On June 23, 2002, Kile was found dead in the bed of his Chicago hotel room after teammates became concerned that he hadn’t arrived at Wrigley Field for the Cardinals’ game against the Cubs. When Kile hadn’t appeared in time for the Cardinals’ on-field stretching, team officials called the hotel and asked the staff there to check Kile’s room. Hotel employees entered his room at 12:30 p.m. and found him still wearing the eyeshades he wore to sleep.

“It appears he died in his bed,” Chicago police spokesman Carlos Herrera said.[1]

Kile had eaten dinner with his brother the night before at Harry Caray’s restaurant. Around 10:30 p.m., he told teammate Edgar Renteria that he was tired and going to bed.[2] The following morning, Kile’s wife Flynn was unable to reach her husband and called Robin Veres, the wife of Cardinals relief pitcher Dave Veres. When the Cardinals realized that Kile had passed away, it was Robin Veres who called Flynn to break the news.[3] The Kiles had three young children together.

The Cardinals players learned of Kile’s passing as they concluded batting practice. Catcher Mike Matheny and pitcher Woody Williams led the team in prayers.[4]

“The news devastated our club,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. “There was no bigger leader on our ball club in every way.”[5]

Fans had already arrived when the decision was made to cancel that day’s game. With his teammates behind him, Cubs catcher Joe Girardi informed the Wrigley Field crowd that the game had been postponed due to a tragedy in the Cardinals family.

“You will find out eventually what happened,” Girardi said.[6]

Kile’s passing was particularly devastating due to his key leadership role on the club. A late bloomer, Kile was a natural lefthander but began pitching with his right hand at age 10 because his father’s glove, the only one the family owned, was for righthanders.[7] Kile didn’t make his high school’s varsity baseball team until his junior year, and after graduating without any college scholarship offers, he played at Chaffey (Calif.). Junior College.

By his sophomore year, Kile had added 30 pounds and seen his fastball leap from 80 to 90 mph.[8] The Astros made him a 30^th-round draft choice in 1987, and two years later, the 20-year-old Kile had already reached Triple-A.

In 1990, Kile had to make a significant adjustment when the Astros banned the slider in their minor league system. Instead, Kile developed a curveball, experimenting with his grip during the offseason by throwing against the brick wall of a local high school.

“And then it happened,” he said. “The break on the curveball was there. I didn’t know what a hitter would think about it or do with it, but it looked the way I wanted it to. I didn’t know how good it really was.”[9]

The pitch became Kile’s signature. In 1991, he made his major-league debut, and in 1993, he won 15 games and was selected for the All-Star Game. In 1997, his final year with the Astros, Kile went 19-7 with a 2.57 ERA. In addition to earning his second career All-Star nod, Kile placed fifth in the National League Cy Young Award voting.

That offseason, Kile signed as a free agent with the Rockies, where the thin mountain air flattened out his curveball. Rather than complain, however, Kile continued to battle. On November 16, 1999, the Cardinals traded four pitchers to the Rockies for Kile, Veres, and Luther Hackman.

Kile soon emerged as a leader in the Cardinals’ clubhouse and on the mound. In his first season in St. Louis, he went 20-9 with a 3.91 ERA, once again finishing fifth in the Cy Young voting. In 2001, he went 16-11 with a 3.09 ERA.

“He was a guy who loved to compete and loved to win,” Jocketty said. “He’s a guy who worked in the clubhouse. You could just see the work he did with a lot of young guys. He was very close to them.”[10]

“This has been a very difficult week with the loss of Jack Buck and now the loss of Darryl Kile,” Jocketty added. “There is going to be a really tough mourning period for the Cardinal organization and the citizens of St. Louis. We all have a job to do. We have to try to be strong and battle through this and find a way to go on. I’m sure Darryl would definitely want us to go on, compete, and try to win our division.”[11]

On June 23, the Cook County medical examiner’s office ruled that Kile probably died of atherosclerosis, or the hardening of the arteries around the heart.[12]

“It doesn’t seem real,” relief pitcher Gene Stechschulte said.[13]

Longtime St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz felt the same way.

“Shock. Numbness. Anguish. Disbelief. Confusion,” he wrote. “Tell us this isn’t true, tell us that this is a mistake. Tell us that Darryl Kile will be on the mound at Wrigley Field on Sunday night to stare in at home plate with those steely eyes and grim expression, just before he rocks and throws a swooping curveball that makes hitters curse the very existence of gravity.”[14]

Instead, the Cardinals returned to the field on Sunday with rookie Jason Simontacchi on the mound. Out of respect for Kile, the team did not fill his roster spot and played with just 24 active players.

“One of the most outstanding things about Darryl was his refusal to miss a start,” La Russa said. “He wasn’t going to start, so we’re going to give it our best shot. It’s important for us that we play, but it’s more important to respect Darryl and play tonight. That’s what he did his whole career.”[15]

Conscious of the solemnity of the moment, the Cubs hosted the game without organ music outside the seventh-inning stretch, and the center-field scoreboard featured Kile’s number 57 throughout the game. The team pennants that flew on both foul poles were positioned at half-staff.[16] The Cubs won the game, 2-0.

On Tuesday, June 25, the Cardinals played their first home game since Kile’s passing. The day began with a memorial service in which owner Bill DeWitt Jr., former Cardinals pitcher Ricky Horton, Williams, Matheny, and Flynn Kile spoke. The Cardinals honored Kile with a 10-minute tribute prior to the game.

“Clearly, it was right for the team to play,” DeWitt said. “Darryl Kile never missed a start. This is what he would have wanted the team to do.”[17]

The Cardinals played the remainder of the season with a black circle patch on their left sleeves that read “DK57” in Kile’s honor. The club went on to win 97 games that season, sweeping the Diamondbacks in a three-game NLDS to advance to the NLCS.

Give the gift of Cardinals history! The Trades That Made The St. Louis Cardinals is available now on Amazon.

[1] Joe Strauss and Rick Hummel, “Cards pitcher Darryl Kile is found dead in Chicago,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 2002.

[2] Joe Strauss and Rick Hummel, “Cards pitcher Darryl Kile is found dead in Chicago,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 2002.

[3] Joe Strauss and Rick Hummel, “Cards pitcher Darryl Kile is found dead in Chicago,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 2002.

[4] Joe Strauss and Rick Hummel, “Cards pitcher Darryl Kile is found dead in Chicago,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 2002.

[5] Joe Strauss and Rick Hummel, “Cards pitcher Darryl Kile is found dead in Chicago,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 2002.

[6] Rick Hummel, “Uneasiness foreshadowed the stunning announcement,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 2002.

[7] Vahe Gregorian, “Cards lose a ‘gamer,’” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 2002.

[8] Vahe Gregorian, “Cards lose a ‘gamer,’” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 2002.

[9] Vahe Gregorian, “Cards lose a ‘gamer,’” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 2002.

[10] Joe Strauss and Rick Hummel, “Cards pitcher Darryl Kile is found dead in Chicago,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 2002.

[11] Joe Strauss and Rick Hummel, “Cards pitcher Darryl Kile is found dead in Chicago,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 2002.

[12] Joe Strauss and Deborah L. Shelton, “Kile’s heart was enlarged 25 percent,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 25, 2002.

[13] Joe Strauss and Rick Hummel, “Cards pitcher Darryl Kile is found dead in Chicago,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 2002.

[14] Bernie Miklasz, “Kile, Cardinal Nation suffer cruel fate in a most tragic week,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 2002.

[15] Rick Hummel, “Respect for Kile spurs decision to play,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 24, 2002.

[16] Joe Strauss, “Cardinals pray, try to play as they struggle in defeat,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 24, 2002.

[17] Joe Strauss, “Cardinals pray, try to play as they struggle in defeat,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 24, 2002.

The post Darryl Kile passes away: June 22, 2002 first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

A 6-foot-6 right-hander drafted 15th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993 out of Trinity High School in Manchester, New Hampshire, Carpenter showed promise early in his career. At age 23, he went 12-7 with a 4.37 ERA over 175 innings in his first full major league season in 1998.

The next year appeared to be his breakthrough. Carpenter carried a 3.24 ERA into the All-Star break despite missing much of June with elbow inflammation. But the second half unraveled. His ERA climbed to 6.31, and his season ended when he underwent surgery to remove a bone spur in his elbow.

His struggles continued in 2000. Carpenter went 10-12 with a 6.26 ERA, allowed an American League-high 122 earned runs, and was briefly moved to the bullpen in August. He rebounded in 2001, winning 11 games with a 4.09 ERA over 215 2/3 innings, but another major setback followed in 2002. Named Toronto’s Opening Day starter, Carpenter lasted only 2 1/3 innings before shoulder trouble sent him to the injured list. He returned briefly, then suffered additional setbacks before undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum, with pins inserted into his shoulder.

At season’s end, with Carpenter expected to miss the first half of the 2003 season, the Blue Jays removed Carpenter from their 40-man roster and instead offered him a minor-league contract with incentives.[1] Carpenter declined and became a free agent.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, were searching urgently for pitching. The organization was still coping with the loss of Darryl Kile, who passed away during the 2002 season, and the retirement of veteran starter Andy Benes. General manager Walt Jocketty had already re-signed Woody Williams to a two-year, $14.9 million contract. Chuck Finley, whom the Cardinals acquired in a trade with the Indians in July, was also considering a contract offer to return for 2003 (ultimately, he turned down the Cardinals’ offer and chose to retire).

Jocketty also explored trade possibilities with the Expos regarding Bartolo Colon and Javier Vazquez, and with the Giants regarding Livan Hernandez and Russ Ortiz,[2] as well as a potential deal with the Padres that would send Gold Glove second baseman Fernando Vina to the Padres for Brett Tomko and Kevin Jarvis.[3]

Even as Jocketty talked with other teams about potential trade opportunities, he explored the option of adding Carpenter to the Cardinals’ roster. On December 9, Carpenter traveled to St. Louis to have an MRI completed on his shoulder.[4] Three days later, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the Cardinals, who had explored trading for Carpenter during the recent trade deadline, were negotiating a new deal with Carpenter. The paper described him as “a potential swingman for the Redbirds late next season.”[5]

“He’s somebody we’ve liked for a while,” Jocketty said. “I would like to think something could happen soon.”[6]

On December 13, Carpenter, who had earned $3.45 million with the Blue Jays in 2002, signed a $700,000 contract with the Cardinals. Unlike Toronto’s offer, the deal included a major league roster spot. Carpenter would earn the major league minimum salary of $300,000 with a $200,000 bonus if he appeared in a major league game. The contract included a team option for 2004 with a $200,000 buyout.[7]

Carpenter said his decision to sign had little to do with the money. Instead, he was motivated by conversations with former teammates Mike Matheny, Pat Hentgen, and Williams, each of whom had played in St. Louis.

“They all said it was the best city, the best fans, the best organization,” Carpenter said. “It wasn’t a financial decision at all. It was because it was the best situation.”[8]

Despite both the Cardinals’ and Carpenter’s hopes for 2003, he wouldn’t make an impact until 2004. On July 29, after he experienced discomfort in his shoulder during his rehab assignment, Carpenter underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue. In November, the Cardinals declined to exercise their option on Carpenter’s contract, though they expressed hope that they could re-sign him under a restructured deal.

“I think Carpenter is a guy who we think could still help us,” Jocketty said. “We went through the whole rehab process last year, and he has a clean bill of health.”[9]

In December, Carpenter and the Cardinals agreed to a one-year deal and Jocketty announced that he planned for Carpenter to be one of the Cardinals’ starters to open the year.

“I don’t think there’s any concern for him not being ready,” Jocketty said.[10]

Finally healthy for the first time in years, Carpenter proved to be more than ready, going 15-5 with a 3.46 ERA to help the Cardinals win the National League Central Division.

He was even better in 2005, going 21-5 with a 2.83 ERA to win the NL Cy Young Award. Carpenter’s 241 2/3 innings included seven complete games, more than anyone in baseball. In the postseason, he went 2-0 in three starts with a 2.14 ERA over 21 innings.

During Carpenter’s nine seasons in St. Louis, he emerged as one of baseball’s best pitchers, going 95-44 with a 3.07 ERA. In 2006, Carpenter threw eight shutout innings in Game 3 of the World Series to help the Cardinals capture their 10^th world championship. Five years later, he outdueled Roy Halladay to win Game 7 of the NLDS, then earned the win in two World Series games to help the Cardinals top the Rangers in seven games.

Carpenter was inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2016.

Give the gift of Cardinals history! The Trades That Made The St. Louis Cardinals is available now on Amazon!

[1] “Blue Jays, Carpenter go separate ways,” Windsor Star, December 13, 2002.

[2] Joe Strauss, “Cardinals might be closing gap with Finley,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 12, 2002.

[3] Joe Strauss, “Cards’ chance of keeping Finley is put at 50-50,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 14, 2002.

[4] Joe Strauss, “Cards’ chance of keeping Finley is put at 50-50,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 14, 2002.

[5] Joe Strauss, “Cardinals might be closing gap with Finley,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 12, 2002.

[6] Joe Strauss, “Cardinals might be closing gap with Finley,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 12, 2002.

[7] Joe Strauss, “Cards’ chance of keeping Finley is put at 50-50,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 14, 2002.

[8] Joe Strauss, “Cards’ chance of keeping Finley is put at 50-50,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 14, 2002.

[9] Dan O’Neill, “Cardinals decline option on Vina,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 4, 2003.

[10] Joe Strauss, “Cards still like Carpenter’s tools,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 2, 2003.

The post How Chris Carpenter signed with the Cardinals first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

If the phone rang with the news that he had not been inducted in his first year of eligibility, Smith and his family were all set to drive to Steak ‘n Shake and begin looking forward to next year. Instead, Smith and his family opened a bottle of champagne they had been saving for just such an occasion.[1]

“I had gone over it a thousand times in my mind the way it would come about,” Smith said. “The only thing I miscalculated was the degree of emotion you get when you do get that phone call. I didn’t know how much this was going to touch me. The tears … they just come.”[2]

The call from Jack O’Connell, secretary-treasurer of the Baseball Writers Association of America, came before noon.

“I had butterflies,” Smith said. “In knowing you had a chance to (be elected) on the first time, it’s important. It has more significance going in on the first ballot than having to wait two or three years.”[3]

O’Connell informed Smith that not only had he received 433 of a possible 472 votes (91.7%), but he was the only player on that year’s ballot to receive the 75% necessary for induction.

“He said, ‘It’s 92%, and you’re the only one going in,” Smith said. “Right away, I started thinking, ‘Oh Lord, that means I have to talk longer.’”[4]

Smith became just the 37^th player in baseball history to be inducted in the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, joining fellow Cardinals Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, and Lou Brock.[5]

Gary Carter received 343 votes, just 11 shy of the 354 necessary for election. Jim Rice received 260 (55%), former Cardinals closer Bruce Sutter received 238 (50%), Andre Dawson got 214 (45%), and Goose Gossage had 203 (43%).

“It’s appropriate that Ozzie is going on a solo excursion into the Baseball Hall of Fame,” wrote St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz. “He’s always had to do it by himself because so many people counted him out as he made his way along the Yellow Brick Road on the way to Cooperstown. And Smith’s relentless, Wizard-against-the-world spirit made this brilliant career possible.”[6]

That brilliant 19-year career included 15 All-Star Games, 13 Gold Gloves, one Silver Slugger Award, and the 1985 NLCS MVP Award. A .231 hitter in his first four major-league seasons with the Padres, Smith worked to improve as an offensive player even after establishing himself as one of the most dynamic defensive players in the game.

“When he came here in ’82, his lifetime batting average was .230-something, he couldn’t drive in a runner from second, he didn’t have any strength,” said Whitey Herzog, who pulled off the trade for Smith ahead of the 1982 season and managed him to three National League pennants and the 1982 World Series championship. “He made himself stronger, he made himself better, he learned how to pull the ball, all the things we suggested he try, he put his heart and soul into it.”[7]

Upon Smith’s arrival in St. Louis, Herzog demanded that Smith take advantage of his speed and Busch Stadium’s AstroTurf by hitting the ball on the ground. To motivate him, Herzog offered Smith $2 for every ground ball he hit as long as Smith gave him $1 for every fly ball.

“I was $302 down by July, and I said, ‘That’s enough. Gussie (Busch) doesn’t pay me enough money to do this,’” Herzog recalled.[8]

“There’s one guy who I hope one day has the opportunity to stand before you and also say that he’s a Hall of Famer, and that’s Whitey Herzog,” said Smith (Herzog was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010). “He came to San Diego one day and said to me, ‘If you come to play for the St. Louis Cardinals, we’re going to win the World Series.’ That man can tell the future.”[9]

Smith retired with 2,460 hits, including 1,944 with the Cardinals, and a .262 career batting average. Though he hit just 28 regular-season homers in 19 seasons, that didn’t include the lone postseason home run of his career – a game-winning shot in Game 5 of the 1985 NLCS against Tom Niedenfeur and the Dodgers.

“That was a defining moment,” Smith said. “Of all the great plays that I made, that was the one thing that made people stand up and take notice that I was much more than just a defensive player. I didn’t like the moniker of being a one-dimensional player. There was no reason for me, being as good a defensive player as I was, not to be a better offensive player.”[10]

Of course, Smith’s Hall of Fame election was fueled primarily by the strength of his defense. In addition to his incredible range and flair for jaw-dropping plays, Smith was a steady presence on the left side of the infield. He led the National League in fielding percentage eight times and retired with a .978 fielding percentage.

“Ozzie’s great plays stand out in your mind, but what really stands out to me is that he didn’t mess up the routine plays,” said second baseman Tom Herr, Smith’s double-play partner from 1982 until 1988. “He made all of those. His attention to detail, his pregame preparation, the focus he always had on the field. He never took for granted his skills as a defensive player. I don’t think there will be another one like him. The Hall of Fame is for special players, and he fits into that category.”[11]

Jack Clark, who won two National League pennants in the three seasons he played with Smith, said that he had no doubt that Smith deserved to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

“I say every player should have the opportunity to be Ozzie Smith’s teammate,” Clark said. “Then you’d really find out how great this game can be – and more.”[12]

“You never saw the same thing twice,” he added. “Every day, on ground balls or pop-ups or whatever, you had to pay attention because you could be looking at something you’d never see again. And to be on the same team, on the same field, wearing the same uniform, going for the same goal as him – that was really special.”[13]

The Cardinals won the 1982 World Series in Smith’s first season in St. Louis, then reached the World Series in 1985 and 1987. The 1987 season was Smith’s best offensive campaign, as he hit .303 with 104 runs scored, 75 RBIs, and 43 stolen bases. That season, he finished second in the National League MVP voting and won a Silver Slugger Award to go along with his Gold Glove.

“That was a very impressive team Whitey put together and Ozzie was the anchor,” Clark said. “No one is bigger than the game, but Ozzie was about as close as you could get on those teams.”[14]

For Willie McGee, Smith’s on-field performance was only surpassed by all he did off it. When McGee was called up to the majors in 1982, Smith invited the 23-year-old outfielder to live with him in St. Louis.

“Ozzie is such an outstanding ballplayer, but he’s as great a person as he was a ballplayer, in my eyes,” Willie McGee said. “Oz loves people and loves helping people. He wears his heart on his shoulder. It really shows. When I lived with him, I’d see him get up in the morning to go promote the game of baseball and the Cardinals. People didn’t know how much he did that. That’s what separates him from everyone else. He’s a class act.”[15]

Just as Smith was key to the Cardinals’ championship teams in the 1980s, his Hall of Fame induction played a vital role in helping St. Louis heal after a difficult summer. Approximately six weeks before Smith’s induction ceremony, Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck and pitcher Darryl Kile each passed away in the same week.

“This Ozzie-Fest 2002 is exactly what Cardinals Nation needed,” Miklasz wrote. “It was a day of joy and happiness. It was love. It was a baseball Woodstock, with thousands of red-wearing Cardinals fans sitting in the grass, savoring an exceptional day in baseball’s spiritual garden.”[16]

At the ceremony, Smith was joined on stage by Gibson, Brock, and Red Schoendienst. At one point, Musial pulled out his harmonica and played “Take Me Out To The Ballgame,” then drew a roar from the crowd when he posed in his famous batting stance.

Herzog, McGee, Vince Coleman, Bernard Gilkey, and Tom Lawless were also in attendance.[17]

“The Cardinals are very well-represented in this Hall of Fame, and I’m just honored and very humbled to be one of those guys,” Smith said. “I’m the person up on the stage, but I was accepting on behalf of all the great St. Louis fans that have been part of the success we’ve had over the years. It’s a great feeling.”[18]

Before Smith stepped to the lectern to give his induction speech, his 15-year-old son Dustin read Smith’s Hall of Fame plaque. In his remarks, Smith held a baseball in one hand and a copy of Frank L. Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” in the other. He described his career and his drive to succeed in metaphors, comparing them to the components of a baseball and the quests of the tin man, the scarecrow, and the lion in the book.

“This little cork pill weighs less than an ounce, but when you look at its role in the history of baseball, this is where it all began,” Smith said. “Likewise, it also represents the core of my quest. A dream of what one might do. A vision of what one might become. A specter of potential greatness and achievement in one’s mind. Ironically, that’s exactly what the scarecrow wanted most from the Wizard of Oz – a mind so that he could think and dream.”[19]

As Smith concluded his speech, the sound system played the song “Over the Rainbow.”

“You knew his presentation would be polished,” Miklasz wrote. “You knew it would be theatrical. You knew it would be memorable. And you knew it would make you cry. And Ozzie came through. This time his trademark backflip was replaced by poetry, music, literature, props. It was a one-man show, a veritable Broadway production, as smooth as his elegance in the field. By the time he was finished speaking, Cardinals fans were ready to do backflips for him.”[20]

When Smith concluded his speech, his son Dustin presented him with his plaque.

“I never played this game to make it to the Hall of Fame,” Smith said. “I played it because I loved it, and because it was a thing I was put here to do.”[21]

Enjoy this post? Please consider reading my book, The Trades That Made The St. Louis Cardinals, available on Amazon!

[1] Rick Hummel, “In A League Of His Own,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 9, 2002.

[2] Rick Hummel, “In A League Of His Own,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 9, 2002.

[3] Rick Hummel, “In A League Of His Own,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 9, 2002.

[4] Joe Ostermeier, “Ozzie Smith joins baseball’s most elite club,” Bellville News-Democrat, January 9, 2002.

[5] Joe Ostermeier, “Ozzie Smith joins baseball’s most elite club,” Bellville News-Democrat, January 9, 2002.

[6] Bernie Miklasz, “In defying skeptics, No. 1 showed he was one of a kind,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 9, 2002.

[7] Joe Ostermeier, “Ozzie Smith joins baseball’s most elite club,” Bellville News-Democrat, January 9, 2002.

[8] Joe Ostermeier, “Ozzie Smith joins baseball’s most elite club,” Bellville News-Democrat, January 9, 2002.

[9] Rick Hummel, “In A League Of His Own,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 9, 2002.

[10] Rick Hummel, “In A League Of His Own,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 9, 2002.

[11] Mike Eisenbath, “Smith’s ex-teammates share his happiness,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 9, 2002.

[12] Mike Eisenbath, “Smith’s ex-teammates share his happiness,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 9, 2002.

[13] Mike Eisenbath, “Smith’s ex-teammates share his happiness,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 9, 2002.

[14] Mike Eisenbath, “Smith’s ex-teammates share his happiness,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 9, 2002.

[15] Mike Eisenbath, “Smith’s ex-teammates share his happiness,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 9, 2002.

[16] Bernie Miklasz, “Wizard delivers perfect performance in Cooperstown,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 29, 2002.

[17] Bernie Miklasz, “Wizard delivers perfect performance in Cooperstown,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 29, 2002.

[18] Dan O’Neill, “Smith uses baseball, ‘Oz’ theme to illustrate his journey,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 29, 2002.

[19] “Ozzie Smith delivers Hall of Fame induction speech,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxIuovnpUXg.

[20] Bernie Miklasz, “Wizard delivers perfect performance in Cooperstown,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 29, 2002.

[21] Joe Ostermeier, “Ozzie Smith joins baseball’s most elite club,” Bellville News-Democrat, January 9, 2002.

The post Ozzie Smith is elected to the Hall of Fame: January 8, 2002 first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

At a time when many players would have called their agent to begin laying the groundwork for a new contract that would take full advantage of their newfound earning potential, Morris didn’t place a single call to his agent. After all, he didn’t have one.

Instead, Morris negotiated a three-year, $27-million contract with the Cardinals himself over the course of two telephone calls with St. Louis general manager Walt Jocketty. [1]

“It was something I enjoyed doing,” Morris said. “Walt sent me a proposal I thought was fair. They’ve always treated me well, even with my injuries and everything. I wanted a good relationship with them. I’ve had a good relationship with them. Trying to sell yourself is a bit different but I had a decent year … a very good year, and that spoke a lot for itself.”[2]

“When we started the process, I knew it would be just the two of us dealing with each other and I told him from the very beginning that we were going to be fair,” Jocketty said. “Sometimes in dealing with an agent, they feel you probably have to send a lower offer than you would normally, so they feel they have to negotiate something to basically justify what they’re doing.”[3]

Morris, who missed the 1999 season following Tommy John surgery, was limited to 53 innings out of the bullpen in 2000, making all 31 of his appearances in relief. By 2001, however, Morris was at full strength. He threw 216 1/3 innings, going 22-8 with a 3.16 ERA and 185 strikeouts.

In the NLDS, he twice matched up against the Diamondbacks’ Curt Schilling. In Game 1, Morris allowed just one run over seven innings but took the 1-0 loss as Schilling pitched a complete-game shutout. In the decisive fifth game, Morris was even better, allowing just one run over eight innings. Once again, however, Schilling held the Cardinals in check in a 2-1 Diamondbacks win.

“We are very pleased to have Matt’s deal in place,” Jocketty said. “We feel that he is one of the top young pitchers in the game and that he should be treated as such.”[4]

Morris was eligible for salary arbitration in 2002, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that he likely would have been awarded a salary approaching $10 million before entering free agency at season’s end. [5] Instead, Morris prioritized the security of a multi-year contract.

“I was looking forward to staying in St. Louis for an extended number of years,” Morris said. “With the injuries in the past, I was just happy to get something on paper, which was three years in this case.”[6]

The contract called for Morris to earn $4 million in 2002, followed by salaries of $10.5 million in 2003 and $12.5 million in 2004.

“Obviously, the first year it hurts me and helps out the club but in that third year … that sets me up in position for a new contract,” Morris said.[7]

Morris’s $9 million average salary placed him alongside center fielder Jim Edmonds, who was playing on a six-year, $57-million contract, as the Cardinals’ highest-paid players.

“I definitely left money on the table,” Morris said. “How much? Who knows, but I’ve always said in the past, ‘Why are these guys arguing over X amount of dollars?’ And then I got to that point in the negotiations where I was arguing about X amount of dollars. I’m sure if I had an agent, he’d be scratching at the door trying to get as much as he could, but that’s not the person I am and that’s not the relationship I want with the club either.”[8]

The Cardinals actually wanted to add a fourth year to the contract, but Morris, 27, chose to stick with three years.

“Three was my number,” he said. “For some reason, three was what I set in my head beforehand and that’s what I wanted to reach.”[9]

Whether it was three years or four, the Cardinals were simply happy to have Morris penciled into the top of a rotation that also included Darryl Kile, Andy Benes, Woody Williams, and Garrett Stephenson.

“The most important Cardinal transaction of the offseason? It wasn’t Mark McGwire retiring,” wrote Southern Illinoisan sports editor Rick Underwood. “It wasn’t getting Jason Isringhausen or Tino Martinez. The most important was locking up Matt Morris for three more years.”[10]

Morris proved more important than ever in 2002. With Kile’s untimely passing that June, Morris was the unquestioned ace of the staff, going 17-9 with a 3.42 ERA in 210 1/3 innings. That season, he was named an all-star for the second consecutive year. He won Game 1 of that season’s NLDS, allowing one earned run over seven innings to beat Randy Johnson.

From 2003 through 2005, Morris won 40 more games for the Cardinals. In 2004, he pitched four postseason games for St. Louis on its way to the World Series, but he went 0-2 with a 5.91 ERA in 21 1/3 innings. In the 2005 playoffs, he picked up an NLDS win against the Padres but lost to the Astros in the NLCS.

In December 2005, Morris signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Giants.

“I had a great run in St. Louis,” he said. “They’re a class organization and they treated me great throughout my years there. It just seemed like the right time to move on.”[11]

In two seasons in San Francisco, Morris battled injuries and went just 17-22 with a 4.73 ERA. At the 2007 trading deadline, the Cardinals thought they might be able to bring Morris back to St. Louis, but the Giants instead opted to deal Morris to the Pirates for center fielder Rajai Davis and pitcher Steve MacFarland.

Morris went 3-4 with a 6.10 ERA down the stretch for the Pirates. The following season, he lost four of his first five starts and was released with a 9.67 ERA. Three days later, at age 33, he announced his retirement.

“Mentally, I was not there,” he said. “My heart just kind of moved away from the game and once that happens, it’s hard to get it back.”[12]

Morris retired with 121 career wins. In eight seasons with the Cardinals, he went 101-62 with a 3.61 ERA.

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[1] Rick Hummel, “Morris says Cards were fair in negotiations on contract,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 5, 2002.

[2] Rick Hummel, “Morris says Cards were fair in negotiations on contract,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 5, 2002.

[3] Rick Hummel, “Morris says Cards were fair in negotiations on contract,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 5, 2002.

[4] Associated Press, “Cards confirm reaching agreement with Morris,” Belleville News-Democrat, January 5, 2002.

[5] Rick Hummel, “Sources say Morris gets 3-year deal at $29 million,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 4, 2002.

[6] Rick Hummel, “Morris says Cards were fair in negotiations on contract,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 5, 2002.

[7] Rick Hummel, “Morris says Cards were fair in negotiations on contract,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 5, 2002.

[8] Rick Hummel, “Morris says Cards were fair in negotiations on contract,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 5, 2002.

[9] Rick Hummel, “Morris says Cards were fair in negotiations on contract,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 5, 2002.

[10] Rick Underwood, “Saluki history lesson,” Southern Illinoisan, January 7, 2002.

[11] Joe Strauss, “It’s official: Morris joins the Giants,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 13, 2005.

[12] Rick Hummel, “No more for Matty Mo,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 7, 2008.

The post How Matt Morris negotiated his own deal in 2002 first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

Now, following a trade that sent Placido Polanco, Bud Smith, and Mike Timlin to the Phillies for Rolen and minor-league pitcher Doug Nickle, the 27-year-old from Jasper, Indiana, would be playing on the same infield that Ozzie Smith, inducted in the Hall of Fame just one day earlier, once patrolled.

“It may be the best place to play in the game, and it’s the place I always dreamed of playing,” Rolen said.[1]

St. Louis was equally excited to have him. The day the trade was announced, St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Dan O’Neill wrote, “He will be baptized in a sea of red, cuddled like a lost puppy, accepted into the Cardinals’ community with high honors. Rolen didn’t just leave a last-place team for a first-place team; he just became the most popular guy in town.”[2]

Rolen’s relationship with the Phillies had deteriorated rapidly since spring training 2001, when he turned down a contract that would have paid him $90 million over seven years. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the proposal called for Rolen to earn $7 million in 2002, $13 million in 2005, $14 million in 2006, $15 million in 2007, and $15 million in 2008, plus incentives. Additionally, there was a $16 million team option for 2009 and player and club options for $16 million in 2010 and $18 million in 2011. A no-trade clause would kick in beginning in 2005.[3]

In Rolen’s four seasons with the Phillies, however, the club had never finished above .500. To remedy that situation, he requested a clause in his contract that would require the Phillies to rank among the league’s highest payrolls.[4] The Phillies were not interested.

Things only got worse during the season. Rolen feuded with Phillies manager Larry Bowa, and the two didn’t speak to one another late in spring training.[5] Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist Jim Salisbury wrote, “The biggest push out of town came … when Bowa was quoted as disparaging Rolen’s play. Bowa denied saying Rolen’s lack of offense was ‘killing us.’ But the damage had been done. From that day on, Rolen detested playing for Bowa.”[6]

Once one of the Phillies’ most popular players, Rolen began to receive boos from his home fans. In June, Rolen hit two home runs in a win over the Expos and refused to acknowledge the fans seeking a curtain call.

“Maybe we’re even,” he said.[7]

Later that month, one of Rolen’s teammates anonymously referred to him as a clubhouse cancer.[8]

In November, when Rolen refused to negotiate further with the Phillies, the team publicly announced that it had offered him a deal worth up to $140 million over 10 years. At the winter meetings, the team tried to trade Rolen, but a deal with the Orioles fell through.[9]

In the first half of 2002, Rolen hit .253/.349/.458 with 13 homers and 58 RBIs and was named to the National League All-Star team for the first time in his career. With Rolen due to be a free agent at the end of the season, Phillies general manager Ed Wade didn’t have much time remaining to get something more than a compensatory draft pick in exchange for his star third baseman.

Enter Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty.

On July 26, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the Cardinals were engaged in talks about Rolen, with discussions centered around Polanco, top pitching prospect Jimmy Journell, and additional pitching.

“We’ve talked about some things, but I’m not sure anything’s there,” Jocketty said.[10]

On July 27, Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz outlined the challenges to making such a deal, noting that reports indicated the Phillies had rejected an offer of Polanco and left-handed pitcher Bud Smith.

“According to baseball insiders, Wade wants a trading partner to pay for the remaining $2.9 million of Rolen’s contract in addition to giving up two quality players,” Miklasz wrote. “The other complicating factor is the labor situation. If the players go on strike, teams would receive no real benefit in acquiring Rolen. Why give up good players for a free agent when there’s a distinct chance of a labor shutdown?”[11]

That same day, Fox Sports erroneously reported during its Cardinals-Cubs broadcast that the trade had been completed. Others speculated that Fernando Vina, who was out of the lineup for the second day in a row, might be included in such a deal. Vina, however, was day-to-day with a right wrist injury.[12]

On July 28, the Post-Dispatch reported that trade talks now included Polanco, Smith, and Journell, but were stalled as the two sides determined whether the Phillies would cover “a significant portion” of the costs of Rolen’s remaining salary and whether Rolen would be open to re-signing with the Cardinals.[13]

For his part, Rolen indicated that he would be open to such a scenario in St. Louis.

“If the situation arose, I’d be willing to talk about a contract extension,” he said. “Right now, it’s out of my hands, as it always has been.”[14]

In the July 29 Post-Dispatch, Jocketty described the trade talks as “stuck in neutral,” and sources said Jocketty was no longer willing to include Journell in a trade.[15] That day, however, Jocketty and Wade finally agreed on the deal.

Rolen was batting .259 with 17 homers and 66 RBIs at the time of the trade.

“We are very pleased and excited to add Scott Rolen to our lineup,” Jocketty said in a statement. “He is an All-Star, a proven run producer, and an excellent defensive player.”[16]

Polanco was batting .288 with nine homers and 49 RBIs, and had a .296 career batting average with the Cardinals. In addition to third base, he could play shortstop and second base.

“The Cardinals have tinkered with their cohesive chemistry in parting with Placido Polanco,” O’Neill wrote. “They gave up a versatile and resilient player, one admired by his teammates, one who has been a fixture in the Cardinals’ circle of Latin players.”[17]

Smith threw a no-hitter for the Cardinals in 2001 on his way to a 6-3 rookie season, but struggled in 2002, going 1-5 with a 6.94 ERA, and had been sent to Triple-A Memphis.

Timlin, a 16-year veteran, had appeared in 134 games for the Cardinals over three years, compiling a 3.36 ERA over 163 1/3 innings. He was due to be a free agent at the end of the season, and the remaining portion of his $5 million salary helped to offset Rolen’s remaining salary.[18]

“Three things would have to happen for this deal to haunt the Cardinals,” O’Neill wrote. “They miss the World Series, Rolen signs elsewhere, and Smith develops into a big winner. You have to like the odds.”[19]

Including 2002, Polanco played seven seasons with the Phillies, batting .290 with a .341 on-base percentage. He totaled 51 homers, 281 RBIs and 31 stolen bases before he was traded to the Tigers in 2005. In Detroit, he had his greatest success, earning two All-Star appearances, a Silver Slugger Award, and three Gold Gloves. He retired in 2013 after a 16-year major-league career.

Smith stayed in the Phillies’ minor league system through 2004. He pitched for the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate in 2005, then played two seasons of independent baseball before retiring.

Timlin pitched the remainder of the 2002 season with the Phillies, posting a 3.79 ERA through 35 2/3 innings. He signed with the Red Sox following the season and played the final six years of his 18-year career in Boston.

Nickle didn’t stay with the Cardinals long. After 14 appearances with the Memphis Redbirds in which he went 3-1 with a 4.60 ERA, he was placed on waivers and claimed by the Padres. When rosters expanded in September, he played 10 games for the Padres and claimed his only major-league win against the Rockies. He spent the rest of his career in the minors and retired after the 2004 season at age 29.

Rolen had the best years of his career with the Cardinals, making four All-Star appearances and winning three Gold Gloves. In 2004, he hit .314 with 34 homers and 124 RBIs, helping the Cardinals win the National League pennant and placing fourth in the MVP voting. In 2006, he hit .296 with 22 homers and 95 RBIs. After struggling in the NLDS against the Padres and the NLCS against the Mets, Rolen went 8-for-21 (.421) with a homer and two RBIs as the Cardinals beat the Tigers for their 10^th world championship.

By 2008, Rolen’s relationship with Cardinals manager Tony La Russa had deteriorated, and he was traded to the Blue Jays for Troy Glaus. Rolen played two years in Toronto before playing the final four seasons of his career in Cincinnati, where he made two more All-Star appearances and won a Gold Glove in 2010. He retired following the 2012 season with a career .281 batting average, 316 home runs, and 1,287 RBIs.

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[1] Bob Brookover, “The Deal Is to the Cards,” Philadelphia Inquirer, July 30, 2002: Page E4.

[2] Dan O’Neill, “Rolen’s acquisition is worth the risk for the Cardinals,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 30, 2002: Page E1.

[3] Bob Brookover, “The Deal Is to the Cards,” Philadelphia Inquirer, July 30, 2002: Page E4.

[4] Rob Maaddi, “Cardinals deal for Rolen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 30, 2002: Page E5.

[5] Rob Maaddi, “Cardinals deal for Rolen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 30, 2002: Page E5.

[6] Jim Salisbury, “Once-happy union ends in divorce,” Philadelphia Inquirer, July 30, 2002: Page E4.

[7] Rob Maaddi, “Cardinals deal for Rolen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 30, 2002: Page E5.

[8] Rob Maaddi, “Cardinals deal for Rolen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 30, 2002: Page E5.

[9] Bob Brookover, “The Deal Is to the Cards,” Philadelphia Inquirer, July 30, 2002: Page E4.

[10] Joe Strauss, “Isringhausen bags No. 100 but focuses on team wins,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 26, 2002: Page D5.

[11] Bernie Miklasz, “Phils’ Rolen would fit in nicely with the Cards,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 27, 2002: Page 3OT.

[12] Joe Strauss, “Cards GM continues pursuit of Phillies’ Rolen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 28, 2002: Page D10.

[13] Joe Strauss, “Cards GM continues pursuit of Phillies’ Rolen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 28, 2002: Page D10.

[14] Joe Strauss, “Cards GM continues pursuit of Phillies’ Rolen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 28, 2002: Page D10.

[15] Joe Strauss, “Journell’s out of any trade to get Rolen, sources say,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 29, 2002: Page C5.

[16] Rob Maaddi, “Cardinals deal for Rolen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 30, 2002: Page E5.

[17] Dan O’Neill, “Rolen’s acquisition is worth the risk for the Cardinals,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 30, 2002: Page E1.

[18] Dan O’Neill, “Rolen’s acquisition is worth the risk for the Cardinals,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 30, 2002: Page E5.

[19] Dan O’Neill, “Rolen’s acquisition is worth the risk for the Cardinals,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 30, 2002: Page E1.

The post Phillies trade Scott Rolen to the Cardinals: July 29, 2002 first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

After all, Jocketty had never even seen the 10-year veteran of the Japan Pacific League play. Neither had Tony La Russa. Instead, the Cardinals were relying on the expertise of scouts Joe Sparks and Marty Keough, who had watched Taguchi work out at Arizona State University.[1]

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the contract was worth an estimated $1 million per year with the opportunity to reach $2 million per year with incentives[2] and a $600,000 signing bonus.[3] If Taguchi did not make the major-league roster, the contract gave him the freedom to decline the assignment and continue his playing career in Japan. The Cardinals won Taguchi’s services over offers from the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, and Arizona Diamondbacks, and multiyear offers in Japan that would have paid between $10 and $12 million.[4]

In Japan, Taguchi played with the Orix Blue Wave, where he had played alongside 2001 American League MVP Ichiro Suzuki. Taguchi had a .277 career batting average and five Japanese Gold Glove awards, and was coming off a 2001 season in which he hit .280/.343/.406 with eight homers and 42 RBIs in 134 games. Jocketty suggested that Taguchi was in the mix to be the Cardinals’ starting left fielder that season. Prior to signing Taguchi, the Cardinals planned to move Placido Polanco to left field after Albert Pujols had taken over third base the previous season.

“We’ll see where he fits in the mix,” La Russa said.[5]

Upon his arrival to the United States, Taguchi spoke little English and was assigned an interpreter.

In Japan, he had worn No. 6, but the Cardinals already had retired that number in honor of Stan Musial. Taguchi then requested No. 9, but that had been retired in honor of Enos Slaughter and Joe Medwick. Instead, Taguchi settled for his third choice, No. 99.[6]

Almost three weeks after the Cardinals announced Taguchi’s signing, he arrived in St. Louis to officially sign the contract. At a press conference with owner Bill DeWitt Jr. in attendance, the Cardinals presented Taguchi with a Cardinals cap and jersey. Taguchi read a statement to the press in English.

“I’m So Taguchi, and I’m very happy to join the great history of the St. Louis Cardinals,” he said. “I want to thank the fans for being so kind to me. I am very excited about this new challenge, but they have been very nice. The St. Louis fans have been a great help in making me feel comfortable. I have been here only a few days, and already I love this city.”[7]

He then thanked the audience for “listening to my poor English” and said he hoped to speak next year without the assistance of a written statement.

Just a few days earlier, Taguchi had been in the lobby of the Millenium Hotel when some fans recognized him and asked for his autograph. His wife Emiko, who lived in Irvine, California, for two years and spoke English fluently, asked the fans to come to the Winter Warmup for more autographs so Taguchi would have someone in his line.[8]

She needn’t have worried.

The following afternoon, Taguchi’s line was as long as those for Matt Morris, Jim Edmonds, and Ozzie Smith. When an announcement came over the PA system cautioning fans that the signing sessions would end before newcomers to the lines could get their items signed, Emiko cried.

“It was awesome,” she said. “He looked out there, and all he could say was, ‘Wow.’ He had four offers from teams in the United States and two from Japanese teams. The fans were a very big factor (in his decision) to play in St. Louis.”[9]

While Cardinals fans were happy to welcome Taguchi to the United States, opposing pitchers were not so friendly. Taguchi went just 6 for 41 (.140) in spring training and appeared overmatched at times. Prior to the Cardinals’ March 23 spring training game against the Orioles, La Russa sat down with Taguchi in the dugout and explained that his future with the club would have to come through Triple-A Memphis.

“I explained the situation to him,” La Russa said. “I wanted to let him know where he stood.”[10]

For his part, Taguchi was not surprised. “What everyone suspected,” he said.[11]

While Taguchi had the opportunity to earn more money by returning to Japan, he told the Cardinals that he would accept the option to Memphis.

“I am going to stay to see this through,” he said through an interpreter. “I want to play in St. Louis. I want to play for this organization. I want to play for Tony La Russa.”[12]

Jocketty recommended patience, noting that both Suzuki and Tsujoshi Shinjo, the first two Japanese position players to make major league rosters, also struggled early in spring training the previous year.

“I think it’s too early to pass judgment,” Jocketty said. “I don’t know if we’ve actually seen what he can do yet. I think that’s why it’s more important to give him more time to show whether he can hit. He may not, but we’ve at least got to give him that opportunity.”[13]

The 2002 season was all about making adjustments for Taguchi, who widened his stance and shortened his stroke.[14] In Triple-A Memphis, he hit .247 with five homers and 36 RBIs in 304 at-bats. In Double-A New Haven, he hit .308 in 120 at-bats.

In June, he was briefly called up after Jim Edmonds was injured. After going 0-for-3 in his debut, he was used as a defensive replacement in three other games. He returned to the majors as a September call-up on September 7 and got his first major-league hit while pinch-hitting for Yadier Molina in a 6-5 win over the Cubs. Used primarily as a late-inning replacement, Taguchi went 6-for-11 that September.

In 2003, Taguchi again split time between St. Louis and Memphis. In 43 major-league games, he went 14-for-59 for a .259 batting average with three homers and 13 RBIs. On September 12, Taguchi hit his first career home run in a 14-5 loss to the Astros.

On the final day of the season, Taguchi hit a three-run home run 414 feet[15] in a 9-5 win over the Diamondbacks.

For the next four seasons, Taguchi proved to be a valuable outfielder off the bench for the Cardinals. In 2004, he hit .291/.337/.419 in 206 plate appearances. In 2005, he had his best major-league season, hitting .288/.322/.412 line with eight homers and 53 RBIs in 424 plate appearances.

Taguchi helped the Cardinals win their 10^th world championship in 2006. In Game 3 of the NLDS, Taguchi accounted for St. Louis’s only run when he hit a pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning off Scott Linebrink.

Taguchi had an even bigger impact in the NLCS against the Mets. In Game 2, he entered the game as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning. With the score tied 6-6, he hit a leadoff home run against Mets closer Billy Wagner. Later in the inning, Scott Spiezio hit an RBI double, and Juan Encarnacion added an RBI single in a 9-6 victory.

“He’s not a big home run hitter, but I’m serious when I tell you: give him a clutch at-bat, and he’ll give you a real good effort,” La Russa said. “You’re expecting a single or double, not a home run, especially off Billy Wagner. You can tell the experience. He was a big-time player, and he’s not intimidated by it.”[16]

In Game 6, Taguchi came through against Wagner once again, this time with a two-run double in the ninth inning of a 4-2 loss.

He went 2-for-11 with a walk and three runs scored in the Cardinals’ World Series win over the Detroit Tigers, starting three games. In the third inning of Game 1, Molina led off with a single and La Russa called a hit-and-run. Desperate to reach an outside pitch from Justin Verlander, Taguchi threw the bat at the ball, getting just enough of the ball to stay alive. Though he wound up grounding out, he advanced Molina to second on the play and kept the inning alive for a three-run rally as Chris Duncan doubled to right field and Albert Pujols hit a two-out, two-run homer.

After batting .290 with a .350 on-base percentage in 2007, including a .406 batting average as a pinch hitter, the Cardinals declined Taguchi’s $1.1 million option for the 2008 season. Rather than engage in arbitration, the team released Taguchi at his agent’s request.

Taguchi signed a one-year, $1.05 million deal with the Phillies that included a club option for 2009 and performance bonuses. In his lone season in Philadelphia, he hit .220 in 91 at-bats and won his second World Series ring as the Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in five games.

In 2009, he signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs and spent most of the season in Triple-A. Taguchi played two more seasons in Japan before retiring in 2012.

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[1] Rick Hummel, “Cardinals take gamble on outfielder from Japan,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 10, 2002: Page D1.

[2] Rick Hummel, “Cardinals take gamble on outfielder from Japan,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 10, 2002: Page D1.

[3] Joe Strauss, “Taguchi is told by Cardinals that he’s probably headed to Memphis,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 24, 2002: Page D1.

[4] Rick Hummel, “Cardinals take gamble on outfielder from Japan,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 10, 2002: Page D2.

[5] Rick Hummel, “Cardinals take gamble on outfielder from Japan,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 10, 2002: Page D2.

[6] Rick Hummel, “Cardinals take gamble on outfielder from Japan,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 10, 2002: Page D2.

[7] Mike Eisenbath, “Warm welcome from fans has Taguchi saying ‘Wow’” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 22, 2002: Page C5.

[8] Mike Eisenbath, “Warm welcome from fans has Taguchi saying ‘Wow’” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 22, 2002: Page C5.

[9] Mike Eisenbath, “Warm welcome from fans has Taguchi saying ‘Wow’” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 22, 2002: Page C5.

[10] Joe Strauss, “Taguchi is told by Cardinals that he’s probably headed to Memphis,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 24, 2002: Page D1.

[11] Joe Strauss, “Taguchi is told by Cardinals that he’s probably headed to Memphis,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 24, 2002: Page D1.

[12] Joe Strauss, “Taguchi is told by Cardinals that he’s probably headed to Memphis,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 24, 2002: Page D15.

[13] Joe Strauss, “Taguchi is told by Cardinals that he’s probably headed to Memphis,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 24, 2002: Page D15.

[14] Joe Strauss, “Williams is uncertain for next start in Houston,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 13, 2002: Page B5.

[15] Joe Strauss, “Pujols’ batting title is highlight of finale,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 29, 2003: Page D5.

[16] Joe Strauss, “Cardinals save their best for last,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 15, 2006: Page C9.

The post How So Taguchi became the Cardinals’ first Japanese-born player first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.