As he started preparing for the 1997 season, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty was looking for a second baseman who could hit for power or inherit the top spot in the St. Louis lineup. On November 20, 1996, he opted for the latter, signing Delino DeShields to a one-year contract with a team option for …
November 20, 1996: Cardinals sign Delino DeShields Read More »
Just two days after naming Tony La Russa the Cardinals’ new manager and one day after they began removing the AstroTurf from Busch Stadium to install natural grass, Anheuser-Busch shocked St. Louis on October 25, 1995, with the announcement that it was selling the team. “As a publicly held company, we had to ask ourselves …
October 25, 1995: Anheuser-Busch announces plans to sell the Cardinals Read More »
Eighteen years after Tony La Russa ended his playing career with the St. Louis Cardinals’ Double-A affiliate, he was named the 48th manager in franchise history. On October 23, 1995, general manager Walt Jocketty signed La Russa to a two-year contract to manage the Cardinals, ending a 10-year run with the Oakland Athletics in which …
October 23, 1995: Cardinals name Tony La Russa manager Read More »
With two blasts on the final day of the 1998 season, Mark McGwire established a new plateau for MLB sluggers by reaching 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, …
September 27, 1998: Mark McGwire hits his 70th home run of the season 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 »
On August 18, 1995, Tom Henke battled through arguably his toughest outing of the season to collect the 300th save of his career. Nine months earlier, the 6-foot-5 reliever from Kansas City, Missouri, had signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Cardinals to pitch his 14th major-league season. After eight seasons in Toronto, where …
August 18, 1995: Tom Henke gets his 300th career save Read More »
The 1991 season marked a new beginning for the St. Louis Cardinals. In their first full season under new head coach Joe Torre, the Cardinals had an entirely new starting outfield, as Bernard Gilkey, Ray Lankford, and Felix Jose replaced 1990’s opening-day threesome of Vince Coleman, Willie McGee, and Tom Brunansky. No one, however, was …
August 3, 1991: Todd Zeile’s walk-off home run pulls the Cardinals into the pennant race Read More »
On August 1, 1990, the St. Louis Cardinals officially moved on from the “Whiteyball” era when they brought former Cardinals star Joe Torre back to take the managerial position vacated by Whitey Herzog just three weeks earlier. “During the selection process, I interviewed a number of very good candidates,” Cardinals general manager Dal Maxvill said, …
August 1, 1990: Cardinals name Joe Torre manager as Whiteyball era ends Read More »
Given Ozzie Smith’s long journey to becoming an above-average major-league hitter, it was no wonder that he began to cry with joy and appreciation after he tripled on May 26, 1992, for his 2,000th career hit. “I did not want to leave the game being known as a one-dimensional player,” Smith said. “Maybe tonight will …
Why Ozzie Smith wept after collecting his 2,000th career hit Read More »
On April 13, 1993, Cardinals closer Lee Smith claimed his place as baseball’s career leader with his 358th save in a 9-7 win over the Dodgers. “It feels good to get it out of the way, but I’m not in the game to set records,” Smith said. “I want to pitch in the World Series, and …
April 13, 1993: Lee Smith becomes baseball’s career saves leader Read More »
