Each February, the Reds join the celebration of Black History Month to honor the accomplishments of African-Americans throughout history. In Reds Country, this is the perfect opportunity to salute the contributions of so many talented Black players to the rich tradition of Reds baseball.
Unity: Baseball's Role
The Cincinnati Reds partner with Major League Baseball on a number of programs and initiatives throughout each season that promotes diversity and inclusion.
Black History Month
Jackie Robinson Day – April 15
In 2026, the Reds and Reds Community Fund joined Major League Baseball’s annual celebration of Jackie Robinson Day with activities at the ballpark and the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy.
On April 15, four Reds players visited the Reds Youth Academy to discuss the impact of Jackie Robinson with players from Wilberforce University and Kentucky State University before the HBCUs took the field for a game. The festivities continued that night at Great American Ball Park for the Reds vs. Giants game. Players, managers and coaches wore No. 42 jerseys to honor Robinson’s historic debut along with a ‘42’ patch on the caps. In addition, the Reds honored the baseball legend with pregame ceremonies and fans in attendance received a commemorative #42 adhesive patch, courtesy of Network for Hope.
A few days earlier, the Reds Youth Academy hosted its fifth annual Joe Morgan HBCU Classic along with six baseball and softball games from the Skyline Chili Reds Futures High School Showcase presented by PNC. The HBCU players wore throwback Negro Leagues jerseys and the high school players were provided a Jackie Robinson Day T-shirt.
Lou Gehrig Day – June 2
In conjunction with MLB’s annual Lou Gehrig Day, the Cincinnati Reds invited those battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and their loved ones to Great American Ball Park on Tuesday to raise awareness of ALS and honor individuals affected by the disease.
Hispanic Heritage Month
On September 18, the Reds proudly celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual Fiesta Rojos celebration.
The day kicked off with over 100 students from the Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies (AMIS), Roberts Academy, and the Academy of World Languages visiting the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy. They were treated to a special visit from four Reds players.
Negro Leagues History
Negro Leagues 100th Anniversary
On Sunday, August 30, 2020 the Reds celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Negro Leagues. The Reds were originally scheduled to join with Major League Baseball and the 29 other teams to honor the Negro Leagues on August 16, but their game against the Pirates was postponed due to COVID-19. Recognizing the importance of this centennial, the Reds quickly moved to reschedule their celebration for August 30.
As part of the activation, players wore special anniversary patches on their uniforms for the game, the anniversary mark appeared on base jewels and lineup cards, pregame videos and graphics were shown throughout the ballpark, and cardboard cutouts were placed in the stands featuring some of the important figures of the Negro Leagues, specifically from the Queen City’s own Cincinnati Tigers. A couple other cutouts in the stands included two groundbreaking players: Jackie Robinson and Chuck Harmon. Robinson, who was celebrated on Friday night, was the first African American in the Major Leagues and paved the way for others like Harmon, the first black player to take the field for the Reds.
Honoring Chuck Harmon
When he became the club’s first African American player in 1954, it was clear Chuck Harmon’s name would always be a part of Reds history. However, Chuck’s legacy goes far beyond that thanks to his decades of service to the Cincinnati community and his love for Reds baseball.
Spirit Day
On October 15, the Reds and Major League Baseball will proudly participate in Spirit Day.
Each year on Spirit Day, MLB and all 30 ballclubs stand behind anti-bullying. This worldwide, social media-based effort takes a stand against bullying, with specific attention on negative actions targeting LGBTQ+ youth. Bullying, in all its forms, continues to be an epidemic in our communities, our schools and on social media. Statistics show that those who identify as LGBTQ+ experience a disproportionately higher rate of bullying and harassment than any other group.