1940 Cincinnati Reds season

The 1940 Cincinnati Reds season was the 58th season for the franchise. Cincinnati entered the season as the reigning National League champions, having been swept by the New York Yankees in the World Series the previous year. They would defeat the Detroit Tigers four games to three to take the World Series title.

Offseason

 * October 14, 1939: Hank Sauer was drafted by the Reds from the New York Yankees in the 1939 minor league draft.
 * October 19, 1939: Al Simmons was released by the Reds.

Regular season
Cincinnati won 100 games for the first time in franchise history. The team finished first in the National League with a record of 100–53, winning the pennant by 12 games over the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the best record in MLB. They went on to face the Detroit Tigers in the 1940 World Series, beating them in seven games. This was their first championship since 1919.

In August, back up catcher Willard Hershberger, depressed over what he felt was culpability for losing both games of a doubleheader, took his life. Coach Jimmie Wilson was added to the roster as the back up catcher. The Reds players would vote to send Hershberger's share of the World Series winnings to his mother

Notable transactions

 * August 23, 1940: Jimmy Ripple was selected off waivers by the Reds from the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Starters by position
''Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''

Other batters
''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''

Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Game 1
October 2, 1940, at Crosley Field in Cincinnati

Game 2
October 3, 1940, at Crosley Field in Cincinnati

Game 3
October 4, 1940, at Briggs Stadium in Detroit

Game 4
October 5, 1940, at Briggs Stadium in Detroit

Game 5
October 6, 1940, at Briggs Stadium in Detroit

Game 6
October 7, 1940, at Crosley Field in Cincinnati

Game 7
October 8, 1940, at Crosley Field in Cincinnati

Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Durham