About Riverfront Stadium
Riverfront Stadium (later renamed Cinergy Field) was a circular, multipurpose stadium on the banks of the Ohio River that served as home to the Big Red Machine — one of the greatest dynasties in baseball history. The Reds' powerhouse teams of the 1970s, featuring Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Pete Rose, and Tony Perez, won back-to-back World Series in 1975 and 1976.
The stadium was also the site of Pete Rose's historic 4,192nd hit on September 11, 1985, when he broke Ty Cobb's all-time hit record with a single off San Diego's Eric Show. The emotional moment, with Rose's son serving as batboy, remains one of baseball's most iconic scenes.
Riverfront was a prototypical cookie-cutter stadium, but the memories created within its walls — especially during the Big Red Machine era — elevated it beyond its generic architecture. It was imploded on December 29, 2002.
Fun facts
- The Big Red Machine's 1975 and 1976 teams are widely considered among the best in baseball history.
- Pete Rose circled the bases with tears in his eyes after breaking Cobb's record in 1985.
- Riverfront's artificial turf and blazing speed made the Reds' running game devastating.
- The stadium was renamed Cinergy Field in 1996 after a corporate naming-rights deal.
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