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On this day in 1905, former Red Pete Browning died in Louisville at the age of 44. Browning was the original "Louisville Slugger" and one of baseball's most colorful characters. If you want a more complete picture of Browning, then I recommend this article by Frank Jackson at the Hardball Times. Jackson also details the exploits of Browning's nephew, who was a director of horror films in the 1920s and '30s.
On this day in 1915, Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby made his major league debut with the Cardinals at the age of 19. The Rajah briefly managed the Reds in the early 1950s.
On this day in 1924, Reds Hall of Famer Ted Kluszewski was born in Argo, IL.
On this day in 1972, former Reds manager Bob Boone made his major league playing debut for the Phillies at the age of 24.
On this day in 1978, former Red Ron Oester made his major league debut with Cincinnati. He replaced Dave Concepcion at shortstop in the top of the ninth in a game against the Giants. Oester recorded an assist on the final out of the ballgame. The Reds won, 8-1. Johnny Bench hit a three-run homer, and Tom Seaver went seven innings and allowed only one run.
On this day in 1983, Joey Votto was born in Toronto. In an interesting coincidence, Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt was also born on September tenth. The similarities go beyond playing first base and a shared birthday. Goldschmidt is wrapping up his age-25 season. Through this year, he has an OPS+ of 136 in 1,390 plate appearances. Through the age of 25, Joey Votto had an OPS+ of 139 in 1,222 plate appearances. Goldschmidt has hit 59 home runs; Votto had hit 53. Goldschmidt has homered every 20.3 at-bats; Votto had homered once every 20.4 at-bats. Goldschmidt's isolated power has been .222; Votto's career isolated power was .226 at the same age. Does this mean that Goldschmidt is going to follow Votto's career path? No. In fact, these coincidences don't really mean anything, but I think they're fun.
On this day in 2002, former Red Wily Mo Pena made his major league debut with Cincinnati at the age of 20. Pena pinch-hit for Danny Graves in the bottom of the third. He singled on a groundball up the middle for his first big league hit. The Reds went on to win, 3-0. Russell "the Muscle" Branyan hit a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth to provide the go-ahead run.
Also on this day in 2002, former Red Josh Hancock made his major league debut with the Red Sox.
On this day in 2008, the Milwaukee Brewers claimed reliever Todd Coffey from the Reds off of waivers.
On this day in 2012, the Houston Astros released former Red Francisco Cordero. He has not appeared in a game since his brief stint with Houston, and it looks as if his long major league career is finished.