Bake McBride may have been the most unlikely Rookie of the Year in baseball history. Growing up, McBride believed he was more likely to make his living playing basketball or football than playing baseball. In high school, he didn’t even play baseball, as his school didn’t have a team. Instead, he played football and basketball.[1] […]
How Bake McBride won the 1974 Rookie of the Year Award Read More »
It’s hard enough to break a modern-day Major League Baseball record when you’re healthy. In 1974, injuries to both his hands may actually have helped Lou Brock break Maury Wills’ single-season stolen base record. Due to a right thumb injury, Brock had wrapped the digit in tape most of the season. On his left hand,
September 10, 1974: Lou Brock breaks Maury Wills’ single-season stolen base record Read More »
Lou Brock was never one to slow down, so it’s no surprise that he tied and passed Ty Cobb‘s career stolen base total on the same day. Decades later, research found that Cobb’s career stolen base total was inaccurate, and added four stolen bases to his 1907 season and one to his 1921 campaign.[1] As
Lou Brock passes Ty Cobb in career stolen bases: August 29, 1977 Read More »
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 13, 1979: Lou Brock collects his 3,000th career hit in resurgent final season Read More »
The same day the Cardinals lost one of the best pitchers in franchise history, another claimed his 3,000th strikeout victim. On July 17, 1974, Bob Gibson claimed the 3,000th strikeout of his career, retiring Cesar Geronimo on strikes in a 6-4 loss to the Reds. Early that morning, Dizzy Dean, the unquestioned ace of the
July 17, 1974: Bob Gibson gets his 3,000th strikeout the same day Dizzy Dean passes away Read More »
Bob Forsch wasn’t leaving his first major league win to chance. After losing his debut appearance with just two runs allowed over 6 2/3 innings, Forsch returned five days later, on July 12, 1974, and threw nine shutout innings to lead the Cardinals to a 10-0 victory in the second game of a doubleheader against
Bob Forsch shuts out Braves for first career win: 7/12/1974 Read More »
On June 27, 1973, Joe Torre hit for the cycle for the first time in his 13-year major league career. He had Cardinals manager Red Schoendienst to thank for it. After hitting an eighth-inning triple to move within a single of the cycle, Torre asked Schoendienst to remove him from the game. Sensing that Torre
Joe Torre hits for the cycle with an assist from Red Schoendienst: June 27, 1973 Read More »
On May 27, 1975, Lou Brock hit for the cycle for the only time in his Hall of Fame career during a 7-1 Cardinals’ victory over the Padres at Busch Stadium II. Brock entered the game on a roll. Since returning from a shoulder injury that occurred in late April, Brock had improved his batting
Lou Brock hits for the cycle: May 27, 1975 Read More »
If the 1978 Cardinals needed any additional evidence that they needed a bat (or two) in the outfield, they got it in a 6-0 loss to the Cubs on May 26, 1978. Just hours after obtaining outfielder George Hendrick from the Padres for starting pitcher Eric Rasmussen, the Cardinals managed just seven singles against Chicago pitcher
George Hendrick: Cardinals bolster lineup with 1978 trade Read More »
This is Part 3 of a three-part series about Keith Hernandez, which includes Part 1: Road to the MVP and Part 2: Champions in ’82, Traded in ’83. As Keith Hernandez helped to turn around a Mets franchise that had been mired in the bottom of the National League East standings, Whitey Herzog and Hernandez
Keith Hernandez Part 3: Post-Cardinals Career and Legacy Read More »