It was 30 years ago today, on Aug. 21, 1990, that the Cincinnati Reds’ fiery manager Lou Piniella demonstrated his displeasure at an umpire’s call by uprooting first base and launching it into the outfield.
Piniella’s tirade is somewhat legendary among Reds fans as the embodiment of that 1990 team who went wire to wire in first place and swept the high-powered Oakland A’s in the World Series.
What was it that drew Piniella’s ire?
In mid-August, the Reds had suffered a five-game losing streak and were feeling the heat from the Dodgers and Giants (they were in the NL West back then).