On February 25, 1985, the Cardinals made a surprise choice for their next general manager, hiring former shortstop Dal Maxvill away from the Atlanta Braves, where he had been serving as third-base coach. Maxvill was hired to replace Joe McDonald, who served three years in the role but resigned at the request of the Cardinals’ […]
February 25, 1985: Dal Maxvill becomes surprising GM choice Read More »
On January 21, 1947, Frankie Frisch, the starting second baseman and manager of one of the most colorful teams in Cardinals history, was elected to the Hall of Fame. Frisch was elected alongside pitchers Carl Hubbell and Lefty Grove and catcher Mickey Cochrane. It marked the first time since 1942 that anyone had surpassed the
How Frankie Frisch became a Hall of Famer Read More »
On January 19, 2018, the Cardinals’ outfield carousel took its next spin as they traded outfielder Randal Grichuk to the Blue Jays for relief pitcher Dominic Leone and starting pitching prospect Conner Greene. The move came just a month after the Cardinals traded Sandy Alcantara, Daniel Castano, Zac Gallen, and Magneuris Sierra to the Marlins
Why Randal Grichuk was traded to the Blue Jays in 2018 Read More »
When the Cardinals traded outfielder Randy Arozarena, Jose Martinez, and a supplemental first-round pick for pitching prospect Matthew Liberatore, catching prospect Edgardo Rodriguez, and a supplemental second-round pick on January 9, 2020, it looked like a no-lose scenario for St. Louis. Given the rumors swirling around the possible availability of Rockies all-star third baseman Nolan
Why the Cardinals traded Randy Arozarena to Tampa Bay Read More »
A decade after he briefly held out of spring training in a bid for a $5,000 raise, Stan Musial became the first $100,000 player in National League history. On January 29, 1958, the Cardinals called a morning press conference at Anheuser-Busch Brewery to announce that Musial, who had been playing for $80,000 per season since
How Busch Jr. made Stan Musial the NL’s first $100,000 player Read More »
With ownership groups from Milwaukee and Houston seeking to move the Cardinals out of St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch announced on February 20, 1953, that it had purchased the team from Fred Saigh for $3.75 million. “During its 100 years of existence, Anheuser-Busch has shared in all St. Louis civic activity,” Anheuser-Busch chairman August A. Busch Jr.
How Anheuser-Busch kept the Cardinals from leaving St. Louis in 1953 Read More »
In 1988, Cardinals lefthander Joe Magrane put together one of the most unusual seasons in MLB history, winning the National League ERA title with a miniscule 2.18 ERA while somehow managing to win just five of his 24 starts. The dichotomy between Magrane’s mound dominance and his relatively small win total still stands as the
How Joe Magrane won the 1988 ERA title with just five wins Read More »
On the same day that Ozzie Smith won his 12th consecutive Gold Glove Award, another Cardinal “Ozzi,” Tom Pagnozzi, captured the first of his three career Gold Gloves as the National League’s premier defensive catcher. The recognition, announced on November 26, 1991, came at the end of Pagnozzi’s first season as the Cardinals’ starting catcher.
How Tom Pagnozzi won his first Gold Glove in 1991 Read More »
Seventeen years after the Cardinals drafted Gary Gaetti, they finally signed him on December 18, 1995. The native of Centralia, Illinois, was the Cardinals’ fourth-round selection out of Lake Land College in the January 1978 draft, but he chose to transfer to continue his collegiate career after the Cardinals offered him just a $500 bonus
How the Cardinals signed Gary Gaetti 17 years after drafting him Read More »
When the Cardinals signed Mike Matheny on December 15, 1999, they were just looking for a veteran backstop to play alongside Eli Marrero. Instead, they found a future Gold Glove Award winner and the franchise’s next manager. General manager Walt Jocketty was seeking a veteran catcher to complement Marrero, who had hit just .192 the
How Mike Matheny signed with the Cardinals Read More »