On March 25, 1959, Cardinals general manager Bing Devine traded Jones and minor-league pitcher Don Choate to the Giants for White and infielder Ray Jablonski. Jones was coming off a 1958 campaign in which he led the National League with 225 strikeouts. However, despite a 2.88 ERA that ranked second in the league, he received little support from the Cardinals’ light-hitting offense and finished the year with a 14-13 record.

In the eight-team National League, the 1958 Cardinals ranked last in runs scored, home runs, total bases, and slugging percentage.

“While Sam could win it for San Francisco, I don’t believe he could do it for us because we just didn’t have enough power to back our pitching,” Cardinals manager Solly Hemus said. “White, I feel, might help us to go all the way, even with a young staff.”[1]

After hitting 72 home runs in his first three professional seasons in the Carolina, Western, and Texas leagues, White made his major-league debut in 1956. In his first game, he homered off Cardinals right-hander Ben Flowers.

White finished the year with a .256 batting average to go along with 22 homers, 59 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. In all three categories, he ranked second only to Willie Mays on the Giants roster.

In 1957, however, White was drafted into the Army, where he served at Fort Knox, Kentucky. By the time White returned for the 1958 season, not only had the Giants moved to San Francisco, but his job at first base had been taken by Orlando Cepeda. White was suddenly expendable, and when the Cardinals sought to acquire 25-year-old outfielder Leon Wagner, the Giants insisted that the deal include White instead.[2]

“Wagner has more power, all right, as much as anybody in the game, but White is a smarter player, faster, better defensively, and good and strong enough at the plate,” said Marv Grissom, a Cardinals newcomer who had pitched seven seasons with the Giants. “He’s very good at first base, and I believe he’ll throw well enough if he plays the outfield.”[3]

Eddie Stanky, who had managed the Cardinals from 1952 until 1955 and was now serving as a special assistant to Devine, was already familiar with White after managing him in Minneapolis in 1956.

“He’s the kind of player you can wind up and not worry about for 154 games,” said Stanky, estimating that White could bat between .280 and .320 with 15 to 25 home runs in the upcoming season.[4]

In addition to Stanky’s experience, scout Ollie Vanek had watched the Giants throughout spring training, and Omaha manager Joe Schultz was impressed by White’s performance in the recent Dominican Republic Winter League season.[5]

“We have outstanding reports on him,” Devine said. “Although he is basically a first baseman, he has shown excellent outfield aptitude despite a limited throwing arm. We won’t say that he will challenge for the league’s home run title, but he has good power as well as good running speed. In our park, I believe he will hit 18 to 25 homers, and I’ve been convinced this spring that we have needed more offense as I was watching us lose game after game through an inadequate attack last season.”[6]

In Jablonski, the Cardinals reacquired an infielder who hit 21 homers and drove in 112 runs as a rookie for them in 1953. The following year, he hit .296 with 12 homers and 104 RBIs. That December, the Cardinals traded him and Gerry Staley to Cincinnati for Frank Smith.

Since the trade, Jablonski had not played more than 130 games in a season, and he was coming off a 1958 season in which he hit .230 with 12 homers and 46 RBIs in 251 plate appearances. His 46 RBIs came on 53 hits.

In Jones, the Giants acquired a 6-foot-4, 33-year-old right-hander who became the first black major leaguer to throw a no-hitter in 1955 and led the league in walks and strikeouts in 1955, 1956, and 1958. The trade gave the Giants a rotation of Jones, Johnny Antonelli, Mike McCormick, and Jack Sanford.

“Our starting staff is now on a par with the Braves and Pirates,” Giants manager Bill Rigney said. “Now we can go into a key series with those clubs head-to-head as far as pitching is concerned. We couldn’t do it last year.”[7]

Jones threw both a fastball and a changeup, but his best pitch was a devastating curveball.

“I know the players will be glad to have Jones on our side,” Rigney said. “He was hard to hit against. He’s tough on right-handers. Orlando Cepeda was our only fellow to hit him hard.”[8]

St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports editor Bob Broeg wrote, “Jones needs no introduction to anyone who ever blanched at home plate, facing his wicked hook, or marveled from the stands how any reactionary scientist ever could argue that a ball doesn’t curve.”[9]

Despite his devastating stuff, Jones had just a 51-60 career record. His 14 wins the previous season matched a career high and marked just his second winning season.

“If he pitches a 2.88 (ERA) for the same amount of innings, he’ll win 18 or 20 for us,” Rigney said. “This trade makes our front-line pitching real solid. It also strengthens and deepens our second line. We got the best possible pitcher available.”[10]

Hobie Landrith, a backup catcher who primarily caught Jones for the Cardinals in 1958, agreed.

“If we could have got him any runs, he would have won 18-20 games,” Landrith said.[11]

The loss of Jones left the Cardinals with a rotation that included established starters Larry Jackson and Wilmer Mizell and rookie right-hander Ernie Broglio. The new vacancy in the rotation provided an opportunity for Gary Blaylock, Lindy McDaniel, and a promising right-hander named Bob Gibson.

“This is a challenge to our young pitchers, and we all feel that they have given us good reason to believe we can risk giving up a man of Sam’s ability,” Devine said.[12]

Ultimately, it was a trade designed to build the Cardinals for the future. As Broeg wrote in the Post-Dispatch, “There’s little doubt that with his age, occasional arm trouble, and the strain he puts behind his pitches, Sam is a poor risk for the future. And it’s the long run the Redbirds apparently are most concerned with, particularly since owner Gussie Busch has indicated he’s willing to await development of a sound, consistent contender.[13]

Jones, however, was disappointed to be leaving St. Louis.

“I’d rather stay with the Cardinals,” Jones said sadly as traveling secretary Leo Ward arranged his plane ride to join the Giants.[14]

Meanwhile, White wasn’t initially thrilled by the trade either. In his autobiography, he wrote, “At the time, St. Louis was the worst city in the league for black players. We couldn’t stay at white hotels there and couldn’t eat in the white restaurants. For black players on the road, it was a terrible environment. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that at least in St. Louis I’d have the chance to play.”[15]

White took advantage of that opportunity. In 1959, he was named an All-Star, batting .302 with 12 homers, 72 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. The following year, White primarily played first base, where he won the first of seven career Gold Glove awards.

In 1961, White played a key role in bringing attention to the Cardinals’ segregated spring training facilities. With White, Curt Flood, and others speaking out about the issue, the Cardinals integrated their training camp housing.

In eight seasons in St. Louis, White hit 20 or more home runs five times and drove in at least 90 runs four times. In 1964, his 21 homers and 102 RBIs helped the Cardinals win the National League pennant. Though he struggled in the World Series, going just 3-for-27 (.111), White went 2-for-4 with a double in Game 7 as the Cardinals beat the Yankees 7-5 to clinch the world championship.

The Cardinals traded White, Dick Groat, and Bob Uecker to the Phillies for Pat Corrales, Alex Johnson, and Art Mahaffey following the 1965 season. After three years in Philadelphia, the Cardinals reacquired White in April 1969. Following a final season in St. Louis, he announced his retirement, concluding a 13-year major-league career that included a .286 career average, 202 home runs, and 870 RBIs.

In eight seasons in St. Louis, White batted .298 with 140 home runs and 631 RBIs. He was elected to the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2020.

Jablonski appeared in 60 games for the Cardinals, batting .253 in 96 plate appearances before the Athletics acquired him off waivers. He retired following the 1960 season.

In San Francisco, Jones placed second to Early Wynn in the 1959 Cy Young Award voting after leading the league with 21 wins, a 2.83 ERA, and four shutouts. He added 18 wins and a 3.19 ERA in 1960 before he tailed off in 1961, going 8-8 with a 4.49 ERA in 128 1/3 innings.

After the 1961 season, he was drafted by the Colt .45s in the expansion draft and traded to the Tigers. He returned to the Cardinals in 1963 and made 11 relief appearances. After spending his age-38 season with the Orioles, Jones retired with a 103-103 career record and 3.62 ERA over 14 major-league seasons.

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[1] Bob Broeg, “Sports Comment,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 1959.

[2] Bob Broeg, “Sports Comment,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 1959.

[3] Bob Broeg, “Praise for Gotay After Light-Hitting Cards Beat Braves,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 27, 1959.

[4] Bob Broeg, “Cardinals Trade Jones To Giants For Bill White,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 25, 1959.

[5] Bob Broeg, “Cardinals Trade Jones To Giants For Bill White,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 25, 1959.

[6] Bob Broeg, “Cardinals Trade Jones To Giants For Bill White,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 25, 1959.

[7] Walter Judge, “Giants Land Sam Jones To Boom Pennant Hopes,” San Francisco Examiner, March 26, 1959.

[8] Walter Judge, “Giants Land Sam Jones To Boom Pennant Hopes,” San Francisco Examiner, March 26, 1959.

[9] Bob Broeg, “Sports Comment,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 1959.

[10] Walter Judge, “Giants Land Sam Jones To Boom Pennant Hopes,” San Francisco Examiner, March 26, 1959.

[11] “Players tickled,” San Francisco Examiner, March 26, 1959.

[12] Bob Broeg, “Cardinals Trade Jones To Giants For Bill White,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 25, 1959.

[13] Bob Broeg, “Sports Comment,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 1959.

[14] Bob Broeg, “Sports Comment,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 1959.

[15] Bill White, “Uppity,” Kindle Android Version, Page 60.

The post How Bill White was traded to the Cardinals first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

That April, Gibson had made three appearances for the Cardinals, each in relief.

On April 15, Gibson made his major league debut, pitching the seventh and eighth innings of a 5-0 loss to the Dodgers. Pitching opposite Don Drysdale, who threw a complete-game shutout, Gibson allowed a home run to the first batter he faced, Jim Baxes, and another run in the eighth on a sacrifice bunt.

The following day, he entered the game in the fifth inning and allowed one run on three hits, retiring just one of the four batters he faced. On April 18, Gibson entered a game against the Giants down 7-1 in the eighth inning. Orlando Cepeda greeted Gibson with an RBI double before Gibson got Felipe Alou to ground out to the shortstop to end the inning.

With three earned runs allowed in 2 2/3 innings, Gibson was returned to Triple-A Omaha. He remained in his hometown until July 29, when right-hander Dick Ricketts was optioned to Rochester and Gibson was summoned to take his spot on the roster.[1] Gibson had been 9-9 with a 3.07 ERA in Omaha.[2]

It was poetic that Gibson was making his first start against the Reds, the franchise that had come so close to signing him out of Creighton University.

“As late as two in the morning he agreed to verbal terms with us, but by daylight he had jumped to the Cardinals,” Reds farm director Phil Seghi told the Cincinnati Enquirer, noting that he believed a family member had nixed the deal. “I don’t know what he’ll do tonight, but he’s a pretty good major league prospect.”[3]

The 23-year-old Gibson’s biggest challenges came in the first and ninth innings. After Johnny Temple walked to lead off the first, Vada Pinson singled to left. With runners on first and second, Gibson got Gus Bell to ground into a force out at second, Frank Robinson to fly out to center field, and Jerry Lynch to ground out.

The Cardinals gave Gibson all the offense he would need in the second. Ken Boyer led off the inning with a double to center field. Bill White advanced Boyer to third base, then Joe Cunningham singled to left off Reds left-hander Jim O’Toole, giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

From there, Gibson refused to allow a runner past first base until the ninth inning.

The 22-year-old O’Toole pitched seven innings for the Reds, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the sixth when he got Hal Smith to ground into an inning-ending double play. After O’Toole was removed for a pinch hitter, Brooks Lawrence threw two scoreless innings in relief.

In the ninth, Cardinals manager Solly Hemus subbed Curt Flood into the game to play center field, moving Gino Cimoli to left field and White to first base in place of the 38-year-old Stan Musial. Lynch led off the inning with a single to right field, but was retired when White knocked down a liner by Ed Bailey and threw to second for the force out.

Gibson got Willie Jones to pop up for the second out of the inning before he walked pinch hitters Frank Thomas and Don Newcombe on eight consecutive pitches. With the bases loaded and Marshall Bridges warm in the bullpen,[4] Gibson fell behind in the count 2-0 before Temple flied out to Flood to end the game.

Gibson finished the game with eight hits and three walks allowed. He struck out two.

“I can throw a lot harder but my shoulder has been a little sore for the past week,” Gibson said.[5]

Boyer led the Cardinals’ offense with three hits, including a double, and Smith and Alex Grammas each singled twice.

While Gibson’s performance demonstrated his outstanding potential, he wasn’t yet the dominant pitcher of the mid- to late-1960s. He allowed five earned runs in 4 1/3 innings in his next start, a 7-3 loss to the Pirates, then walked eight batters in his next outing, a 10-inning performance against the Phillies. After losing five consecutive decisions, he finished the year strong, striking out 10 Cubs in a complete-game win on September 12 and throwing 4 2/3 innings of relief to earn the win in a 14-8 victory over the Giants.

It was a mixed season for Gibson, who was still learning the slider, which would become a key pitch for him when paired with his fastball. On the other hand, Gibson was unlikely to reach his full potential while playing for Hemus.

“He told me, like he told Flood, that I would never make it in the majors, and he went so far as to suggest that I take a shot at basketball instead,” said Gibson, who had played for the Harlem Globetrotters before Cardinals general manager Bing Devine increased his salary enough to convince him to give up basketball. “He was apparently convinced that I didn’t have a thought in my head when I was on the mound, and was not the least reluctant to insult my intelligence. When the pitchers would meet before a series to review the hitters on the other team, Hemus would say things like, “You don’t have to listen to this, Gibson. You just try to get the ball over the plate.”[6]

In his third season as the Cardinals’ manager in 1961, Hemus was fired and replaced with Johnny Keane. With Keane’s encouragement changing the trajectory of his career, Gibson went on to establish himself as the most dominant pitcher in franchise history. Over 17 seasons, Gibson won one National League MVP trophy, two Cy Young awards, two World Series MVP awards, and nine Gold Globe Awards. He led the Cardinals to two World Series championships and appeared in nine all-star games before retiring in 1975. Gibson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981 with 251 career wins, 3,117 strikeouts, and a 2.91 ERA.

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[1] “Ricketts Sent To Rochester; Gibson Back,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 29, 1959.

[2] “Birds to Start Gibson, Former Basketball Pro,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 30, 1959.

[3] Bill Ford, “Don’s Control Just Too Good,” Cincinnati Enquirer, July 31, 1959.

[4] Neal Russo, “Cards’ Gibson, in First Big League Start, Shuts Out Reds,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 31, 1959.

[5] Neal Russo, “Cards’ Gibson, in First Big League Start, Shuts Out Reds,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 31, 1959.

[6] Bob Gibson and Lonnie Wheeler (1994), “Stranger to the Game,” Penguin Books USA, New York, Page 52.

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