Dave Concepción

2.1. Debut and Early Seasons

Originally drafted as a pitcher, Concepción quickly transitioned to an infielder early in his career. He made his Major League debut at the age of 21 on April 6, 1970, starting at shortstop in a game where the Reds defeated the Montreal Expos 5-1. In his first game, he went 0-for-4. The following day, he again went 0-for-4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but on April 8, he secured his first Major League hit, a seventh-inning double off Dodgers pitcher Fred Norman, who would later become his teammate.

During his initial three seasons, Reds manager Sparky Anderson utilized Concepción in a part-time role, sharing shortstop duties with Woody Woodward and Darrel Chaney. In one notable appearance in 1971, he was the sole member of the Reds to reach base safely when the team was no-hit by the Philadelphia Phillies' Rick Wise; a sixth-inning walk prevented what would have been a perfect game. Concepción's jersey number was initially 50 upon his Major League promotion but was changed to 13 during the 1970 season, a number that would later be retired.

In 1973, Concepción emerged as a full-time starter, showcasing significant improvement both at the plate and in the field. He was named the starting shortstop and was selected for the National League All-Star team. However, his season was tragically cut short on July 22, just two days before the All-Star game, when he suffered a serious injury while sliding into third base after a base hit by Denis Menke against the Montreal Expos. The incident resulted in a dislocated knee and a fractured fibula in his left leg, causing him to miss the entire second half of the year. At the time of his injury, he was batting .287, with 8 home runs, 46 RBI, 39 runs, 18 doubles, 3 triples, and 22 stolen bases. A notable highlight from that season occurred on May 9, in a 9-7 Reds victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, where Concepción hit a two-run, ninth-inning, game-winning homer off Barry Lersch, despite Johnny Bench's three home runs earlier in the game.

2.2. The Big Red Machine Era

Concepción made a strong return in 1974, playing in 160 games. He enjoyed what many considered his best overall season, batting .281, hitting 14 home runs, and driving in 82 RBI, alongside 41 stolen bases. This year also marked his first of five Gold Glove Awards.

By 1975, Concepción had cemented his position as an integral part of "The Big Red Machine", a formidable lineup that included future Hall of Famers like Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and Tony Pérez, alongside Ken Griffey, Sr., George Foster, and César Gerónimo. This "Great Eight" core led the Reds to back-to-back World Series championships in 1975 and 1976. Even after establishing himself as a star in the Major Leagues, Concepción continued to play winter baseball in Venezuela, a practice he believed helped to refine his batting skills. His offensive contributions during this era included batting averages of .274 (1975), .281 (1976), .271 (1977), .301 (1978), .281 (1979), .260 (1980), .306 (1981), and .287 (1982).

2.3. All-Star Recognition and Later Years

Concepción's remarkable performance led to multiple All-Star selections, being chosen nine times throughout his career (1973, 1975-1982). On July 13, 1982, Concepción was a central figure in the first All-Star Game held outside the United States, taking place at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada. He hit a two-run homer, contributing to the National League's 4-1 victory, which marked their 11th consecutive win in the event. For his outstanding performance, Concepción was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

Beyond his offensive contributions, Concepción was also a pioneer in defensive strategy. Later in his career, working closely with teammate Tony Pérez, he perfected the "one-bounce throw" to first base. This technique allowed him to leverage the smooth artificial turf prevalent at Riverfront Stadium and other National League ballparks, enhancing his efficiency as a shortstop.

As his career progressed, Concepción began to be affected by age, an elbow injury, and shoulder surgery in 1982, leading to consecutive sub-par seasons from 1983 to 1984. The Reds began grooming Barry Larkin as his successor at shortstop. Concepción transitioned into a dependable utility player, capable of playing all four infield positions. He was eventually replaced by Larkin at shortstop in 1986, falling just 44 games short of Larry Bowa's National League record for most games played at shortstop.

In 1988, his 19th and final season with the Reds, manager Pete Rose sent Concepción to the mound to pitch 1.1 innings during a lopsided game at Dodger Stadium on June 3. He allowed two hits but no runs and recorded one strikeout. The Reds released Concepción after the 1988 season. He attempted to play a 20th Major League season in 1989, trying out for the California Angels, but he was ultimately unable to make the roster and retired from playing at the age of 40.