This Day in Reds History: Cincy lands Latos

On this day in 1932, the Reds and the Cardinals completed a three player trade. Cincinnati sent right-hander Ownie Carroll and outfielder Estel Crabtree to St. Louis in exchange for first baseman Jim Bottomley. Carroll and Crabtree were unremarkable players, but Bottomley was a former MVP who twice led the league in RBI and once in home runs. He was 32 at the time of the trade and turned 33 early in the 1933 season, so Cincinnati didn't exactly get his prime years. Bottomley had fair seasons in 1933 and '34, even receiving MVP votes in the former year, but then cratered in 1935. The MVP votes are fairly baffling from a distance of 80 years. His average was merely .250. He did drive in 83 runs, which was good for eighth in the league. I assume the top ten finish in RBI had a fair amount to do with the MVP votes. The Veterans Committee elected Bottomley to the Hall of Fame in 1974. He was a weak selection. The Veterans Committee in the early '70s had a string of mediocre and outright poor choices thanks in large part to cronyism on the part of Frankie Frisch.

On this day in 1938, former Red Leo Cardenas was born in Matanzas, Cuba.

On this day in 2011, Cincinnati acquired Mat Latos from San Diego in exchange for Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal, Brad Boxberger, and Edinson Volquez. According to Baseball-Reference, the most similar pitcher to Latos through age 25 is Jake Peavy. They are similar beyond their numbers as well. Both entered pro baseball directly from high school. Both were fairly late picks -- Latos went in the 11th round, Peavy in the 15th. Both were drafted by the Padres. Both debuted at the age of 21. Both were traded for a boatload of prospects, many of whom have not met expectations. Both are right-handed. What does all of this mean? Absolutely nothing, but I think it's fun to note these things.

On this day in 2012, former Red Frank Pastore died in Upland, CA at the age of 55. Hal McCoy wrote a nice reflection on Pastore's life and career.

Chester Drawers and ams78 each earned a point last time. A gonfalon is a flag or a pennant. The complete version of "Baseball's Sad Lexicon" can be found here.

Mat Latos posted a strikeout rate of 7.99 punchouts per nine innings as a 25 year-old last season. That mark is good for third all-time among Reds in their age-25 seasons. Which pitchers have the top two spots? One point will be awarded for each player.