Before the 1961 season started, Reds General Manager Bill DeWitt made a trade and acquired a third baseman by the name of Gene Freese. He acquired Freese from the Chicago White Sox for Cal McLish and Juan Pizzaro.
This one was a steal. DeWitt’s trade was a big part in the Reds success that year. Freese had a solid season, playing in 152 games, batting .277, hitting 26 homers and driving home 87 runs and the Reds won the National League pennant.
But in many ways, that trade symbolizes a 65-year old problem with the Cincinnati Reds.