On August 25, 1991, Lee Smith became just the fifth pitcher to reach the 300-save milestone, joining Rollie Fingers, Jeff Reardon, Rich Gossage, and Bruce Sutter as baseball’s top closers. “Starting pitchers use 300 wins as a measuring stick for the Hall of Fame,” Cardinals manager Joe Torre said. “For him to get 300 saves […]
August 25, 1991: Lee Smith earns his 300th save Read More »
On October 7, 1969, the St. Louis Cardinals made the most impactful trade in the history of Major League Baseball when they agreed to send Curt Flood, Tim McCarver, Byron Browne, and Joe Hoerner to the Philadelphia Phillies for Dick Allen, Jerry Johnson, and Cookie Rojas. Flood refused to report to the Phillies. Instead, he
October 7, 1969: Curt Flood refuses trade to the Phillies Read More »
Arguably the most famous home run in St. Louis Cardinals postseason history may also have been the most unlikely. On October 14, 1985, broadcaster Jack Buck encouraged Cardinals to “go crazy, folks, go crazy!” after shortstop Ozzie Smith hit the first left-handed home run of his career. The unexpected blast gave St. Louis a 3-2 walk-off
Ozzie Smith, Cardinals go crazy with walk-off homer Read More »
With two blasts on the final day of the 1998 season, Mark McGwire established a new plateau for MLB sluggers with 70 home runs for the season. The 34-year-old slugger set a torrid pace from the outset of the 1998 campaign, beginning with a grand slam in the Cardinals’ season-opening win. On July 26, he
Mark McGwire reaches 70 home runs: September 27, 1998 Read More »
On September 15, 1991, Ray Lankford became the first Cardinals rookie in 73 years to hit for the cycle when he collected a single, double, triple, and home run in a 7-2 win over the Mets at Busch Stadium. For good measure, Lankford also stole a base and scored four times. “It’s a great feeling,”
September 15, 1991: Rookie Ray Lankford homers to complete the cycle Read More »
Ironically, in a 25-inning game that lasted seven hours and four minutes and didn’t end until 3:12 a.m., Bake McBride and the St. Louis Cardinals finally captured the 4-3 victory with their speed. The game was the longest night game in Major League Baseball history, exceeding a 24-inning, 1-0 Astros victory over the Mets in
Cardinals, Mets play 25-inning game: September 11, 1974 Read More »
Hours after becoming the third player in Cardinals history to hit his 300th career home run wearing the birds on the bat, Jim Edmonds returned to the clubhouse at Busch Stadium and discovered a voicemail from a man who had become synonymous with home run milestones – Mark McGwire. “He said, ‘Congratulations, you only need
September 4, 2004: Jim Edmonds hits his 300th career home run Read More »
Few players in major-league history could lay claim to a six-hit game. On August 5, 1931, “Sunny” Jim Bottomley became the first player since 1894 to do it twice when he collected six base hits in the second game of a doubleheader vs. the Pirates. Bottomley was one of two talented first basemen on the
August 5, 1931: Jim Bottomley collects six hits vs. the Pirates Read More »
Less than a year after celebrating the 2006 World Series championship with his teammates, Juan Encarnacion was struck by a foul ball in the on-deck circle, fracturing the bones around his eye, impacting his vision, and ending his career. By the time he came to the Cardinals, Encarnacion was a veteran outfielder who already had
How Juan Encarnacion suffered a career-ending eye injury Read More »
After 15 years as a scout, coach, and manager with the organization, the St. Louis Cardinals officially named Mike Shildt manager on August 28, 2018. Shildt had spent the previous six weeks as interim manager in place of Mike Matheny, who was fired in the midst of his seventh season at the helm. President of
Cardinals name Mike Shildt manager: August 28, 2018 Read More »