When the St. Louis Cardinals signed Ryan Franklin to a one-year, $1 million deal ahead of the 2007 season, they were seeking reinforcements for their depleted starting rotation. Instead, they found an unexpected All-Star closer who saved 84 games in his five seasons with St. Louis. When Franklin signed with the club, the defending World […]
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Cardinals manager Tony La Russa had so much respect for reserve infielder Joe McEwing that when the Cardinals traded him to the Mets for Jesse Orosco on March 18, 2000, the Cardinals manager grabbed a pair of McEwing’s Cardinals-red cleats to keep in his office and “remind me of what a professional ballplayer is supposed
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Bobby Bonilla may have twice finished in the top three of the National League MVP voting, but to many Cardinals fans, his greatest legacy may lie in the six games he missed at the beginning of the 2001 season. On January 5, 2001, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty signed Bonilla Bonilla to a one-year, $900,000
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In 2001, Tino Martinez was so eager to come to St. Louis that he called Walt Jocketty to be sure the Cardinals’ general manager knew he was available – and interested. “I approached them and asked them to consider me in their plans, if I’d fit in,” Martinez said. “‘My agent will be in Boston.
Why Tino Martinez disappointed in two seasons with 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
Cardinals name Tony La Russa manager: October 23, 1995 Read More »
Reds first baseman Rich Aurilia greeted Looper with a two-run double into the right-field gap, pushing Cincinnati ahead once more, 7-6. That lead held until the ninth inning. With his bench down to just backup catcher Gary Bennett, La Russa called upon starter Jason Marquis to pinch-hit for Looper. The move worked, as Marquis, who
Albert Pujols hits three homers on Easter: 4/16/2006 Read More »
After a winless six-game road trip to open the season, the 1997 Cardinals needed to turn their fortunes around. Willie McGee was all too happy to oblige with the first walk-off home run of his 16-year major-league career. “How beautiful was that?” outfielder Brian Jordan asked. “Just the perfect ending.”[1] “You couldn’t write a better
April 8, 1997: Willie McGee hits his first career walk-off home run Read More »
Tony La Russa had yet to manage a game for the St. Louis Cardinals, but his Oakland connections were already paying dividends. On February 13, 1996, the A’s traded Dennis Eckersley to St. Louis for minor-league reliever Steve Montgomery, making Eckersley the fourth former Athletics player, alongside Mike Gallego, Rick Honeycutt, and Todd Stottlemyre, to join
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As a 6-year-old boy growing up in Southern California, Troy Glaus proudly declared to his mother that he wanted to be the St. Louis Cardinals’ third baseman. Twenty-five years later, that dream came true, though it required a “very personal” feud between Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and third baseman Scott Rolen to make it
Why St. Louis traded Scott Rolen to Toronto for Troy Glaus Read More »
At spring training, Tony La Russa found that he had no choice – he had to put Albert Pujols in the lineup. By the end of the season, voters saw the same – and unanimously named him the 2001 National League Rookie of the Year. Pujols received all 32 votes (two voters from each National
November 12, 2001: Albert Pujols is unanimous Rookie of the Year selection Read More »