Reds Primary Logo
The Cincinnati Reds' primary logo has been a symbol of the team’s identity since its inception in 1869. The first design featured an interlocking “C” and “R,” which was used until 1911 when the Red Stockings became the Reds. In 1912, they switched to a more traditional baseball logo featuring a red stocking with white stripes that encircled it. This remained as their primary logo until 1948 when they changed to an image of crossed bats and balls behind home plate with two stars above it representing Ohio's status as one of only two states at that time that had won multiple World Series titles (the other being New York).
From 1949-1956, the team adopted another classic look featuring three red socks arranged in a circle around the home plate; this is still considered by many fans to be one of the most iconic logos ever created for any professional sports franchise! From 1957-1964, they moved away from this design but kept its basic elements intact by using four overlapping circles instead - each containing different symbols such as stars or diamonds - all set against either black or grey backgrounds depending on whether night games were played during those years.
In 1965, after much debate amongst ownership and management about what direction should be taken next for their visual identity; finally settled upon creating an updated version of previous designs which would feature both modernized versions of old favorites like their crossed bats/balls combo along with new additions like Mr. Redlegs (a cartoon character based off former player Ted Kluszewski) standing atop them all while proudly wearing his signature number 5 jersey! This remains today as Cincinnati's official primary emblem – even though there have been several minor modifications over time including adding color gradients into some parts back in 2005– proving just how timelessly beautiful these classic visuals truly are!
2013 - Present
The current Reds logo is a simple white wishbone letter “C” with the wordmark “REDS” inside the letter “C” in white. A black trim is added to give the letter “C” and the wordmark “REDS” to give the logo a 3-D look.
A slightly different shade of red.
1999 - 2012
The current Reds logo is a simple white wishbone letter “C” with the wordmark “REDS” inside the letter “C” in white. A black trim is added to give the letter “C” and the wordmark “REDS” to give the logo a 3-D look.
1993 - 1998
In the 1990s the more traditional, early logos of Reds came back with the current logo reflecting more of what the team’s logo was when they were first founded. The wishbone letter “C” in white with a red trim. The wordmark “REDS” is white on a red background.
1968 - 1992
A Reds player with baseball head running in front of red wishbone letter “C” and wordmark “CINCINNATI REDS” in white on the red letter.
Todd Radom Design: The Mystery of Cincinnati's Mr. Red and His Number 27—Solved
One of the most enduring sports logo mysteries involves the Cincinnati Reds' "Mr. Red" that the club utilized from 1968 until 1992. Mr. Red wore the number 27 throughout these years, a golden era which saw the club win five National League pennants. Mr. Red was so closely identified with the number that no Reds player was assigned uniform number 27 from 1968 until 1973. The connection between Mr. Red and uniform number 27 is well known, but has never been explained. The enigma is so deep that no plausible explanation has, to my knowledge, ever even been floated. Now, 46 years later, the mystery of Mr. Red and uniform number 27 has been solved. Read More...
1959 - 1967
Called “Mr. Redlegs,” the image of a baseball player with a mustache baseball head running and carrying a bat continued as the Reds logo from the 1954 logo.
1953 - 1958
During the 1950s, during the renaming and re-branding of the team as the Cincinnati Redlegs because of the connections to communism of the word “Reds.” The logo of a baseball player with a mustache baseball head running and carrying a bat was the first logo without a letter or wordmark.
Todd Radom Design: Sports Logo Case Study #5
The Cincinnati Reds claim the title of "America's Oldest Baseball Team" and their Mr. Red mascot has been a part of the Cincinnati franchise for 60 years. The origins of Mr. Red are rooted in the anti-Communist "Red Scare" of the early 1950s. In April 1953 the team announced that they would henceforth be known as the Cincinnati Redlegs. One newspaper account stated that while the team didn't cite a specific reason for the name change, "there's been some freestyle guessing that the political meaning of the word 'reds' might have something to do with it." Oddly, the club's traditional wishbone-C logo containing the word "Reds" continued to be used on home jerseys through the 1955 season. Read More...
1939 - 1952
The wishbone letter “C” is red with a white trim and black outline. The wordmark “REDS” in red and in the center of the letter “C.”
1920 - 1938
The wishbone letter “C” is red with a black trim. The wordmark “REDS” in red and in the center of the letter “C.”
1915 - 1919
Again all in the color red, the same wishbone letter “C” with the wordmark “REDS” in the center. Same thickness with just another artist rendition.
1914
New version of the wishbone “C” with the wordmark “REDS” inside the letter “C” in red. The wishbone “C” is much thicker in appearance.
1913
First version of the classic and current Reds logo. The wishbone letter “C” for Cincinnati with the wordmark “REDS” inside the letter “C” in color red.
1912
Yet another version of the letter “C” in red, like a font that is similar to Bruce Double Pica.
1908 - 1911
Ok yet another version of the letter “C” in red, like a font that is similar to Bruce Double Pica.
1906 - 1907
Another version of the letter “C” in red, like a font that is similar to Bruce Double Pica.
1905
The Reds changed to a font that is similar to Bruce Double Pica with the letter “C” in red.
1901 - 1904
In 1901 the Reds changed to a rounded thick letter “C” in red.
1900
The Reds changed the logo to a block lettering “C” in red.
1880 - 1899
The Red Stocking’s logo is the classic old english letter “C” in red.