born 1878) – A Philadelphia native who appeared in one game as a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1904. Rementer played in one major league game, recording no hits, but he spent a number of seasons in the minor leagues and local professional circuits around Pennsylvania during the early 1900s.
• Steve Lake (born 1957) – A right-handed catcher who played with the Phillies from 1989-1992. Lake spent eleven seasons in the majors, primarily as a defensive-minded backup catcher for the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, and he later worked as a coach and manager in the minor leagues after his playing career.
• Robert Dodd (born 1973) – A left-handed pitcher drafted by the Phillies in the 14th round of the 1994 MLB Draft out of the University of Florida. Dodd reached the majors with Philadelphia in 1998, appearing in four games; in his final appearance he pitched a scoreless inning before the Phillies rallied dramatically, giving him the only win of his major league career.
• Matthew Fisher (born 2006) – Drafted by the Phillies in the 7th round of the 2025 Draft, the right-hander has yet to make his professional debut.

MLB Hall of Famers born on March 14

• Kirby Puckett (born 1960) – Kirby Puckett is born in Chicago, Illinois. Puckett will make his major league debut in 1984, when he hits .296 for the Minnesota Twins. Over a 12-year career, Puckett will bat .318 with 207 home runs and 1,085 RBI, helping the Twins to two World Championships. He will win election to the Hall of Fame in 2001.