1996 Cincinnati Reds season

The Cincinnati Reds' 1996 season consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to defend their National League Central title, but the team would regress finishing at exactly .500 with an 81–81 record and a third place finish.

Offseason

 * December 7, 1995: Chris Sabo was signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds.
 * January 2, 1996: Eric Davis was signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds.
 * January 9, 1996: Mike Kelly was traded by the Atlanta Braves to the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named later and Chad Fox. The Cincinnati Reds sent Ray King (June 11, 1996) to the Atlanta Braves to complete the trade.
 * January 20, 1996: Vince Coleman signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds.
 * February 26, 1996: Joe Oliver was signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds.
 * February 26, 1996: Damon Berryhill was released by the Cincinnati Reds.

Regular season

 * Opening Day (April 1) – Seven pitches into the first game of the season, at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, home plate umpire John McSherry collapses on the field and dies of a massive heart attack. The game between the Reds and Montreal Expos is postponed, along with the rest of the games scheduled for that day. Reds owner Marge Schott later comes under fire for wanting the game in Cincinnati to continue despite the tragedy (and against the wishes of the players on both teams), saying that she felt "cheated" when it was canceled.

Opening Day lineup
Source:
 * April 1 (game postponed)
 * Vince Coleman, LF
 * Hal Morris, 1B
 * Barry Larkin, SS
 * Reggie Sanders, RF
 * Eddie Taubensee, C
 * Bret Boone, 2B
 * Mike Kelly, CF
 * Jeff Branson, 3B
 * Pete Schourek, P

Source:
 * April 2
 * Eric Davis, LF
 * Eric Owens, 2B
 * Barry Larkin, SS
 * Reggie Sanders, RF
 * Chris Sabo, 3B
 * Hal Morris, 1B
 * Mike Kelly, CF
 * Joe Oliver, C
 * Pete Schourek, P

Note: the two lineups have multiple differences, as the Expos had scheduled right-hander Pedro Martínez to start on April 1; he was replaced by left-hander Jeff Fassero for the April 2 game.

Game log

 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss Bold = Reds team member
 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss Bold = Reds team member

Notable transactions

 * April 2, 1996: Scott Service was signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds.
 * May 27, 1996: Lee Smith was traded by the California Angels to the Cincinnati Reds for Chuck McElroy.
 * June 18, 1996: Vince Coleman was released by the Cincinnati Reds.
 * July 30, 1996: Kevin Mitchell was traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Cincinnati Reds for Roberto Mejía and Brad Tweedie (minors).
 * July 30, 1996: Eric Anthony was purchased by the Colorado Rockies from the Cincinnati Reds.

Draft picks

 * June 4, 1996: Buddy Carlyle was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the 1996 amateur draft. Player signed June 21, 1996.

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