This is Part 2 of a three-part series chronicling Keith Hernandez’s career, which includes Part 1: Road to the MVP and Part 3: Post-Cardinals Career and Legacy. After Keith Hernandez‘s MVP season, the Cardinals rewarded him with a five-year, $3.8 million contract. The contract made Hernandez’s salary more than 10 times larger than the […]
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 »
Grover Cleveland Alexander carved his name into baseball history and Babe Ruth was caught stealing, but the most important result of the St. Louis Cardinals’ 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees on October 10, 1926, was simple: for the first time in the World Series era, the Cardinals could claim the title of world
October 10, 1926: Alexander saves Game 7 as Cardinals win first World Series title Read More »
Heading into Game 6 of the 1926 World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals had their backs against the wall. Down three games to two against Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig’s squad, the Cardinals were further disadvantaged by the absence of two-thirds of their starting outfield. Left fielder Ray Blades had been out of the lineup
October 9, 1926: Cardinals clobber Yankees 10-2 in World Series Game 6 Read More »
Jesse Haines didn’t single-handedly beat the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the 1926 World Series – it just seemed that way. Haines’ major league career started in 1915 with the Detroit Tigers, where he spent two months but never appeared in a game. While Haines was frustrated by his lack of playing time,
October 5, 1926: Jesse Haines leads Cardinals to Game 3 World Series win Read More »
The first World Series game victory in St. Louis Cardinals history came courtesy of two players discarded by their previous teams earlier that season. After falling to the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the 1926 World Series behind a complete-game, three-hit performance by Herb Pennock and two RBIs from Lou Gehrig, the Cardinals
October 3, 1926: Cardinals earn their first World Series win Read More »
Stan Musial and the Cardinals had planned for his 3,000th career hit to take place in St. Louis. Then baseball, as it so often does, got in the way. Musial entered the 1958 season with 2,957 hits and quickly closed in on the milestone, opening the season with a 17-game hit streak. That season-opening tear
May 13, 1958: Stan Musial reaches 3,000 hits Read More »
Rogers Hornsby’s 2,000th career hit didn’t just mark a milestone in the slugger’s Hall of Fame career – it helped to served notice that after years of futility, the Cardinals were ready to chase the National League pennant. Hornsby entered the game with 1,998 hits in a career that began in 1915 when, as a
June 23, 1926: Rogers Hornsby tallies his 2,000th hit Read More »
George “Specs” Toporcer played eight seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1921-28, helping the franchise capture its first World Series championship in 1926 and becoming the first major league infielder to wear glasses in a game. A talented utility infielder and pinch hitter, Specs Toporcer served as the backup second baseman to two future
George “Specs” Toporcer Read More »
With the National League championship wrapped up and a berth to the World Series guaranteed, the St. Louis Cardinals used their regular-season finale to get their first glimpse of 20-year-old Jay Hanna Dean – more commonly known as Dizzy Dean. One year prior, Dean had been pitching while stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort
September 28, 1930: Dizzy Dean makes his major-league debut Read More »