On August 22, 1982, Glenn Brummer became arguably the most unlikely game-winning hero in Cardinals history. An Illinois native, Brummer had played his college baseball at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois, and signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 1974. After working his way through the Cardinals’ farm system, Brummer made…
All posts in July 2021
August 19, 2009: Cardinals sign John Smoltz in their push for postseason glory
With a seven-game lead in the National League Central and six weeks remaining in the 2009 season, the Cardinals couldn’t pass the opportunity to add a future Hall of Famer to their rotation. “It was too inviting not to take a chance on,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said.[1] On August 19, 2009, the Cardinals…
August 21, 1990: Ray Lankford provides spark in his big-league debut
It didn’t take long for Ray Lankford to demonstrate the blend of speed and power that made him a cornerstone of the Cardinals’ lineup throughout the 1990s. Batting sixth in his major league debut, Lankford doubled, stole a base, and scored a run in a 7-2 loss to the Braves on August 21, 1990. Lankford’s…
August 16, 1988: Cardinals trade John Tudor for Pedro Guerrero
On August 16, 1988, the Cardinals’ quest for Jack Clark’s replacement led them to deal John Tudor, the left-handed pitcher who won 21 games in 1985, to the Dodgers in exchange for four-time all-star first baseman Pedro Guerrero. Clark had anchored the Cardinals’ lineups from 1985 through 1987, but in January 1988, he signed a…
August 13, 1979: Lou Brock collects his 3,000th career hit in resurgent final season
Technically, Lou Brock’s pursuit of 3,000 career hits began September 10, 1962, when he singled in his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs. However, the Cardinals legend didn’t give serious thought to the milestone until speaking to Detroit Tigers outfielder Al Kaline in 1974. That season, the 40-year-old Kaline had reached the milestone in…
August 10, 1986: Bob Forsch hits a grand slam to top the Pirates, 5-4
Bob Forsch may have made his name as a pitcher, but the Sacramento, California, native originally was drafted for his bat. On August 10, 1986, the veteran right-hander used both to lift the Cardinals to a 5-4 victory over the Pirates. Upon joining the Cardinals’ farm system, the 26th-round 1968 draft pick played third base…
August 8, 1997: Mark McGwire hits his first Cardinals home run in his Busch Stadium debut
Cardinals fans welcomed Mark McGwire with a standing ovation prior to his first at-bat at Busch Stadium. In his second at-bat, McGwire returned the favor, blasting a 441-foot home run for his first home run wearing the birds on the bat. McGwire’s was the second of back-to-back home runs as the Cardinals defeated the Phillies…
August 6, 2004: Cardinals trade for Larry Walker as they make World Series push
One week after the 2004 trade deadline, the Cardinals added future Hall of Famer Larry Walker to a lineup that already included Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, and Jim Edmonds. The Cardinals received Walker and cash considerations in exchange for minor league pitcher Jason Burch and two players to be named later. In August, the Cardinals…
August 2, 2001: Cardinals trade Ray Lankford for Woody Williams
As a veteran who had been with the club since making his debut in August 1990, Ray Lankford wasn’t ready to become the Cardinals’ fourth outfielder. Instead, following a reduction of playing time and a war of words between Lankford’s agent and manager Tony La Russa, the Cardinals sent the 34-year-old Lankford and $2.8 million…
July 31, 1997: Cardinals trade for Mark McGwire
On July 31, 1997, the Cardinals made the deadline deal of deadline deals, acquiring first baseman Mark McGwire from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for pitchers Eric Ludwick, T.J. Mathews, and Blake Stein. Heading into the final day before the trade deadline, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that there was…