The current Cincinnati Reds are NOT the same franchise as the original Red/Red Stockings. The current Cincinnati Reds were established in 1882.

The oldest continuously run franchises are the Atlanta Braves (Milwaukee Braves, Boston Braves, Boston Bees, Boston Rustlers, Boston Doves, Boston Beaneaters, and Boston Red Caps) and the Chicago Cubs (Chicago Orphans, Chicago Colts, and Chicago White Stockings) - both were established in 1876.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/


EDIT: prince - you're right about the Reds, but the Pirates were established in 1882.
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Cincinnati Reds (formerly the Red Stockings)

My fav. team the Cinncinatti Reds!

the reds are the oldest existing one.

the cincinnati reds since the 1880's i believe. not sure on exact year but i do have the right team.

That would be the Cincanati Redstockings in 1901.

Why do these idiots always say the Reds? Cincinnati had the first professional team, but the Reds are the 4th incarnation, granted a National League Franchise in 1892.

The Pirates, Cubs and Braves are still original teams (albeit not original names) from the first 1876 NL charter.

Cincinnati Reds (formerly known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings)

The Atlanta Braves, founded as the Boston Red Stockings in 1871, are the oldest continuously operating team. They have some links to the first professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, who went pro in 1869 but folded the following year. (The current Cincinnati Reds was founded in either 1876 or 1882 and has no direct link to the earlier team.)

The Chicago Cubs were also founded in 1871 (as the Chicago White Stockings), but they didn't play in '72 and '73 because their field and equipment were destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire.

Both the White and Red Stockings started in the National Association and joined the National League when it was formed in 1876.

the reds