Joe Torre

Todd Zeile

Why Todd Zeile was converted to third base

When Todd Zeile began his first full big-league season in 1990, he was heralded as the Cardinals’ most promising catching prospect in years. By September, he was the team’s starting third baseman. A second-round draft pick out of UCLA in 1986, Zeile entered the 1990 season ranked as baseball’s No. 7 prospect by Baseball America. […]

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Joe Torre

Cardinals name Joe Torre manager: August 1, 1990

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,

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Lee Smith

Lee Smith becomes baseball’s career saves leader: April 13, 1993

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

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Mark Whiten

March 31, 1993: Indians trade Mark Whiten to the Cardinals

The Cleveland Indians were desperate for pitching and tired of waiting for Mark Whiten to live up to his potential. The Cardinals were willing to take a chance on a player who was – unbeknownst to anyone – was five months away from making history. As a result, the Cardinals and Indians came together on

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Joe Torre

Why the Cardinals traded Orlando Cepeda for Joe Torre

On March 17, 1969, the Cardinals traded a former National League MVP for a future one, sending first baseman Orlando Cepeda to the Braves for catcher and first baseman Joe Torre. The 29-year-old Torre’s departure from the Braves was no surprise. Since placing second to Billy Williams in the National League Rookie of the Year

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Tom Henke

December 12, 1994: Tom Henke signs with the Cardinals

Just a couple weeks shy of his 37th birthday, baseball had taken Tom Henke from Texas to Toronto and back again. Now the 6-foot-5 right-hander was ready to return to his roots. On December 12, 1994, Henke signed a one-year, $2-million contract to serve as the Cardinals’ closer in 1995. The 13-year major-league veteran had

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Dizzy Dean Bob Gibson

July 17, 1974: Bob Gibson gets his 3,000th strikeout the same day Dizzy Dean passes away

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

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Joe Torre

Joe Torre hits for the cycle with an assist from Red Schoendienst: June 27, 1973

On June 27, 1973, Joe Torre hit for the cycle for the first time in his 13-year major league career. He had Cardinals manager Red Schoendienst to thank for it. After hitting an eighth-inning triple to move within a single of the cycle, Torre asked Schoendienst to remove him from the game. Sensing that Torre

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Andres Galarraga

How Andres Galarraga was traded to St. Louis for Ken Hill

By the end of the 1991 season, the St. Louis Cardinals knew they once again would be in the market for a power-hitting first baseman. That market led them to trade for Expos slugger Andrés Galarraga. At 35 years old, Pedro Guerrero had just completed his third season on the Busch Stadium Astroturf, and the

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Bob Gibson

Bob Gibson pitches his ‘greatest game’ with no-hitter: August 14, 1971

Bob Gibson predicted many times throughout his career that he would never throw a no-hitter.[1] Before taking the mound against the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 14, 1971, he still had never thrown one. Not in college. Not in the minors. Not even in the 1968, a season dubbed the “year of the pitcher,” in no

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