Tim McCarver was just an 18-year-old out of Memphis, Tennessee, when the New York Yankees came calling. To recruit the catching prospect, the Yankees called upon no less an authority than Bill Dickey, the Hall of Fame catcher who won 11 World Series titles over a 17-year career. Dickey gave McCarver a brand-new mitt and …
October 12, 1964: Tim McCarver’s extra-inning homer wins World Series Game 5 Read More »
The Boston Red Sox and their fans weren’t afraid to give the Cardinals a little extra motivation heading into Game 7 of the 1967 World Series. Knowing that Game 7 would match Cardinals ace Bob Gibson against Red Sox ace Jim Lonborg, Boston first baseman George Scott predicted that Gibson wouldn’t “survive five” innings.[1] Earlier …
By 1967, Bob Gibson already had established himself as one of the fiercest competitors in baseball. On July 15, he cemented that reputation when he pitched to three batters with a broken leg before finally snapping the bone entirely. Less than three months later, he won the World Series MVP Award, leading the Cardinals to …
July 15, 1967: Bob Gibson faces three Pirates with a broken leg Read More »
Even at age 41, Stan Musial had the ability to take over a ballgame. On July 8, 1962, four months prior to his 42nd birthday, Musial hit three home runs to lead the Cardinals to a 15-1 win over the Mets and become the oldest player to hit three homers in a game. With the …
July 8, 1962: 41-year-old Stan Musial hits three homers to power Cardinals past the Mets Read More »
It was a strange twist of fate that in Solly Hemus’s final game as Cardinals manager, he watched two players whose careers he arguably had mismanaged lead his club to a 9-1 win over a Dodgers team that was chasing a National League pennant. Bill White hit three home runs and a double and Bob …
July 5, 1961: Bill White hits three homers as Cardinals bid farewell to Solly Hemus Read More »
The 1981 Hall of Fame ballot was stacked with stars who would one day receive their day in Cooperstown. Joining Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson among the candidates were future Hall of Famers Don Drysdale, Gil Hodges, Harmon Killebrew, Juan Marichal, and Hoyt Wilhelm. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch even ran a story noting that all six …
January 15, 1981: Bob Gibson is elected to the Hall of Fame Read More »
In Bob Gibson’s autobiography, Stranger to the Game, he summarized his historic 1968 season simply: “In the summer of 1968, I mastered my craft,” he wrote.[1] That mastery was rewarded with both the National League Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards. On November 13, 1968, Gibson became the 14th Cardinal in franchise history to …
November 13, 1968: Bob Gibson named National League MVP Read More »
In 1967, Orlando Cepeda was more than the heart of the World Series champion “El Birdos.” On November 7, he was named the first unanimous National League MVP since Carl Hubbell received all six first-place votes in 1936. “The Most Valuable Player Award, that’s the best compliment any ballplayer can desire,” Cepeda said.[1] The recognition …
November 7, 1967: Voters unanimously name Orlando Cepeda NL MVP Read More »
On July 30, 1959, Bob Gibson formally introduced himself to the Cincinnati Reds and Major League Baseball, earning the first of 251 career victories in the first starting assignment of his career. That April, Gibson had made three appearances for the Cardinals, each in relief. On April 15, Gibson made his major league debut, pitching …
July 30, 1959: Bob Gibson shuts out the Reds in his first career start Read More »
The same day the Cardinals lost one of the best pitchers in franchise history, another claimed his 3,000th strikeout victim. On July 17, 1974, Bob Gibson claimed the 3,000th strikeout of his career, retiring Cesar Geronimo on strikes in a 6-4 loss to the Reds. Early that morning, Dizzy Dean, the unquestioned ace of the …
July 17, 1974: Bob Gibson throws 3,000th strikeout the same day Dizzy Dean passes away Read More »
