CINCINNATI (WKRC) – The New York Yankees lineup for Monday’s game, a 6-1 loss to the Reds, featured a unique distinction that hasn’t happened in Cincinnati since the days of the Big Red Machine.
Manager Aaron Boone’s lineup featured first baseman Paul Goldschmidt leading off, center fielder Cody Bellinger hitting second, right fielder Aaron Judge batting third and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton in the cleanup spot.
Those four players are all former Most Valuable Player award-winners: Stanton was NL MVP in 2017, Bellinger NL MVP in 2019, Goldschmidt NL MVP in 2022, and Judge AL MVP in 2022 and 2024.
Per Reds statistician Joel Luckhaupt, the last time four former MVPs were in one starting lineup in Cincinnati was Sept. 12, 1978. Joe Morgan, Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, and George Foster started for the Reds in a 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros. Rose was leading off while playing third base, Morgan batted second and played second, Dan Driessen was at first base, followed by Foster in left field and Bench behind the plate. The other starters: Champ Summers in right field, Cesar Geronimo in center, Rick Auerbach at short and Paul Moskau on the mound.