The Machine Quotes

“The Red Stockings beat the Atlantic Baseball Club 76–5, and they beat the Pacific Baseball Club 66–5. Rough statistics were kept—George Wright hit .633 with 49 home runs.”
― Joe Posnanski, The Machine: A Hot Team, a Legendary Season, and a Heart-stopping World Series: The Story of the 1975 Cincinnati Reds

“Brainard. In those days, pitchers were supposed to pitch the ball underhanded—this is where the term “pitcher” came from—and they were supposed to let batters hit the ball. Of course, from the start, pitchers always looked for an edge. Brainard figured a way to sneak in a little extra wrist snap, which put spin on the ball and made it significantly harder to hit.”
― Joe Posnanski, The Machine: A Hot Team, a Legendary Season, and a Heart-stopping World Series: The Story of the 1975 Cincinnati Reds

“Many people believe the term “ace” for outstanding pitcher began with Asa Brainard’s first name.”
― Joe Posnanski, The Machine: A Hot Team, a Legendary Season, and a Heart-stopping World Series: The Story of the 1975 Cincinnati Reds

“For a moment, in that year when Ulysses Grant became president and Susan B. Anthony formed the National Women’s Suffrage Association, Cincinnati was the hub of baseball. The moment did not last.”
― Joe Posnanski, The Machine: A Hot Team, a Legendary Season, and a Heart-stopping World Series: The Story of the 1975 Cincinnati Reds