The Five Most Expensive Cincinnati Reds Jerseys Ever Sold

The Cincinnati Reds are one of Major League Baseball’s most historic franchises as they were the first team to be founded as part of Major League Baseball as they were originally called the Cincinnati Red Stockings back in 1869. Fun fact: the team got their name from the extremely high red socks they would wear with their uniforms during games. As of 2021, the Reds have won the National League West division a total of 7 times, they have won the National League Central division a total of 3 times, they have won the National League Pennant 9 different times, and they have 5 World Series championships to add to their name. The history of the franchise is littered with legendary players such as Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Frank Robinson, Joey Votto, and countless others. Because of their impact on the game can be measured in numerous ways such as revenue, endorsements, and memorabilia. Recently we’ve discovered that some of these Reds jerseys have been sold for extremely high amounts. Today we will take a look at the five most expensive Reds jerseys that have been sold to date:

5. Frank Robinson Signed Jersey – $204

To this day, Frank Robinson is the only player in the history of Major League Baseball to win the Most Valuable Player Award in both the American League when he played for the Baltimore Orioles and in the National League with the Reds. Robinson won the 1956 Rookie of the Year award with the Reds, and he also won the seniors circuit Most Valuable Player Award in 1961. Robinson is currently the franchise leader in slugging percentage with a percentage of .554, and he is the franchise leader in on-base plus slugging with a percentage of .943. His number 20 jersey is retired by the Reds, as his jersey sold for $204 as part of the Heritage Auctions, as it was a part of the 2022 May 22 Sunday Sports Collectibles Select Auction.

4. 2021 Joey Votto Game Worn and Signed Jersey – $2,300

Joey Votto was a second-round draft pick by the Reds back in the year of 2002, and he is on track to spend his entire Major League Baseball career playing in only a Reds uniform. In 2021, Votto hit a towering 36 home runs, he delivered 99 RBI’s, he had a .266 batting average, he was able to draw a total of 127 walks, and he hit 23 doubles. Votto won the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award back in 2010, and he has represented the Reds in the All-Star game as a member of the National League team a total of 6 different times. Votto is currently the franchise leader in walks with a total of 1,294, on-base percentage with a percentage of .416, and intentional walks with a total of 147. Votto is currently second all-time on the Reds home run list, but he has the potential to possibly take over that number 1 spot. His jersey was sold as part of the Heritage Auctions as part of the 2021 September 28 Bid 2 End Cancer, as the jersey was sold for $2,300.

3. 1974-1977 Joe Morgan Game Worn Jersey – $4,500

Joe Morgan is considered to be one of the greatest second basemen that has ever played the game of baseball. His greatest season with the Reds came in 1975, where he represented the Reds in the All-Star game as a member of the National League team, he won the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award, he had an immaculate batting average of .327, he walked a total of 132 times, he hit a total of 17 home runs, and he delivered 94 RBI’s. Morgan also ended up winning the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award again the very next season in 1976, he was able to make 8 different All-Star teams as a member of the Reds, and he was able to capture 5 Gold Glove Awards as a member of the Reds. Morgan was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of the Reds, and his number 8 jersey was retired by the Reds in 1984. His jersey was sold as part of the Heritage Auctions as part of the Platinum Night Sports Collectibles Catalog Auction that was located in Dallas, as the jersey was sold for $4,500 and was sold on August 20th, 2017.

2. 1968 Pete Rose Game Worn and Signed Jersey – $40,800

Pete Rose is Major League Baseball’s all-time hits leader as he is one of two members that are apart of the 4,000 hit club. In 1968, Pete Rose represented the Reds in the All-Star game as a member of the National League team, as he led the league in total base hits with a total of 210 hits, he led the league in batting average as he had an immaculate average of .335, and he led the league in on-base percentage with a percentage of .391. Rose also hit a total of 10 home runs and delivered a total of 49 RBI’s as well in the 1968 season. Rose won the National League’s Rookie of the Year Award with the Reds in 1963, and he also won a Most Valuable Player Award with the Reds in 1973. Rose jersey number 14 was retired by the Reds in 2016. His jersey was sold as part of the Heritage Auctions as part of the Platinum Night Sports Collectibles Sports that was held in Dallas, as the jersey sold for $40,800, and the jersey was sold on February 24th, 2018.

1. Johnny Bench Game Worn Jersey – $116,924

Johnny Bench is considered to be the greatest catcher in the history of Major League Baseball, and he is also considered to be the greatest player to ever suit up for the Reds. Bench spent his entire major league career in a Reds uniform, as he won the 1968 National League Rookie of the Year Award, he won the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award twice in 1970 and in 1972, he was a 14-time All-Star, and he was the 1976 World Series Most Valuable Player as he was a huge contributor in helping the Reds defeat the New York Yankees in the World Series that year. Bench has 10 Gold Glove Awards to add to his name and he is currently the franchise leader in home runs with a total of 389, RBI’s with a total of 1,376, and sacrifice flies with a total of 90. Bench was a first-ballot hall of fame inductee in 1989, and his number 5 jersey is retired by the Reds. His jersey was sold as part of the Gray Flannels Auctions for a total of $116,924.