After his MVP season, the Cardinals rewarded Keith Hernandez with a five-year, $3.8 million contract. The contract made Hernandez’s salary more than 10 times larger than the $75,000 per season he had been earning, and meant the Cardinals wouldn’t have to worry about him hitting the free agent market after the 1981 season. “There was […]
Keith Hernandez Part 2: Champions in ’82, Traded in ’83 Read More »
This is Part 1 of a three-part series chronicling Keith Hernandez’s career, which includes Part 2: Champions in ’82, Traded in ’83 and Part 3: Post-Cardinals Career and Legacy. Even before Keith Hernandez was born, the St. Louis Cardinals figured prominently in his life. Hernandez’s father, John, had been a left-handed hitting first baseman in
Keith Hernandez Part 1: Road to the MVP Read More »
Without the efforts of Bob Kennedy and Lou Brock, Keith Hernandez may never have won the 1979 National League MVP Award – at least, not with the Cardinals. Hernandez was a 17-year-old out of Capuchino High School in San Bruno, California, when the Cardinals drafted him in the 42nd round of the 1971 draft. Due
How Keith Hernandez reached his potential – with help Read More »
Bob Gibson predicted many times throughout his career that he would never throw a no-hitter.[1] Before taking the mound against the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 14, 1971, he still had yet to throw one. Not in college. Not in the minors. Not even in the 1968, a season dubbed the “year of the pitcher,” in
Bob Gibson throws his only career no-hitter: August 14, 1971 Read More »
A misplayed ground ball by third baseman Ken Reitz and a friendly call by St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Neal Russo led to the most controversial no-hitter in St. Louis Cardinals history. In a Sunday afternoon game on April 16, 1978, Bob Forsch worked around two walks and a disputed error call to no-hit the Philadelphia
Bob Forsch no-hitter stirs controversy in 1978 Read More »