In the midst of his remarkable 1985 season, Willie McGee was invited to a Kiwanis luncheon where he was going to be honored for his humility. When the Cardinals outfielder arrived, there was a line at the door, so instead of stepping in front of those awaiting tickets, he joined the line. When he got
How Willie McGee was named 1985 National League MVP Read More »
There wasn’t a catcher in baseball who could stop Vince Coleman during his rookie campaign in 1985. Unfortunately, the same rule didn’t apply to the Busch Stadium tarp. The Cardinals initially didn’t plan for Coleman to break their starting lineup in 1985. Coleman went just 4-for-29 in spring training[1] and was optioned to Triple-A Louisville
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The 1982 St. Louis Cardinals established exactly what baseball observers meant by the term “Whiteyball,” and no player on the roster was more likely to steal a base – or five – than Lonnie Smith. On September 4, 1982, Smith did exactly that, tying a modern-day National League record with five stolen bases in a
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On August 22, 1982, Glenn Brummer became arguably the most unlikely game-winning hero in Cardinals history. An Illinois native, Brummer had played his college baseball at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois, and signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 1974. After working his way through the Cardinals’ farm system, Brummer made
Glenn Brummer steals home, becomes unlikely Cardinals hero: August 22, 1982 Read More »
On August 16, 1988, the Cardinals’ quest for Jack Clark’s replacement led them to trade John Tudor to the Dodgers for four-time All-Star first baseman Pedro Guerrero. Clark had anchored the Cardinals’ lineup from 1985 through 1987, but in January 1988, he signed a two-year contract with the New York Yankees for a guaranteed $3
The John Tudor-Pedro Guerrero Trade: August 16, 1988 Read More »
Bob Forsch may have made his name as a pitcher, but the Sacramento, California, native originally was drafted for his bat. On August 10, 1986, the veteran right-hander used both to lift the Cardinals to a 5-4 victory over the Pirates. Upon joining the Cardinals’ farm system, the 26th-round 1968 draft pick played third base
Bob Forsch grand slam keys Cardinals win: August 10, 1986 Read More »
Terry Pendleton had to admit that as he took part in Cardinals’ batting practice prior to his first major league game, he was nervous. “It’s hit me that I’m in the big leagues, but in a way it hasn’t,” the 24-year-old said after making his debut just two years after the Cardinals drafted him in
Terry Pendleton gets three hits in his MLB debut Read More »
To acquire a relief pitcher who would become a cornerstone of their bullpen during their 1985 and 1987 National League pennant seasons, the Cardinals traded away one of the few remaining players from their 1982 world championship club. On June 15, 1984, the Cardinals traded infielder Ken Oberkfell, the team’s leading hitter at the time with
Ken Oberkfell: Traded for Dayley and Jorgensen in 1984 Read More »
Whitey Herzog wasn’t certain exactly what caliber of pitcher he was receiving when he traded for Joaquin Andujar in 1981, but he did know one thing – the Cardinals were getting a personality unlike any they’d ever seen. Herzog had been on the search for pitching when Astros general manager Al Rosen called and offered
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Tom Herr knew that the Cardinals needed to shake things up after winning just four of their first 15 games in 1988. Still, he was just as shocked as Cardinals fans when he entered the clubhouse following a 4-0 loss to the Mets and was informed that he had been traded to Minnesota for power-hitting outfielder
How Tom Brunansky was traded to St. Louis for Tom Herr Read More »