The St. Louis Cardinals didn’t want to wait until the winter meetings to establish their roster for the 2011 season. On November 16, 2010, they re-signed starting pitcher Jake Westbrook to shore up the rotation. Two weeks later, they traded pitching prospect Blake Hawksworth to the Los Angeles Dodgers for shortstop Ryan Theriot. Then, on […]
How the Cardinals added Lance Berkman ahead of the 2011 season Read More »
By the end of the 1991 season, the St. Louis Cardinals knew they once again would be in the market for a power-hitting first baseman. At 35 years old, Pedro Guerrero had just completed his third season on the Busch Stadium Astroturf, and the wear and tear had begun to impact his numbers. In his
11/25/1991: Cardinals trade Ken Hill for Andres Galarraga Read More »
The day after the Cardinals, Phillies, and Indians agreed on a three-team deal that sent Lonnie Smith to St. Louis, Philadelphia Daily News reporter Bill Conlin wrote that it “was a deal filled with marvelous paradoxes.”[1] The Cardinals already had outfielders George Hendrick, David Green, Dane Iorg, and Sixto Lezcano on the roster, and had
November 20, 1981: Cardinals trade for Lonnie Smith Read More »
In November 1999, it was no secret that the Colorado Rockies were looking to shop Darryl Kile and his $8 million salary. In two seasons in Colorado, the former Astros ace had gone just 21-30 with a 5.84 ERA, including a career-high 17 losses in 1998. It was a far cry from the success Kile
November 16, 1999: Cardinals trade for Darryl Kile Read More »
Fourteen years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, Bill White, a four-time all-star and the defending National League Gold Glove Award winner at first base, arrived in St. Petersburg, Florida, for spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals. While some of the Cardinals’ star players, such as Stan
How Bill White, Curt Flood, and others integrated Cardinals spring training Read More »
On October 21, 1981, the same day that Tommy John threw seven shutout innings to lead the Yankees to a 3-0 win over the Dodgers in Game 2 of the World Series, the Cardinals and Yankees quietly made a deal that would help the Cardinals capture the 1982 world championship. The trade, which sent Yankees
Why the Yankees traded Willie McGee to the Cardinals Read More »
A muscle strain that literally took Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny’s breath away opened the door for 21-year-old Yadier Molina to make his major league debut and – as the third member of the catching Molina brothers to reach the majors – make a little history as well. On June 2, 2004, Matheny was removed in
June 3, 2004: Yadier Molina gets two hits, throws out first baserunner in his debut game Read More »
Fresh off the first 20-win season of his career the year before, Jesse Haines was in the midst of a miserable 1924 campaign. The 6-foot, 190-pounder from Clayton, Ohio, recorded just one out in his season debut, and while he righted the ship with three wins in May, Haines appeared to be wilting in the
July 17, 1924: Jesse Haines throws the first no-hitter in Cardinals history Read More »
After watching Dizzy Dean spin a three-hit shutout and Paul Dean throw the second no-hitter in St. Louis Cardinals history, Brooklyn Times-Union sportswriter Bill McCullough was moved to poetry with his lede in the next day’s paper: You may sing the praises of Mickey Cochrane’s Tigers and the glory of the Giants from the housetops.
How Paul Dean threw the second no-hitter in Cardinals history Read More »
By the time Adam Wainwright made his first start, his bona fides as a stopper had already earned their place in St. Louis Cardinals history. During the 2006 playoffs, Wainwright made nine scoreless appearances, including four saves. Facing the Padres in the NLDS, he threw 1 1/3 innings in Game 2 to earn the save.
April 6, 2007: Adam Wainwright wins his first career start Read More »