When the Cardinals signed Mike Matheny on December 15, 1999, they were just looking for a veteran backstop to play alongside Eli Marrero. Instead, they found a future Gold Glove Award winner and the franchise’s next manager. General manager Walt Jocketty was seeking a veteran catcher to complement Marrero, who had hit just .192 the […]
How the Cardinals signed future Gold Glove winner Mike Matheny Read More »
One day after the Cardinals relieved manager Mike Matheny of his managerial duties on July 14, 2018, ace pitcher Adam Wainwright compared the shakeup to Albert Pujols’ decision to sign with the Angels after the 2011 season. “It was like an organizational transformational moment,” Wainwright said. “The wake-up call to the team arrived today.”[1] Matheny’s
Why the Cardinals fired Mike Matheny Read More »
Enjoy this post? Find similar stories listed by decade or by player. [1] Albert Chen, “Well-stocked Cardinals ready to make another run,” Sports Illustrated, March 27, 2013, https://www.si.com/mlb/2013/03/27/st-louis-cardinals-season-preview. [2] Jason Parks and Staff, “Prospects Will Break Your Heart: Top 101 Prospects,” Baseball Prospectus, January 27, 2014, https://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/article/22670/prospects-will-break-your-heart-top-101-prospects/. [3] Jennifer Langosch, “Taveras ranks third among top 100 prospects,” MLB.com, January
May 31, 2014: Oscar Taveras homers in his major-league debut Read More »
Heading into the 2014 trade deadline, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak knew that he needed to shake up his ballclub. As the defending National League champions prepared to play the final game of a three-game series against the Padres, they sat in third place in the Central Division, 2 ½ games behind the Brewers and
July 31, 2014: Cardinals trade Allen Craig, Joe Kelly to acquire John Lackey Read More »
Just 15 days after Tony La Russa announced his retirement, the St. Louis Cardinals named Mike Matheny the 49th manager in franchise history. The hire represented a stark shift for the Cardinals less than a month after they won their 11th World Series championship. La Russa had retired with 2,728 career wins, just 35 behind
November 14, 2011: Cardinals name Mike Matheny manager Read More »
A muscle strain that literally took Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny’s breath away opened the door for 21-year-old Yadier Molina to make his major league debut and – as the third member of the catching Molina brothers to reach the majors – make a little history as well. On June 2, 2004, Matheny was removed in
June 3, 2004: Yadier Molina gets two hits, throws out first baserunner in his debut game Read More »
Heading into the game that came to define his career, 21-year-old rookie left-hander Rick Ankiel wasn’t nervous. “I was not hurt. I was not afraid. I was not sick or distracted or particularly anxious,” he wrote 17 years later. “In game one of the National League Division Series, on a warm and sunny afternoon with
October 3, 2000: Rick Ankiel develops the yips Read More »