When Franklin signed with the club, the defending World Series champions’ rotation was in flux. With Jason Marquis (Cubs), Jeff Suppan (Brewers), and Jeff Weaver (Mariners) signing elsewhere that offseason, and Mark Mulder expected to miss at least the first half of the 2007 season with rotator cuff surgery, the Cardinals needed starting pitching.

On January 24, 2007, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that ace Chris Carpenter, Kip Wells, and Anthony Reyes would enter the season in the first three spots in the rotation, while Braden Looper, Adam Wainwright, Brad Thompson, and Franklin would compete for the final two jobs.[1]

Two weeks later, however, the competition appeared to be even more wide open, as the Post-Dispatch reported that Reyes, Wainwright, Looper, Franklin, Thompson, and left-handed pitchers Troy Cate and Chris Narveson were competing for three open rotation spots.[2]

“We have a lot of openings in the rotation, but we have a lot of candidates also,” Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said. “This is a year where young guys have an opportunity to step up and show they can be productive. We’ve got young pitchers in the minor leagues as starters and in the major leagues as relievers. It’s their opportunity.”[3]

That opportunity was part of what drew Franklin to St. Louis, his fourth organization in less than 12 months.

“My heart is being a starter,” he said.[4]

A 23^rd-round Mariners selection in the 1992 draft, Franklin was part of Team USA’s gold medal-winning Olympic team. From 2002 through 2005, he started 106 games for Seattle, peaking with a 3.57 ERA over 212 innings in 2003.

In 2006, he signed with the Phillies and was assigned to the bullpen, where he went 1-5 with a 4.58 ERA before he was traded to Cincinnati in August. With the Reds, he was again assigned to the bullpen, where he posted a 4.44 ERA over 24 1/3 innings.

When Franklin signed with the Cardinals, he asked pitching coach Dave Duncan to help him stay aggressive late in pitch counts.

“I get ahead of hitters, no problem, but then I let them get back into the hitter’s count,” Franklin said. “I had a little different scenario than I expected last season, and it really took me until August to figure it all out. … I think I’m most beneficial to the team as a starter. If that fails, I know how to work in the bullpen.”[5]

In an STLToday.com poll that was published in the Post-Dispatch on February 13^th, 37% of fans expected Franklin to emerge as the fifth starter.[6] The following week, however, Duncan listed Carpenter, Wells, Wainwright, Reyes, and Looper as the “five guys that will get the priority.”[7]

When La Russa was asked what Duncan’s assessment may mean for Franklin, La Russa said, “You’re coming in as a little bit of an underdog.”[8]

That advantage proved too much for Franklin or any of the other candidates to overcome, as Carpenter, Wells, Wainwright, Reyes, and Looper opened the season in the starting rotation. Instead, complementing his split-finger and cut fastball with a variety of secondary pitches, Franklin emerged as a setup man to closer Jason Isringhausen.

“Most relievers have two or three pitchers; he’s got a lot more than that,” fellow reliever Russ Springer said. “Even better, he throws them all at the bottom of the zone, which means he doesn’t strike out a lot of people, but he gets a lot on the ground.”[9]

Franklin was so successful as a setup man that in July, the Cardinals signed him to a two-year, $5 million extension with an option for 2010. The contract called for Franklin to receive $2.25 million in 2008 and $2.5 million in 2009, with a team option worth $2.75 million for 2010. If the Cardinals chose not to exercise their option for 2010, they owed Franklin a $250,000 buyout.[10]

The contract included incentives for making at least 20 starts in a season, but ultimately, Franklin proved most valuable in the bullpen. He never started a game for the Cardinals.

“As a starter, it didn’t really start getting exciting until the fifth or sixth,” he said. “Now, every time I come in, it seems like I’ve got a little extra.”[11]

Franklin finished the 2007 season with a 3.04 ERA over 80 innings.

“I’m not giving myself a lot of credit, but I’m giving him a lot of credit for asking me and talking relief with me,” Springer said. “Now I think he’s comfortable in that role, and I’m not sure he’d want to start now.”[12]

In May 2008, with Jason Isringhausen struggling, Franklin became the Cardinals’ closer.

“It’s not going to be any different than the job I’ve been doing, really,” he said. “I have to get three outs under pressure. It just changes when I start getting ready.”[13]

Franklin saved 17 games for the Cardinals that season. In 2009, he saved a career-high 38 games, posted a 1.92 ERA, and was named to the All-Star Game at Busch Stadium. With Franklin holding down the closer’s role, the Cardinals won the National League Central.

“I think he appreciates being here in St. Louis,” general manager John Mozeliak said. “We took a chance on him back then, and he’s made the most of it. … We’re fortunate to have him. It’s one of those things that works out well for everyone.”[14]

On September 1, 2009, Franklin signed another extension with the Cardinals, this time for two years and $6.5 million. In 2010, he went 6-2 with a 3.46 ERA and 27 saves.

The following year, however, he never found his footing, posting an 8.46 ERA in 21 appearances and losing the closer’s job. He was released in June and retired that December with 62 career wins and 84 saves over a 12-year career. Upon his retirement, Franklin was named a special assistant to the general manager.[15]

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[1] Joe Strauss, “Cards await Weaver’s decision,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 24, 2007.

[2] Derrick Goold, “Casting Call,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 11, 2007.

[3] Joe Strauss, “DeWitt insists Cardinals made fair offer to Weaver,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 1, 2007.

[4] Derrick Goold, “Casting Call,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 11, 2007.

[5] Derrick Goold, “Casting Call,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 11, 2007.

[6] “The Poll,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 13, 2007.

[7] Joe Strauss, “In a rarity, La Russa differs with Duncan,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 19, 2007.

[8] Joe Strauss, “In a rarity, La Russa differs with Duncan,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 19, 2007.

[9] Joe Strauss, “Franklin finds comfort in Cards’ bullpen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 8, 2007.

[10] Joe Strauss, “Franklin finds comfort in Cards’ bullpen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 8, 2007.

[11] Joe Strauss, “Franklin finds comfort in Cards’ bullpen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 8, 2007.

[12] Joe Strauss, “Franklin finds comfort in Cards’ bullpen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 8, 2007.

[13] Derrick Goold, “Cards Notes,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 17, 2008.

[14] Joe Strauss, “Franklin has All-Star hopes,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 28, 2009.

[15] Joe Strauss, “Cards invite Edmonds to participate in camp,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 16, 2012.

The post How Ryan Franklin became an All-Star Cardinals closer first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

The Cardinals drafted McEwing almost eight years earlier in the 28^th round of the 1992 draft. The 783^rd player selected, McEwing had a long road to the majors and didn’t make his MLB debut until 1998, when he appeared in 10 games. He had just four hits that season, but one of those hits came on September 28, just before Mark McGwire hit his 70^th home run of the season.

In 1999, McEwing opened the year on the Cardinals’ big-league roster and appeared in each of their first 27 games, playing primarily second base but also appearing at third base, center field, right field, and even first base. In June, he began a 25-game hit streak and was hitting above .300 as late as July 28. He finished the year with a .275 average, nine homers, 44 RBIs, and seven stolen bases.

Even as the Cardinals finished fourth in the NL Central, St. Louis fans embraced McEwing. He garnered the nicknames “Super Joe” and “Little Mac,” and Busch Stadium even had a “Little Mac” section in the lower left-field seats early in the season, similar to the “Big Mac” section above it on the upper deck.

“McEwing represented what baseball players used to be – or at least our romanticized ideal of what we think they should be,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz wrote. “He was honored to wear the uniform. He would have paid the Cardinals to let him play. In this era of cynicism and greed, we embrace a Joe McEwing and his old-school values.”[2]

Heading into the 2000 season, however, McEwing appeared destined to return to the minor leagues. With six bench spots available, outfielders Craig Paquette and Thomas Howard appeared to be locks alongside the backup catcher. With Shawon Dunston, Brian McRae, Eduardo Perez, Placido Polanco, and Larry Sutton also angling for jobs, it looked as though McEwing was headed to Triple-A Memphis.

“We had a meeting this morning with (manager Tony La Russa) and his staff, and it would have been tough for Joe to make the club based on what we’ve seen this spring and the other candidates,” Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said.[3]

As the Cardinals eyed a crowded bench, they found themselves short of left-handed relief when Scott Radinsky suffered a setback in his return from elbow surgery. With Radinsky unable to start the season, the Cardinals set their sights on 42-year-old Jesse Orosco.

The Mets first asked for starting pitcher Garrett Stephenson in return, but Jocketty was unwilling to deal the 28-year-old righthander. The Mets countered by asking for McEwing, and said that if he wasn’t available either, they would deal Orosco somewhere else.[4] Jocketty opted to make the deal.

“I told Joe one of the toughest parts of this job was to tell a player he’s been traded, especially someone … who’s so well-liked and been a Cardinal his whole career,” Jocketty said. “But we needed a lefthander. With the uncertainty of Radinsky, we had to act quickly.”[5]

“Part of the – I use the word joy – that you have coming to the ballpark is you know you’re going to watch Joe come into the clubhouse, and interact in here, and do what he does out there,” La Russa said. “And you just lost part of why you enjoy your day. What you have to weigh against it is when we play the game, we don’t enjoy getting beat because we have a need we could address. So that’s what it came down to.”[6]

“It’s one of the hardest (trades) I’ve ever had to deal with,” said Buddy Bates, who had been the team’s equipment manager since 1983 and a batboy before that. “Keith Hernandez, Bob Forsch, those were tough. But this one is right there.”[7]

McEwing was expected to begin the season in the Mets’ minor-league system, then play a utility role when called up.

“I’m going to a good situation,” McEwing said. “We have a very good chance to play in October, and I’ve got to take advantage of it.”[8]

Meanwhile, the Cardinals were obtaining a veteran reliever who debuted in 1979 and was set to pitch in his fourth decade. St. Louis had drafted Orosco in the seventh round of the January 1977 draft out of Santa Barbara City College, but was unable to sign him.

Orosco’s best seasons came in the 1980s during his first stint with the Mets. In 1983, he placed third in the Cy Young Award voting with a 1.47 ERA and 17 saves over 110 innings. He was named an All-Star in 1983 and 1984 and threw the final pitch of the Mets’ 1986 World Series championship. He was also on the mound when Tom Herr hit his game-winning grand slam on Seat Cushion Night in 1987.

With 1,090 appearances, he had pitched in more major-league games than anyone in baseball history and had never been sent to the disabled list.

“I’m very fortunate,” Orosco said.[9]

“Maybe he’s just got elastic bands for rotator cuffs,” said lefthander Paul Spoljaric.[10]

In 1999 with the Orioles, he threw 32 innings, posting a 5.34 ERA. That December, the Orioles traded him to the Mets for Chuck McElroy, but as the spring progressed, there didn’t appear to be space for Orosco in the New York bullpen.

“We feel he can be an effective pitcher against a left-handed hitter, and we really don’t have that specialist right now,” pitching coach Dave Duncan said. “I know our left-handed hitters don’t like to hit off him, never have, and that’s a good way to measure a guy.”[11]

Cardinals outfielder Eric Davis had played alongside Orosco with the Orioles in 1998.

“You don’t pitch as long as he’s pitched without being consistent,” Davis said. “He’s a tremendous competitor as well as a teacher. … He’s amazing.”[12]

Several teams had been interested in acquiring Orosco, Jocketty said. In particular, there were rumors that Orosco might go to the Dodgers, whose manager, Davey Johnson, and general manager, Kevin Malone, were with Orosco in Baltimore.[13]

“Jesse is a guy who has great experience, and despite his age, is still very productive,” Jocketty said. “We jumped at the opportunity to get him. Jesse was being sought after by several clubs, and we felt this was a good way to add quality depth to our bullpen.”[14]

Orosco said he had heard that he might be dealt to the Tigers.

“It got narrowed down to certain teams,” he said. “Then I heard Detroit and said, ‘Oh, no, I don’t want to go there.’”[15]

Orosco was, however, excited to pitch in St. Louis.

“When you’re traded from one contending team, you hope to fall into another contending team, and I think this has worked out,” he said. “Any time you have a chance to go to a contender, you have to be happy about that. Hopefully, I’m the piece to that puzzle that they needed in the bullpen.”[16]

Unfortunately, Orosco’s streak of 21 big-league seasons without an appearance on the disabled list came to an end on April 9, when he went down with an elbow sprain. The injury plagued Orosco throughout the season, and he threw just 2 1/3 innings for the Cardinals. He signed with the Dodgers ahead of the 2001 season.

McEwing spent five years with the Mets on his way to a nine-year major-league career. Though he was never penciled in as a starter, he played at least 75 games each season, and in 2001, he hit .283 with eight homers, 30 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in just 283 at-bats.

After brief stints with the Royals and Astros and a season in the Red Sox minor-league system, McEwing retired in 2008 with a .251 career batting average. Later that year, he was hired as a hitting coach for the Charlotte Knights, the White Sox Triple-A team. Eventually, he climbed through the ranks to become the White Sox bench coach. In 2023, he returned to the Cardinals as the bench coach under manager Oliver Marmol. In November 2023, the Cardinals announced that he would serve as a special assistant to John Mozeliak, a role he held through the 2025 season.

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[1] Bernie Miklasz, “Though unpopular, trade of McEwing does make sense,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 20, 2000.

[2] Bernie Miklasz, “Though unpopular, trade of McEwing does make sense,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 20, 2000.

[3] Rick Hummel, “Cardinals’ need for a bullpen lefthander makes McEwing expendable,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 19, 2000.

[4] Rick Hummel, “McEwing is traded to the Mets for veteran lefthander Orosco,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 19, 2000.

[5] Rick Hummel, “McEwing is traded to the Mets for veteran lefthander Orosco,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 19, 2000.

[6] Joe Ostermeier, “Things won’t be the same without ‘original Cardinal’ Little Mac,” Belleville News-Democrat, March 19, 2000.

[7] Joe Ostermeier, “Things won’t be the same without ‘original Cardinal’ Little Mac,” Belleville News-Democrat, March 19, 2000.

[8] Joe Ostermeier, “Cards trade McEwing to Mets,” Belleville News-Democrat, March 19, 2000.

[9] Rick Hummel, “Orosco brings consistency to Cardinals bullpen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 20, 2000.

[10] Rick Hummel, “Orosco brings consistency to Cardinals bullpen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 20, 2000.

[11] Joe Ostermeier, “Cards trade McEwing to Mets,” Belleville News-Democrat, March 19, 2000.

[12] Rick Hummel, “Orosco brings consistency to Cardinals bullpen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 20, 2000.

[13] Rick Hummel, “Orosco brings consistency to Cardinals bullpen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 20, 2000.

[14] Joe Ostermeier, “Cards trade McEwing to Mets,” Belleville News-Democrat, March 19, 2000.

[15] Rick Hummel, “Orosco brings consistency to Cardinals bullpen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 20, 2000.

[16] Rick Hummel, “Orosco brings consistency to Cardinals bullpen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 20, 2000.

The post Why the Cardinals traded Super Joe McEwing in 2000 first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

On January 5, 2001, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty signed Bonilla Bonilla to a one-year, $900,000 contract.[1] In the switch-hitting Bonilla, who turned 38 the following month, the Cardinals sought a switch-hitting bench bat that could start against left-handed pitching.

In signing Bonilla and third baseman Shane Andrews and bringing back former Cardinals John Mabry and Bernard Gilkey all on the same day, Jocketty believed he had assembled a flexible bench for manager Tony La Russa.

“With the earlier addition of (Quinton) McCracken, we’ve achieved what we were trying to do,” Jocketty said. “We wanted to improve our speed off the bench with McCracken and we wanted to improve our power off the bench. With Bonilla and Andrews, and potentially Gilkey and Mabry, we’ve done that. We’ve continued to improve our versatility that Tony likes with two switch-hitters in Bonilla and McCracken.”[2]

The Cardinals represented Bonilla’s eighth ballclub in 16 seasons. He made his major-league debut for La Russa’s White Sox in 1986, though La Russa was fired that June and Bonilla was traded to the Pirates that July.

In Pittsburgh, Bonilla enjoyed the best years of his career, batting .284 with 114 homers and 500 RBIs over six seasons. He placed second in the National League MVP voting in 1990 and finished third in 1991 before signing a free-agent deal with the Mets.

After he was traded to the Orioles in 1995, Bonilla bounced around the majors, winning a World Series with the 1997 Marlins before going to the Dodgers, returning to the Mets, and playing for the Braves in 2000. In Atlanta, he hit .255 with a .372 average in 43 at-bats against southpaws.

Bonilla’s .311 average against left-handed pitching in the previous five seasons had La Russa considering Bonilla as a pinch-hit option against right-handers (he hit .320 as a pinch hitter for the Braves in 2000) and a possible No. 5 hitter against lefties, where he could provide protection for cleanup hitter Mark McGwire.

“I think Ray (Lankford) can do a good job against right-handers, but we’re looking for somebody against left-handers to hit behind McGwire who’s respected. Bobby Bonilla is respected. A lot of people are afraid of him. Now, for this to happen, he’s got to stay healthy.”[3]

Leg injuries had limited Bonilla to 100 games in 1998 and just 60 games in 1999, when he hit just .160 for the Mets.

“Last year was the first time I said yes to the role,” Bonilla said. “Last year was the first year I accepted the role. In New York, that wasn’t my role. I don’t know what New York was all about. Put an asterisk next to that year. I know what my role is here, and I’ll have the best box seat in the house watching Big Mac.”[4]

Bonilla admitted that his lack of speed meant the Cardinals would often insert a pinch runner when he reached base.

“They’ll probably get my butt out of there as fast as they can,” he said.[5]

Members of the St. Louis media, however, were not laughing. St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Jeff Gordon noted that both Bonilla and Andrews had poor defensive reputations, writing, that they “may be great guys to have on the Cardinals bench, but what happens when the team puts them in the field?”[6]

Gordon also took a shot at Bonilla’s conditioning in February, writing, “Will Bobby Bonilla report in tip-top shape to the Cardinals or will the club have to weigh him with a livestock scale?”[7]

Fellow Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz facetiously asked, “After a 21 percent increase in ticket prices, the best that the Cardinals can do for their fans is sign retreads Bobby Bonilla, John Mabry, Shane Andrews, and Bernard Gilkey? What, was Geronimo Pena unavailable?”[8]

Bonilla responded with a strong performance in spring training, hitting .389 with four home runs. La Russa was so impressed with Bonilla’s performance that he considered starting him in left field against Rockies lefthander Mike Hampton on opening day.

On March 24, however, Bonilla suffered a hamstring injury that limited his ability to run. With the regular season looming, Bonilla was placed on the disabled list.

“This is my first time doing something like this,” he said. “The only other time I hurt the hamstring was late in the season in 1997. I played through the postseason with it, but I didn’t get any treatment after that because I could just rest it all winter. This is different, so I’m having to listen to the trainers.”[9]

With Bonilla off the roster, rookie Albert Pujols was inserted into the Cardinals’ opening-day lineup. Though Pujols went just 1-for-9 in his debut series at Colorado, he launched his first career home run on April 6. Pujols went on to hit .329 with 37 homers and 130 RBIs on his way to the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

On April 9, Bonilla returned from the disabled list just in time to play in the Cardinals’ home opener. After enjoying the St. Louis opening-day festivities, Bonilla led off the ninth inning with a double and was replaced by pinch-runner J.D. Drew. Though Drew was erased from the base paths on a forceout, the Cardinals won the game a few at-bats later on a wild pitch.

On April 17, Bonilla made the only pitching performance of his career. With the Cardinals trailing 15-4 in the ninth inning, La Russa asked Bonilla to take the mound. Bonilla allowed a leadoff home run to Erubiel Durazo and an RBI single to Danny Bautista, but got Craig Counsell to ground into a double play to end the inning.

In June, Bonilla enjoyed perhaps the highlight of his Cardinals tenure when he hit a grand slam off White Sox left-hander Kelly Wunsch.

“I wasn’t trying to clear the bases, trust me,” said Bonilla, who had only been trying to lift a sacrifice fly to the outfield.[10]

On July 18, Bonilla singled against the Astros’ Roy Oswalt for the 2,000^th hit of his career.

“It’s a pretty neat thing,” he said.[11]

Bonilla finished the season with a .213 batting average, five homers, and 21 RBIs in 174 at-bats. In February 2002, his agent, Dan Horwits, announced that Bonilla had retired.

“The further and further he got into the offseason, he just didn’t want to commit to a bench role,” Horwits said. “He just wanted to go on with his life.”[12]

“He’s been an everyday player. I don’t know if a limited role was that much fun for him,” La Russa said. “Because of his legs, that’s realistically the role he should really have. But when you’ve been an everyday player for so long, that’s a tough adjustment.”[13]

Bonilla finished his 16-year major-league career with a .279 career batting average. He totaled 2,010 hits, 287 homers, and 1,173 RBIs across 2,113 games.

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[1] Rick Hummel, “Bonilla, Mabry, Gilkey, Andrews agree to terms,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 6, 2001.

[2] Rick Hummel, “Bonilla, Mabry, Gilkey, Andrews agree to terms,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 6, 2001.

[3] Rick Hummel, “Bonilla might play roles at multiple positions,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 14, 2001.

[4] Rick Hummel, “Bonilla might play roles at multiple positions,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 14, 2001.

[5] Rick Hummel, “Bonilla might play roles at multiple positions,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 14, 2001.

[6] Jeff Gordon, “Tipsheet,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 8, 2001.

[7] Jeff Gordon, “Tipsheet,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 19, 2001.

[8] Bernie Miklasz, “Despite his behavior, it’s hard to root against Vermeil,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 13, 2001.

[9] Mike Eisenbath, “Bonilla’s status complicates late roster moves,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 30, 2001.

[10] Vahe Gregorian, “Cards go deep to get themselves out of hole,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 16, 2001.

[11] Rick Hummel, “Jocketty denies reports about offer for Astacio,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 19, 2001.

[12] Joe Strauss, “Pujols, Garcia shine in intrasquad action,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 27, 2002.

[13] Joe Strauss, “Pujols, Garcia shine in intrasquad action,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 27, 2002.

The post Why the Cardinals signed Bobby Bonilla in 2001 first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

“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. Please talk to him.’ I wanted to make sure I initiated something so they could keep my name in their minds. I would have been kicking myself if I hadn’t done that and hadn’t been able to come here at all.”[1]

The Cardinals, who were seeking a first baseman following the retirement of Mark McGwire, shared Martinez’s interest in the match. On December 18, the Cardinals signed the 34-year-old to a three-year, $21.5 million contract with a team option for a fourth season. They reportedly beat out the A’s, Braves, and Orioles for Martinez’s services.[2]

“With him calling like that, it impressed me a lot because he had other opportunities,” Jocketty said. “He said he really liked what he saw here and what he perceived this organization to be.”[3]

Just two years later, however, both Martinez and the Cardinals were ready to part ways, as St. Louis sent Martinez back to his hometown of Tampa while paying almost his entire salary for the upcoming year.

Martinez came to St. Louis as a 12-year major-league veteran with a resume that included two all-star selections and four World Series championships. After beginning his career with the Mariners, Martinez was traded to the Yankees, where he was the everyday first baseman for World Series championship teams in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000. Martinez was a key piece for this teams: in five of his six seasons in New York, he totaled at least 28 homers and 105 RBIs.

After the 2001 season, however, the Yankees signed Jason Giambi as a free agent, suddenly making Martinez expendable. Though the Yankees offered him arbitration, Martinez began to look for other opportunities. In the back of his mind, he remembered his Yankees manager, Joe Torre, singing St. Louis’s praises.[4]

“As long as I got some sort of indication that they (the Cardinals) were willing to make an offer for me, I was willing to reject arbitration,” Martinez said. “I didn’t really want to go back (to New York) because I felt the Yankees wanted to go in another direction.”[5]

At the press conference announcing Martinez’s signing, Jocketty and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa pointed to Martinez’s experience and his personal attributes, inspiring St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz to question whether the Cardinals “were nominating Martinez to play first base or for sainthood.”[6]

“He’s the type of guy we needed on this ballclub,” Jocketty said. “Every single person we talked to about him, they all said the same thing. ‘This is one of the best guys in the game.’ They love him.”[7]

At times, La Russa couldn’t help but smile as Martinez answered the media’s questions.

“Did you hear how many times he used the word ‘championship?’” La Russa asked. “That’s all he talks about. Every answer he gave had that word in it. He’s going to be good for our players. He’s got his priorities right. It isn’t about stats and money. It’s about competing and winning.”[8]

Miklasz, however, wasn’t entirely convinced, noting that he would have preferred the Cardinals sign outfielder Moises Alou, who was coming off an all-star season with the Astros. With Alou in the outfield, the Cardinals could have moved Albert Pujols to first base and left Placido Polanco at third. Instead, the addition of Martinez meant Pujols would go to third base and Polanco would become a super-utility player.[9] Alou signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Cubs one day after Martinez and the Cardinals came to terms.

“La Russa went with Tino because he wants the intangible, character-driven benefits,” Miklasz wrote. “La Russa covets Tino’s presence and a little dose of that Yankee magic. I understand where La Russa is coming from, but I just hope that Martinez continues to give the Cardinals those annual 100 RBIs that he supplied for New York. If Martinez’s bat slows down, and if he struggles in a new home ballpark against unfamiliar pitchers, the Cardinals will have spent $20 million-plus on a new statue for Busch.”[10]

As Miklasz feared, Martinez’s numbers dipped in his debut season in St. Louis. The 34-year-old hit .262 with 21 homers and 75 RBIs, ranking third and fourth on the team, respectively. While fans expected more, La Russa pointed to the value of Martinez’s leadership during a challenging season that saw the passing of pitcher Darryl Kile and longtime broadcaster Jack Buck.[11]

Teammates also testified to Martinez’s leadership.

“Tino has a great understanding of the game and the way it’s supposed to be played,” said Scott Rolen, who was dealt to St. Louis ahead of the 2002 trade deadline. “I just see a guy who knows what it takes to get to the playoffs and to the World Series. He’s a guy who’s going to win us ballgames. Not only does he know how, he’s done it. He’s played every day and won championships. That’s different than sitting back and saying, ‘I know what it takes.’ I don’t know, but Tino’s got four rings.”[12]

“There’s a percentage of fans and media who don’t think he’s the answer to our needs, and that’s put a chip on his shoulder,” La Russa said. “But here, he gets a different message. He knows we believe in him. There’s no doubt in my mind, for a man with his credentials, he is concerned about the impression he has made to his teammates and the city. This guy beats himself up.”[13]

Despite his verbal support for Martinez, La Russa began to adjust his use of the veteran first baseman, dropping him from fifth to seventh in the lineup and sitting him against some lefthanders as Martinez hit just .207/.294/.342 against southpaws. The veteran didn’t appreciate La Russa’s penchant for playing the matchups.

“I batted fifth every day in New York – lefties, righties, slumps, it didn’t matter,” Martinez said. “I knew coming to the ballpark I was in the lineup every day unless (Torre) told me I needed a day off. I knew no matter what my numbers were against a certain pitcher – a certain lefthander – that he thought that day I would get one key hit or move one guy over. He never got caught up in numbers. He believed I’d get the job done every day, and you feed off that as a player.

“Tony is different. He likes to switch the lineup. And that’s not negative. It’s just the way he likes to manage the game. Tony goes by a lot of stats and matchups, and I’ve had to adjust to his style and do the best I can in the situation.”[14]

Even as La Russa’s tinkering frustrated Martinez, his biggest criticism came not from the manager, but from the stands and the press box as he struggled in clutch situations. In 2003, he hit just .210 with runners in scoring position. In late and close situations (plate appearances after the sixth inning in which the Cardinals were tied, ahead by one run, or had the potential tying run on deck), Martinez hit .181.

“You hear you’re old and washed up,” Martinez said. “I don’t think that’s the case, but that’s what you hear when you’re struggling as a veteran player. I’m not out to prove anybody wrong. I see a lot of guys struggling, younger guys. But that’s the media. They look at numbers and draw a conclusion.”[15]

Martinez pointed to a May 25, 2003, loss to the Pirates as the turning point in his relationship with Cardinals fans. With the Cardinals leading 6-2, the Pirates loaded the bases in the sixth inning. Kenny Lofton hit a ground ball to first base that Martinez fielded cleanly, but rather than taking the easy out at first, his throw home bounced past catcher Chris Widger, allowing two runs to score. The Pirates went on to win 8-7.

“A terrible play,” Martinez said after the game. “It cost us the game.”[16]

It was Martinez’s first error of the season. Nonetheless, as Martinez recalled weeks later, “The next day, Monday, I popped up in the first inning and they booed me very loud. … They haven’t let up since.”[17]

Martinez got a very different reception at Yankee Stadium. In the second game of a three-game series in mid-June, Martinez hit two homers in a 13-4 Cardinals loss. Before his first at-bat in the series opener, Yankees fans gave him a standing ovation. The next day, the crowd gave him another ovation after his first home run. After his second homer, the New York fans pleaded for a curtain call, but with his team down by nine runs, Martinez declined.

“We were getting our butts kicked,” he said. “I appreciate the fact that they acknowledged me, but I wasn’t going to go out there unless (there were different) circumstances. I just didn’t feel right doing that in somebody else’s ballpark.”[18]

In a game that saw Giambi hit two home runs of his own, the Yankees faithful gave bigger ovations to the man wearing the birds on the bat.[19]

As Martinez struggled in the second half of the 2003 season, however, he failed to get such a reception in St. Louis and rumors swirled around his future. Shortly after the Cardinals’ season ended with a third-place finish in the Central Division, Martinez gave Jocketty a list of seven teams to which he would accept a trade.[20]

On November 21, the Cardinals sent Martinez to his hometown Tampa Bay Devil Rays for relief pitcher Evan Rust and a player to be named later. Pitcher John-Paul Davis was selected as the player to be named.

“There was an expectation (Martinez) would put us over the hump,” La Russa said. “We got close last year and missed out this year. I thought he competed, but he wasn’t as productive as he’s been. With Tino, I think whenever the fans were disappointed, he was beating himself worse than anybody. … In my opinion, he was more productive than he thought. But it wasn’t a happy time for him. It was tough.”[21]

Sources indicated that the Cardinals were willing to pay almost $7 million of Martinez’s $7.5 million salary for 2004. At the end of the 2004 season, the Devil Rays could either assume Martinez’s $8 million option or pay him a $1 million buyout.

“We could have easily kept Tino here this year, but I’m not sure that would have made our club any better,” Jocketty said. “We need to change the dynamics of the club a little and the only way to create change is to try to move a guy like Tino.

“Our problem was we didn’t have enough guys on base. One thing I want people to understand, I don’t think we view Tino’s time here as a disaster or a mistake. He had a good first half this season and a terrible second half, but there are a lot of other things Tino did to help this club that went unnoticed. For some reason, he got a bad rap from people.”[22]

Martinez’s final season in St. Louis saw him bat .273 with 15 homers and 69 RBIs. Across two seasons with the Cardinals, Martinez hit .267/.345/.434 with 36 homers and 144 RBIs. While his final numbers weren’t terrible, they didn’t match his previous accomplishments with the Yankees.

“I’m disappointed with the way I performed,” Martinez said. “I didn’t play the way I’d hoped to play and I didn’t produce like I’m capable. I’m disappointed about that. I liked the city, I liked the fans, and I liked my teammates. For whatever reason, it just didn’t work out.”[23]

In Rust, the Cardinals received a relief pitching prospect who split the 2003 season between Double-A Orlando and Triple-A Durham, totaling 12 saves with a 2.96 ERA over 70 innings. One year earlier, Rust set a franchise record with 31 saves while pitching in Class A and Double-A. Between 2002 and 2003, he had allowed just two home runs.[24]

“He reminds me of some guys we’ve had with good arms, like a Mike Crudale,” La Russa said. “I think he’s got a chance to be a factor for us in spring training. It’s not in cement that he makes the club, but he’ll have a chance.”[25]

Despite the Cardinals’ praise for Rust, it was clear that the trade was primarily about Martinez. “By assuming $7 million of the $8.5 million owed Martinez, the Cardinals tacitly conceded a miscalculation of how much Martinez had left when they anointed him with a three-year, $21 million contract in December 2001,” Post-Dispatch reporter Joe Strauss wrote.[26]

Columnist Bryan Burwell was even more direct. “When you are willing to trade a veteran starter who you previously and vigorously defended as one of the team’s irreplaceable emotional rocks – and you do it by agreeing to pay nearly his entire salary – that sends a very loud message,” he wrote. “The Cardinals can spin it any way they want; they can talk about changing dynamics or opening up the payroll, but the message is still fairly clear. This was like one of those divorces where the guy just opens up his checkbook and says, ‘Here, please take whatever you want, just as long as the only thing you leave is me.’”[27]

Martinez’s departure allowed Pujols to return to first base. Though Rust never made it to the majors, the Cardinals did go on to win the NL pennant in 2004. Meanwhile, Martinez hit .262 with 23 homers and 76 RBIs in his lone season with the Devil Rays. The following year, he returned to the Yankees for his final big-league season before retiring.

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[1] Rick Hummel, “Martinez takes initiative, signs with the Cardinals,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 19, 2001.

[2] Rick Hummel, “Martinez takes initiative, signs with the Cardinals,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 19, 2001.

[3] Rick Hummel, “Martinez takes initiative, signs with the Cardinals,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 19, 2001.

[4] Rick Hummel, “La Russa says Pujols will play third base,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 20, 2001.

[5] Rick Hummel, “Martinez takes initiative, signs with the Cardinals,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 19, 2001.

[6] Bernie Miklasz, “Cards like Martinez’s winning way, hope he still has a quick bat,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 19, 2001.

[7] Bernie Miklasz, “Cards like Martinez’s winning way, hope he still has a quick bat,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 19, 2001.

[8] Bernie Miklasz, “Cards like Martinez’s winning way, hope he still has a quick bat,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 19, 2001.

[9] Rick Hummel, “La Russa says Pujols will play third base,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 20, 2001.

[10] Bernie Miklasz, “Cards like Martinez’s winning way, hope he still has a quick bat,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 19, 2001.

[11] Joe Strauss, “Cardinals begin offseason makeover,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 23, 2003.

[12] Joe Strauss, “Life After Pinstripes,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 15, 2003.

[13] Joe Strauss, “Life After Pinstripes,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 15, 2003.

[14] Joe Strauss, “Life After Pinstripes,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 15, 2003.

[15] Joe Strauss, “Life After Pinstripes,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 15, 2003.

[16] Rick Hummel, “Defense torpedos Cards,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 26, 2003.

[17] Joe Strauss, “Life After Pinstripes,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 15, 2003.

[18] Joe Strauss, “Calero to get first start on Monday,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 15, 2003.

[19] Joe Strauss, “Life After Pinstripes,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 15, 2003.

[20] Joe Strauss, “Cardinals begin offseason makeover,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 23, 2003.

[21] Joe Strauss, “Cardinals begin offseason makeover,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 23, 2003.

[22] Dan O’Neill, “It’s official: Tino is a Devil Ray,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 22, 2003.

[23] Dan O’Neill, “It’s official: Tino is a Devil Ray,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 22, 2003.

[24] Dan O’Neill, “It’s official: Tino is a Devil Ray,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 22, 2003.

[25] Dan O’Neill, “It’s official: Tino is a Devil Ray,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 22, 2003.

[26] Joe Strauss, “Cardinals begin offseason makeover,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 23, 2003.

[27] Bryan Burwell, “Tossing off pebble costs the Cardinals mountain of bucks,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 23, 2003.

The post Why Tino Martinez disappointed in two seasons with the Cardinals first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

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 La Russa won five division championships, three American League pennants, and the 1989 World Series.

“It should excite people a little bit,” catcher Tom Pagnozzi said. “He’s kind of like bringing Whitey Herzog back.”[1]

La Russa’s contract paid him an estimated $1.5 million per year and included an option for a third season.[2]

“My statement publicly to Cardinals fans is I’ll do everything in my power to have a hustling, aggressive ballclub next year that also plays the game right,” La Russa said.[3]

La Russa was leaving an Oakland franchise that he guided to 96 wins as recently as 1992. In the three seasons since, however, the club had dipped below .500, and following the death of owner Walter A. Haas Jr. in September, the team was sold to a group led by Steve Schott. The new ownership group made clear its plan to cut payroll.

“I think Tony was forced out,” one source told the Oakland Tribune. “I think, deep down, Tony wanted to stay. If they had given him any indication that they were going to try to be competitive, he would have stayed, but that wasn’t the indication they gave.”[4]

La Russa had a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave if the team changed owners.[5] On Sunday, October 22, he met with Schott to discuss the A’s future and whether La Russa or Schott saw him as a part of it.

“I left there with the feeling that it would be good for them and good for me that I leave,” La Russa said.[6]

That evening, La Russa met his family for dinner. Together, they agreed – after 10 years, it was time for La Russa to leave Oakland.

“I literally didn’t make up my – our – minds till dinner Sunday night,” La Russa said.[7]

A’s catcher Terry Steinbach wasn’t surprised by La Russa’s decision.

“I kind of anticipated that he would go,” Steinbach said. “I just think some of the comments about the direction the club would be taking were contrary to what Tony believes and is all about in his quest to win. Oakland is losing a treasure, definitely.”[8]

“I think there were some good reasons for him to leave,” Mark McGwire said. “The situation in Oakland is going to be tough for the next few years. It’s a good move for him.”[9]

The following day, Jocketty named La Russa the Cardinals’ new skipper. Jocketty and La Russa had known each other for decades, dating back to La Russa’s days as a manager with Triple-A Iowa in the Chicago White Sox organization in 1979.

From 1983 through 1993, Jocketty and La Russa worked together in Oakland, this time with La Russa as manager of the Athletics and Jocketty as the director of baseball administration.

“This is a very exciting day for me personally and professionally,” Jocketty said. “I’ve had the opportunity to watch Tony grow into one of the game’s greatest managers, one of the best managers of this era. The hiring of Tony La Russa to manage the Cardinals is a huge step in the rebuilding process of this organization.”[10]

La Russa’s managerial career followed a 16-year professional playing career, which began when he signed with the Kansas City Athletics out of high school. When he signed, La Russa promised his mother that he would spend his offseasons in college. It took him seven years to earn his undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida and another five to graduate with honors from Florida State University’s School of Law.

When La Russa became manager of the White Sox in 1979, he became just the fifth manager in Major League Baseball history to have passed the bar exam. Each of his four predecessors – Montgomery Ward, Hughie Jennings, Miller Huggins, and Branch Rickey – was a Hall of Famer.[11]

Though La Russa was considered a cerebral player, he didn’t have the talent to stick in the majors. Over the course of his career, he played in just 132 big-league games and took 176 at-bats, batting .199 without a home run.

In his later years, he served as a minor-league player-coach, including his final season in 1977, when he was with St. Louis’s New Orleans affiliate. There, legendary coach George Kissell told La Russa he should switch to managing full-time.

“I’ve slipped that much?” La Russa asked.

“No,” Kissell said. “I don’t think you were ever good enough.”[12]

The following year, La Russa began his managerial career with the White Sox Double-A affiliate in Knoxville, Tennessee. After one season managing in the minors, the White Sox made him their manager at age 34. In 1983, La Russa guided Chicago to the AL West championship, but after a 26-38 start, he was fired just 64 games into the 1986 season.

He didn’t stay unemployed for long. The A’s quickly hired him, and he led the team to a 45-34 record the rest of the season. His tenure in Oakland included 104 wins and the American League championship in 1988, the World Series championship in 1989, and 103 wins and another AL pennant in 1990.

“Tony’s very intelligent, no question about it,” said Cardinals reliever Jeff Parrett, who played for La Russa in Oakland in 1992. “He really is a player’s manager. He does a good job of protecting his players.”[13]

Despite La Russa’s success with the A’s, Oakland Tribune columnist Monte Poole saw St. Louis as the perfect fit for the baseball-obsessed manager.

“While there are some passionate baseball fans … the Bay Area is not devoted to the game,” Poole wrote after La Russa was named Cardinals manager. “St. Louis is quite the opposite. There is much to do, but baseball is at or near the top of everybody’s list. People gaze at the Musial monument outside Busch about as often as they admire the world-famous Gateway Arch. Coming here to manage signifies La Russa’s commitment to baseball. And to winning, which, for now, will be nearly impossible to do in Oakland.”[14]

Winning, however, was no guarantee in St. Louis. After all, Joe Torre – another future Hall of Fame manager – had just been fired in June after a 20-27 start to a 1995 campaign that saw the Cardinals finish fourth in the NL Central with a 62-81 record. In five-plus seasons with St. Louis, Torre had gone 351-354.

“I believe in high goals, and I believe in big dreams,” La Russa said. “My dream real quickly for this franchise is to draw 3 million fans and, as early as possible, get to Sept. 1 with a chance to win. When you look at me, you’re going to find a very simple perspective. Everything from this moment on will be geared to win the next game that the Cardinals play.”[15]

St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz praised the Cardinals for the hire but urged the team to follow through by giving La Russa the players he needed to succeed.

“Considering the deteriorated condition of Cardinals baseball, it’s quite a coup for Jocketty to secure a manager who has won five division titles, three pennants, three manager of the year awards, and a World Series,” Miklasz wrote. “The Cardinals, in their present state, have a strong outfield, a sturdy bullpen, a staff of whining, head-case starting pitchers, no leadoff or cleanup hitter, and the worst infield in major league baseball. La Russa may be astute, but he can’t raise the dead. Now that Cardinals president Mark Lamping and GM Walt Jocketty have persuaded La Russa to join the home team, they owe it to La Genius to give him a competitive roster.”[16]

Jocketty, of course, was under no illusion that his work was complete.

“This is a huge step in the process of rebuilding this organization,” he said, “but it’s only the first step.”[17]

That offseason, the Cardinals traded for Royce Clayton, Todd Stottlemyre, and Dennis Eckersley, and signed free agents Andy Benes and Ron Gant. The influx of talent, combined with La Russa’s drive, led the Cardinals to the NL Central championship and the NLCS in 1996.

That season marked the beginning of a 16-year run in which La Russa led the Cardinals to a 1,408-1,182 record for a .544 winning percentage and the most managerial wins in Cardinals history. Under La Russa’s guidance, the Cardinals won the National League pennant in 2004 and the World Series in 2006 and 2011. After the Cardinals captured the 2011 championship, La Russa announced his retirement. At the time, his 2,728 wins were 35 shy of John McGraw’s mark for the second-most in modern-day history.

In 2014, La Russa was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and joined the Diamondbacks as Chief Baseball Officer. He later took front-office positions with the Red Sox and Angels.

In 2021, La Russa returned to the dugout as manager of the White Sox, where he led Chicago to the AL Central championship and passed John McGraw for second place in all-time managerial wins. He led the White Sox to a 63-65 record in 2022 before retiring due to health concerns.

[1] Rick Hummel, “‘He’s Kind Of Like Bringing Herzog Back,’” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 24, 1995.

[2] Rick Hummel, “La Russa Agrees To Two-Year Deal As Cards Manager,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 24, 1995.

[3] Bernie Miklasz, “Very Nice; Now Get Him Something To Manage,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 24, 1995.

[4] John Hickey, “La Russa takes job with Cards,” Oakland Tribune, October 24, 1995.

[5] Rick Hummel, “La Russa Agrees To Two-Year Deal As Cards Manager,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 24, 1995.

[6] Rick Hummel, “La Russa Agrees To Two-Year Deal As Cards Manager,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 24, 1995.

[7] Rick Hummel, “La Russa Agrees To Two-Year Deal As Cards Manager,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 24, 1995.

[8] John Hickey, “La Russa takes job with Cards,” Oakland Tribune, October 24, 1995.

[9] John Hickey, “La Russa takes job with Cards,” Oakland Tribune, October 24, 1995.

[10] Rick Hummel, “La Russa Agrees To Two-Year Deal As Cards Manager,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 24, 1995.

[11] Rick Hummel, “La Russa Agrees To Two-Year Deal As Cards Manager,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 24, 1995.

[12] Mike Eisenbath, “Skipper Rates An A For Effort, Output,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 24, 1995.

[13] Rick Hummel, “‘He’s Kind Of Like Bringing Herzog Back,’” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 24, 1995.

[14] Monte Poole, “St. Louis, La Russa deserve each other,” Oakland Tribune, October 24, 1995.

[15] Rick Hummel, “La Russa Agrees To Two-Year Deal As Cards Manager,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 24, 1995.

[16] Bernie Miklasz, “Very Nice; Now Get Him Something To Manage,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 24, 1995.

[17] Bernie Miklasz, “Very Nice; Now Get Him Something To Manage,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 24, 1995.

The post Cardinals name Tony La Russa manager: October 23, 1995 first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

Pujols and more than 36,000 Cardinals fans[1] celebrated Easter on April 16, 2006, with an 8-7 win over the Reds that featured three homers and five RBIs from Pujols, including a walk-off, two-run blast in the bottom of the ninth. Each of his three homers came off different Cincinnati pitchers.

“This is one where you’ll be lost for words,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. “No thoughts, no description of the game. … I’m at a loss to describe it, man. There’s a new memory for new Busch. … It’ll be tough to top that one.”[2]

The Cardinals had opened their season with a six-game road swing before opening Busch Stadium III with a 6-4 win over the Brewers. The Cardinals went on to take two of three from Milwaukee, and split their next two games against Cincinnati. The Easter ballgame marked the club’s final game of the homestand before heading to Pittsburgh for three games.

The Cardinals and Reds went back and forth from the outset. Mark Mulder, coming off a 16-win campaign in his first season in St. Louis, allowed an RBI single to Reds right fielder Austin Kearns in the first inning. The Cardinals immediately answered as their own right fielder, John Rodriguez, lined a two-run triple into the right-field corner off Reds starter Bronson Arroyo.

The Cardinals held a 2-1 lead until the top of the fifth. With two outs, Mulder gave up a two-run home run to Adam Dunn, followed by a solo homer by Kearns to give the Reds a 4-2 lead.

Once again, however, the Cardinals answered. After Aaron Miles singled, Pujols hit his first home run of the game, a line drive over the left-field wall that tied the score.

“He’s legit as they come in the game,” Arroyo said. “He doesn’t swing at bad pitches. He put a good swing on anything in the zone. It doesn’t matter what you’re throwing. He seems to track the ball good no matter what speed it is or where it’s located.”[3]

Scott Rolen followed with his third home run of the season to give St. Louis a 5-4 lead.

“I felt pretty good today,” Rolen said. “I had a tough night Friday. I couldn’t see the ball real well. Yesterday (Saturday), I made a couple adjustments, and it worked out for me. Now I’m seeing the ball pretty good.”[4]

Reds manager Jerry Narron called on reliever Rick White to replace Arroyo after five innings. While White retired the side in order in the sixth, Pujols took him the opposite way in the bottom of the seventh to extend the Cardinals’ lead to 6-4.

The Reds, however, had one more comeback in their tank. Pinch hitter Quinton McCracken led off the eighth with a home run off 24-year-old reliever Adam Wainwright, who was then replaced with left-hander Randy Flores. Flores retired Javier Valentin, but a walk and an error put runners on first and third before La Russa called on Braden Looper.

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 won the pitchers’ National League Silver Slugger Award in 2005, singled up the middle off Reds closer David Weathers to bring Pujols to the plate.

I’m just trying to put the bat on the ball and make something happen,” Marquis said. “Obviously, with the big guys coming up behind me, it’s their job to get it done. I’m up there just to try and make something happen.”[5]

“You’re watching all this happen, and you’re asking what else is (Pujols) going to do, hit another one?” Mulder said. “And that’s exactly what he does.”

Rather than pitch around Pujols, Weathers went after the Cardinals slugger. He was ahead in the count 1-and-2 when Pujols turned on his fourth pitch of the at-bat, pulling the ball into the third deck, an estimated 441 feet away,[6] to win the game, 8-7.

“I tried to come inside on him,” Weathers said. “I left it over the plate too much. A guy like that, you can’t do that, especially the way he was swinging today.”[7]

Just before he crossed home plate and was mobbed by his teammates, Pujols did a brief celebratory dance.

“Hey, you hit a walk-off homer, you get to do whatever you want,” Pujols said. “You need to be excited about it, and you don’t get too many of those, so you need to enjoy them when they come.”[8]

Pujols’ three home runs totaled 1,238 feet.[9]

It was the second three-homer game and the sixth walk-off home run of Pujols’ career.[10] His five RBIs and four runs scored also matched career highs.[11] Twelve games into the young season, Pujols was off to arguably the best start of his career, batting .341 with a league-high eight homers and 17 RBIs.

“Hopefully, tomorrow I’ll get three more and forget about today,” Pujols said.[12]

Looper earned the win in relief after allowing one run in 1 2/3 innings. In addition to Pujols’ big day, David Eckstein reached base three times, and Yadier Molina and Skip Schumacher each reached base twice.

“It was one of those days where it seemed like whoever was going to hit last was going to win,” Narron said.[13]

Altogether, the Cardinals trailed three times before pulling out the win.

“For us to do that tells me all I need to know about the ’06 Cardinals,” La Russa said.[14]

The 2006 Cardinals indeed proved to be fighters, winning the National League Central with an 83-78 record before topping the Padres, Mets, and Tigers in the postseason for the franchise’s 10^th world championship. Pujols finished the regular season with a .331 batting average and career-high 49 homers and 137 RBIs. He finished second to the Phillies’ Ryan Howard in the NL MVP race.

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[1] Joe Ostermeier, “Pujols propels Cards past Reds,” Belleville News-Democrat, April 17, 2006.

[2] Bernie Miklasz, “El Hombre makes mark on new Busch,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 17, 2006.

[3] John Fay, “Sunday just wasn’t Arroyo’s day,” Cincinnati Enquirer, April 17, 2006.

[4] Joe Strauss, “Albert Pujols’ third homer of the day buries the Reds,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 17, 2006.

[5] Rod Kloeckner, “Marquis sets table for Pujols’ heroics,” Belleville News-Democrat, April 17, 2006.

[6] Bernie Miklasz, “El Hombre makes mark on new Busch,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 17, 2006.

[7] John Fay, “Reds are star struck,” Cincinnati Enquirer, April 17, 2006.

[8] Rod Kloeckner, “Walk-off blast leaves Albert dancing,” Belleville News-Democrat, April 17, 2006.

[9] Joe Ostermeier, “Pujols propels Cards past Reds,” Belleville News-Democrat, April 17, 2006.

[10] Joe Strauss, “Albert Pujols’ third homer of the day buries the Reds,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 17, 2006.

[11] Joe Strauss, “Albert Pujols’ third homer of the day buries the Reds,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 17, 2006.

[12] Joe Strauss, “Albert Pujols’ third homer of the day buries the Reds,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 17, 2006.

[13] John Fay, “Reds are star struck,” Cincinnati Enquirer, April 17, 2006.

[14] Joe Strauss, “Albert Pujols’ third homer of the day buries the Reds,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 17, 2006.

The post Albert Pujols hits three homers on Easter: 4/16/2006 first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

“How beautiful was that?” outfielder Brian Jordan asked. “Just the perfect ending.”[1]

“You couldn’t write a better script,” teammate John Mabry agreed. “You couldn’t think of a better guy. You could probably catch him for an interview, but he’s probably down in the cage hitting.”[2]

The Cardinals already had been the victim of two walk-off losses during their season-opening road trip. In the first game of the season, a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth allowed the Expos to claim a 2-1 win. Three nights later, Jeff Bagwell hit a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 11^th to lift the Astros to a 3-2 win over the Cardinals.

By the time the Cardinals returned to St. Louis on April 8, their losing streak was up to six games and represented the team’s worst start to a season in 106 years.[3] To halt their slide, manager Tony La Russa turned to 25-year-old right-hander Alan Benes. Benes had struggled in his first turn in the rotation, allowing six earned runs in 4 2/3 innings in a 9-4 loss to the Expos.

This time, however, he fared far better, throwing two scoreless innings before second baseman Roberto Mejia hit a sacrifice fly to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.

The Expos answered in the third, as Chris Widger led off with a double and Mike Lansing hit a two-out single to score Widger and tie the game, 1-1. From there, Benes and Expos starter Jeff Juden traded scoreless innings through the fifth, when Benes was lifted for a pinch hitter and Mark Petkovsek took over the mound duties for the Cardinals.

In five innings, Benes had allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks. He struck out seven.

Dave Veres took over for Juden in the seventh and recorded four outs before Ron Gant hit a one-out triple in the bottom of the eighth. With the go-ahead run on third, Montreal turned to left-handed reliever Omar Daal, who got Dmitri Young to hit a soft ground ball to third base for the second out of the inning. Ugueth Urbina entered the game and, after walking Jordan and John Mabry to load the bases, struck out Gary Gaetti on three pitches to escape the jam.

In the top of the ninth, Petkovsek retired all three batters he faced to give St. Louis a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. At first, that didn’t seem likely, as Tom Lampkin flied out to first base and Mejia struck out.

With Petkovsek’s spot due in the lineup, La Russa called upon McGee to pinch-hit. Originally obtained in a trade with the Yankees in October 1981, McGee had played a key role in the Cardinals’ 1982 World Series championship, batting .296 with four homers, 56 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases that season to rank third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. In Game 3 of that season’s World Series, he put on one of the all-time postseason performances in franchise history, hitting two home runs and making a leaping catch to rob Gorman Thomas of a home run.

In 1985, McGee won the National League batting title with a .353 batting average. With 26 doubles, a league-high 18 triples, 10 homers, and 82 RBIs, he won the National League MVP and the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards. He also made the second all-star appearance of his career.

In August 1990, however, the Cardinals traded McGee to the Athletics for Felix Jose, Stan Royer, and Daryl Green. After playing the rest of the season with the A’s, McGee played four seasons for the Giants and one with the Red Sox before returning to St. Louis for the 1996 season. Playing a reserve role, McGee hit .307 with five homers and 41 RBIs, earning himself a new deal for the 1997 season and an opportunity to face Urbina with the game on the line.

McGee originally wasn’t expected to appear against the Expos that night as he recovered from a right calf injury that he suffered in Houston. During pre-game warm-ups, however, McGee told La Russa that he could pinch-hit.[4]

“As soon as he said that, I was sitting there waiting for the right time to use him,” La Russa said.[5]

La Russa found the perfect moment. Ugueth welcomed McGee to the game with a first-pitch change-up and McGee sent it over the right-field wall for a 2-1 victory.

“Willie, the most popular Cardinal now and forever, toured the bases with his head down, a living and breathing portrait of absolute humility,” wrote St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz.[6]

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like that,” La Russa said. “This was more dramatic than anything I’ve seen in a movie, and then, it’s real life. Think about it. He was the last guy introduced (before the game). He got the biggest ovation. People wait around. He hits with two outs in the ninth. They get a chance to see Willie and he hits a home run to win the game.”[7]

McGee said it was a unique moment in his career.

“As an individual thrill, it’s something I don’t think I’ve ever done in my career,” he said. “It’s something I thought about doing, and how nice it would be to end a game that way. That was something Ozzie Smith would do. It was a special moment.”[8]

Part of what made the moment special, McGee said, was the warm reception he received from Cardinals fans, both before the game and after he ended it.

“There are no words to explain what goes on inside a person when the fans cheer like that,” McGee said. “Hopefully, they’re cheering for the person. They see my love for the game. They see the way I care for them. They know I try hard.”[9]

Petkovsek earned the win after throwing four innings of scoreless relief.

“My first opening day and I got the win – I didn’t even realize that until just now,” he said. “That’s a pretty good feeling.”[10]

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[1] Bernie Miklasz, “First Jack Frost, Then Willie McGee: A Cold Night At Busch Heats Up Fast,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 9, 1997.

[2] Rick Hummel, “No Place Like Home,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 9, 1997.

[3] Joe Ostermeier, “McGee homers, ends Birds’ nightmare,” Belleville News-Democrat, April 9, 1997.

[4] Scott Puryear, “Cards add drama to their first win,” Springfield News-Leader, April 9, 1997.

[5] Scott Puryear, “Cards add drama to their first win,” Springfield News-Leader, April 9, 1997.

[6] Bernie Miklasz, “First Jack Frost, Then Willie McGee: A Cold Night At Busch Heats Up Fast,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 9, 1997.

[7] Rick Hummel, “No Place Like Home,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 9, 1997.

[8] Bernie Miklasz, “First Jack Frost, Then Willie McGee: A Cold Night At Busch Heats Up Fast,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 9, 1997.

[9] Bernie Miklasz, “First Jack Frost, Then Willie McGee: A Cold Night At Busch Heats Up Fast,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 9, 1997.

[10] Mike Eisenbath, “More Than A Game For Petkovsek As He Makes Dream Come True,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 9, 1997.

The post April 8, 1997: Willie McGee hits his first career walk-off home run first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

That connection was why Eckersley requested a trade to St. Louis after nine seasons in Oakland. As a 10-year veteran who had spent more than five seasons with the same team, Eckersley had the right to veto any trade.

“To be an effective closer, you have to have a manager who knows how to use you,” he said. “I’ve been with Tony for nine years, and it’s pretty obvious.”[1]

Eckersley was a successful starting pitcher early in his career. After breaking into the majors as a 20-year-old with the Indians, Eckersley reeled off at least a dozen wins in each of his first six seasons. He was named to his first All-Star Game as a 22-year-old in 1977 and placed fourth in the American League Cy Young Award voting when he won 20 games in his first season with the Red Sox.

Ahead of the 1984 season, Eckersley was traded, along with Mike Brumley, to the Cubs for Bill Buckner. Over the next two seasons, he won 21 games combined with a 3.06 ERA. In 1986, however, his ERA ballooned to 4.57 as he went just 6-11. As the 1987 season began, the Cubs traded him to the Athletics, where La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan transitioned him to a new role: closer.

In 1988, Eckersley led the league with 45 saves, helping the A’s reach the World Series with a 2.35 ERA. After the season, he placed second in the Cy Young voting and fifth in the MVP voting. In 1989, he saved another 33 games and recorded the final three outs of Oakland’s World Series sweep over the Giants.

Eckersley’s accomplishments continued into the next decade. In 1990, his 48 saves outnumbered the 45 baserunners he allowed, and in 1992, he won both the AL MVP and Cy Young awards.

In nine seasons with the A’s, Eckersley compiled 320 of his 323 career saves and posted a 2.74 ERA.

“What happened with Eckersley wouldn’t have happened with anyone else,” said Goose Gossage, who pitched for La Russa for two seasons. “Tony resurrected his career.”[2]

“Sure, he put me in the bullpen and made me a star, but there’s more to it than that,” Eckersley said. “I respect everything about him. Like his Animal Rescue Foundation. You don’t have to agree with him, but he stands up for what he believes. He’s like an older brother who has been around the world.”[3]

Along the way, Eckersley had opportunities to leave Oakland for more lucrative contract offers. Instead, he chose to stay in Oakland with La Russa.[4]

“A person with a normal salary might think I’m crazy, but what’s the difference between $8 million or $9 million for two years?” Eckersley asked. “So it’s a couple hundred thousand a year, but I know who’s been buttering my bread, and it’s Tony.”[5]

The 41-year-old Eckersley was coming off three consecutive seasons with an ERA over 4.00, including a 4.83 ERA in 50 1/3 innings in 1995.

“I had a bad month,” Eckersley said. “When you have a bad month in relief, it can tear you up. When you’re 40 years old, people are going to say what they want to say, and that’s fine. That’s all part of it.”[6]

“Eck has got plenty left physically,” La Russa said. “Mentally and emotionally, he’s still at the top of his game. He still gets as fired up and as nervous as he did. He wants to succeed so badly, and that’s why he’s so consistent.”[7]

The Cardinals and A’s had worked on the deal for months, as the Cardinals wanted Oakland to pay part of Eckersley’s salary. In the end, the A’s agreed to pay $700,000 of Eckersley’s 1996 salary. The Cardinals would pay $500,000, and Eckersley agreed to defer the remaining $1 million until 1997.[8]

With the trade complete, La Russa said the Cardinals were not only filling their need for a closer after Tom Henke had all but officially retired, but they also obtained a role model for T.J. Mathews and John Frascatore to emulate. Mathews and Frascatore, both 26, were each considered potential future closers.

“Now a lot will depend on their attitude – how much they want to learn,” La Russa said. “If you’re sincere, Eck will talk to you, but Eck doesn’t like bull. Whether you’re a starter, middle reliever, or closer, our pitchers have been better for years just because they watch him.”[9]

In Oakland, the trade was just one more sign that times were changing after the team placed last in the American League West in 1995.

“From a team standpoint, it’s a sad day,” said Todd Van Poppel, one of the candidates to replace Eckersley as Oakland’s closer. “To me, Dennis Eckersley made the Oakland A’s. You’ll never see another A’s reliever do what he did. On the other hand, he’s going to a competitive team with a lot of his friends. For him it’s probably a good move, but for the Oakland A’s it’s another hole we have to fill – a hole we haven’t had to fill for eight, nine years.”[10]

With the trade, the A’s projected 1996 payroll was $20.5 million, far below the $35 million figure the team spent in 1995.[11]

“If the circumstances had been different, I would have liked to finish (my career) in Oakland,” Eckersley said. “I will always be an A, but I don’t know if there will always be an Oakland A’s.”[12]

In Montgomery, the A’s received a 6-foot-4 right-hander who had tied the Texas League record with 36 saves in 1995.[13]

“This is more to accommodate Dennis than to acquire Steve,” Alderson admitted. “This is what Dennis wanted. Given where we are, it was best for us too.”[14]

Montgomery pitched in 12 games for the A’s over two seasons, posting a 9.45 ERA in 20 innings. In 1998, he enjoyed the best season of his career with the Phillies, posting a 3.34 ERA and saving three games in 64 2/3 innings. After the season, he was traded to the Padres, where he threw just 5 2/3 innings in 2000, ending his major-league career.

Eckersley pitched two seasons in St. Louis, saving 30 games in 1996 and 36 in 1997. He appeared in 120 games across the two years, posting a 3.58 ERA in 113 innings. He played his final major-league season with the Red Sox in 1998 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2004.

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[1] Rick Hummel, “Cards Get Eckersley To Teach And Pitch,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 14, 1996.

[2] Jerome Holtzman, “Mutual Admiration Society,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 5, 1996.

[3] Jerome Holtzman, “Mutual Admiration Society,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 5, 1996.

[4] Jerome Holtzman, “Mutual Admiration Society,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 5, 1996.

[5] Jerome Holtzman, “Mutual Admiration Society,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 5, 1996.

[6] Rick Hummel, “Cards Get Eckersley To Teach And Pitch,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 14, 1996.

[7] Rick Hummel, “Cards Get Eckersley To Teach And Pitch,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 14, 1996.

[8] Rick Hummel, “Deal For Eckersley Is Near,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 13, 1996.

[9] Rick Hummel, “Cards Get Eckersley To Teach And Pitch,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 14, 1996.

[10] Edvins Beitiks, “Eckersley: Nothing but A’s,” San Francisco Examiner, February 14, 1996.

[11] “Eckersley is traded to Cards,” San Francisco Examiner, February 13, 1996.

[12] Edvins Beitiks, “Eckersley: Nothing but A’s,” San Francisco Examiner, February 14, 1996.

[13] Edvins Beitiks, “Eckersley: Nothing but A’s,” San Francisco Examiner, February 14, 1996.

[14] Edvins Beitiks, “Eckersley: Nothing but A’s,” San Francisco Examiner, February 14, 1996.

The post How the Cardinals traded for Dennis Eckersley first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

On January 14, 2008, the Cardinals traded Rolen to the Blue Jays for Glaus. Both players had requested trades, but their approaches differed. Glaus quietly approached Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi during the season, citing concerns that the Rogers Centre turf was worsening his foot injury. Rolen’s trade request, however, was public and confrontational.

Rolen was traded to St. Louis just ahead of the 2002 trade deadline after a falling out with Phillies manager Larry Bowa. He quickly became a core piece of the Cardinals’ success, earning four consecutive All-Star Game selections, three Gold Gloves, and a fourth-place finish in the 2004 National League MVP voting. Alongside Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds, Rolen was a key part of the team’s celebrated “MV3.”

However, Rolen’s trajectory shifted in 2005 when he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in a collision with the Dodgers’ Hee-Seop Choi. The Cardinals attempted to repair the injury with arthroscopic surgery and rehabilitation, but the injury lingered, and the Cardinals and Rolen disagreed on how to proceed. Rolen’s agents threatened legal action to gain the Cardinals’ consent for reconstructive surgery on the shoulder, finally gaining permission for Dr. Tim Kremchek, the Reds’ medical supervisor, to perform the surgery.

In 2006, Rolen hit .296 with 22 homers and 95 RBIs, but his shoulder issues resurfaced late in the season, limiting his performance. In the NLDS against the Padres, he hit just .091 (1-for-11) with eight strikeouts. After Rolen went 0-for-3 in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Mets, La Russa started Scott Spiezio at third base in Game 2 – a decision that strained his relationship with Rolen. The relationship between manager and player didn’t recover, even after Rolen returned to the starting lineup in Game 3. Although Rolen hit .421 (8-for-19) with a home run in the World Series, the tension between the two lingered.

The 2007 season saw the feud escalate. Rolen, still hampered by his shoulder, suffered a season-ending injury in late August, and Kremchek performed a cleanup procedure that September.[1]

“I couldn’t get the bat back where I needed to,” Rolen said. “That was my biggest problem. I was basically just diving at balls and trying to run into stuff. It was a pretty painful four months.”[2]

When La Russa polled the team near the end of the season as to whether he should return the following year, Rolen was the only player to vote no.[3] After the Cardinals gave La Russa a two-year contract extension, Rolen informed general manager John Mozeliak that he would waive his no-trade clause if the Cardinals dealt him to a contender. The Brewers and Cardinals discussed a possible deal, but negotiations broke down, and it appeared that Rolen would be back in St. Louis in 2008.[4]

“Speaking for me … there’s absolutely no intention to accommodate Scott,” La Russa said. “I mean, that’s not how you run an organization. The idea is to accommodate the St. Louis Cardinals, our team, our responsibility to our players, and to the competition. So, no, I don’t want to accommodate Scott.”[5]

In December, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that La Russa and Rolen had not spoken at length since midway through the season and that La Russa “sent a lengthy letter to Rolen shortly after the season, but the correspondence was poorly received.”[6] Sources close to Rolen said he was considering not reporting to spring training until March 1, the mandatory report date, to encourage a trade.[7]

La Russa said he couldn’t remember being bothered this much by a situation with a player.[8]

“It’s very clear that he’s unhappy, and I’m making it clear that I don’t know why he’s unhappy,” La Russa said. “I can make a list of 50 respect points that this man has been given by our organization. It’s time for him to give back.”[9]

In the midst of the rift between La Russa and Rolen, however, the Blue Jays saw an opportunity. As part of the trade, Glaus not only waived his no-trade clause but also exercised his player option for the 2009 season.

“When Troy was first informed by the club that this was a possibility, he thought upon his approval, it was done,” said Glaus’ agent, Mike Nicotera. “For him, it was an easy choice. It didn’t take him long at all to agree to the trade and take his option. It was almost instantaneous.”[10]

After Glaus and Rolen each passed their physicals, the teams needed only to wait upon Major League Baseball approval, since the Blue Jays were sending the Cardinals $1.8 million as part of the deal.[11]

“Everybody in baseball knew there was a problem with the relationship over there,” Ricciardi said. “We were aware of the situation, and we were honest. We weren’t looking to trade Troy, but we thought it was a situation that could help both players.”[12]

Like Rolen, Glaus was a four-time All-Star with an impressive resume. As a member of the Angels in 2000, he led the American League with 47 homers, the first of three consecutive seasons in which he drove in triple-digit RBIs. Glaus suffered a shoulder injury of his own in 2004, limiting him to just 58 games.

A free agent for the first time in his career ahead of the 2005 season, Glaus made a shortlist of teams he was interested in playing for. That list included the Cardinals.

“There were a number of reasons why the Cardinals interested him, even back then and certainly now,” Nicotera said. “All that might sound cliché or convenient because of the recent situation, but for him, the Cardinals have certainly been up there as a place he wanted to play.”[13]

Glaus ultimately signed with the Diamondbacks ahead of the 2005 season, where he hit 37 home runs before he was traded to the Blue Jays. In Toronto, he hit 38 homers, drove in 104 runs, and was named to the All-Star Game. In 2007, however, plantar fasciitis limited Glaus to just 115 games.

“He went through the season trying to manage it every day, and then it just got to a point where it had to be addressed,” Nicotera said.[14]

Shortly before Glaus had season-ending surgery on his foot, an SI.com report alleged he had steroids shipped to his home from September 2003 to May 2004. Glaus met with Major League Baseball investigators, and in December, the commissioner released a statement that there was insufficient evidence to take disciplinary action against him. The Cardinals felt satisfied with the results of the investigation and their own discussions with Glaus.[15]

“When you look at them player by player, at the end of the day, what breaks the tie is a happy player vs. an unhappy player,” general manager John Mozeliak said. “There’s no doubt when you look at what Troy brings to the table, he has off-the-chart power, and we’re looking for someone who will give Albert protection in our lineup. Who better to do that?”[16]

“St. Louis is a city that I’ve dreamed about playing in since I was a kid,” said Glaus. “Given that opportunity, I felt that it was something I couldn’t pass up.”[17]

Glaus played two seasons in St. Louis. In 2008, he hit 27 homers and drove in 99 runs. However, in January 2009, he required arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. Though the Cardinals initially expected him to return around the start of the season, he didn’t make his return until September.

For the 2010 season, he left St. Louis and signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Braves. In 128 games, he hit 16 home runs and drove in 71 RBIs. He retired after the season, ending a 13-season major league career that included 320 homers and 950 RBIs.

In Toronto, Rolen got a fresh start, free from his tension with La Russa. At his introductory press conference, Rolen removed his coat at the press conference and jokingly said, “Oh, my shoulder.”[18]

He said he didn’t plan to discuss his issues with La Russa, nor would he use the conflict for motivation moving forward.

“To go out and try to prove to somebody else, whatever your motives, I’m not sure if that’s healthy,” Rolen said. “I want to focus all my attention and my competition on the field. Too many times the last year, year-and-a-half, some of the focus was off the field instead of on the field, where it should stay.”[19]

David Eckstein, who played alongside Rolen in St. Louis, had just signed a free-agent contract with the Blue Jays in December.

“I think it is going to be a good move for both clubs,” he said. “St. Louis was looking for someone to back Albert up, that power bat, and Troy definitely fits that. And this will be a good thing for Scott. We know the situation with Scott, and this is his fresh start.”[20]

For his part, Rolen said his shoulder felt as good as it had since his collision with Choi.

“I feel as good and as strong as I’ve been in the last three years, by far,” he said. “I feel right now that I’m back where I wanted to be before all the destruction. I don’t have any restrictions right now.”[21]

Rolen lost some of that momentum when he broke a finger in spring training and missed the opening weeks of the season. During the summer, his shoulder required another stint on the disabled list. In 115 games, he hit .262 with 11 home runs and 50 RBIs.

In 2009, he regained some of his old form, batting .320 with eight homers and 42 RBIs in 88 games. At the trading deadline, the Blue Jays sent him to Cincinnati for Edwin Encarnacion, Josh Roenicke, and Zach Stewart.

Rolen played the final 3 ½ years of his career in Cincinnati. In 2010, he hit 20 homers, drove in 83 runs, was selected for the All-Star Game, and won the Gold Glove. In 2011, he was named to the seventh and final All-Star Game of his career.

Rolen retired following the 2012 season with a .281 career batting average, 316 home runs, and 1,287 RBIs. Along the way, he won the Rookie of the Year Award, a Silver Slugger, and eight Gold Gloves. He was named to the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2019 and inducted into Cooperstown in 2023.

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[1] Joe Strauss, “La Russa: Now, it’s personal,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 6, 2007.

[2] Associated Press, “Trade gives Rolen opportunity to put La Russa feud behind him,” The Pantagraph, January 15, 2008.

[3] Joe Strauss, “La Russa: Now, it’s personal,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 6, 2007.

[4] Joe Strauss, “La Russa: Now, it’s personal,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 6, 2007.

[5] Joe Strauss, “La Russa: Now, it’s personal,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 6, 2007.

[6] Joe Strauss, “La Russa: Now, it’s personal,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 6, 2007.

[7] Derrick Goold, “Rolen relishes ‘fresh start,’” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 16, 2008.

[8] Joe Strauss, “La Russa: Now, it’s personal,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 6, 2007.

[9] Joe Strauss, “La Russa: Now, it’s personal,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 6, 2007.

[10] Derrick Goold, “Hot corner zen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 15, 2008.

[11] Derrick Goold, “Slick pick at third?” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 17, 2008.

[12] Derrick Goold, “Rolen relishes ‘fresh start,’” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 16, 2008.

[13] Derrick Goold, “Hot corner zen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 15, 2008.

[14] Derrick Goold, “Option for ’09 is key to trade,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 14, 2008.

[15] Derrick Goold, “Slick pick at third?” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 17, 2008.

[16] Derrick Goold, “Slick pick at third?” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 17, 2008.

[17] Derrick Goold, “Slick pick at third?” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 17, 2008.

[18] Derrick Goold, “Rolen relishes ‘fresh start,’” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 16, 2008.

[19] Associated Press, “Trade gives Rolen opportunity to put La Russa feud behind him,” The Pantagraph, January 15, 2008.

[20] Derrick Goold, “Hot corner zen,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 15, 2008.

[21] Associated Press, “Trade gives Rolen opportunity to put La Russa feud behind him,” The Pantagraph, January 15, 2008.

The post Why St. Louis traded Scott Rolen to Toronto for Troy Glaus first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

Pujols received all 32 votes (two voters from each National League city) after a rookie season in which he batted .329 with 37 home runs, 112 runs scored, and a rookie record 130 RBIs. Only four rookies in baseball history had hit better than .300 with more than 30 homers, 100 runs scored, and 100 RBIs.^[1]

“St. Louis is a great franchise with great performances and it would be interesting to rank his season with the great ones the franchise has had,” manager Tony La Russa said.^[2]

Pujols’ professional career got off to a rocky start when they drafted him in the 13^th round out of Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods in 1999. The 19-year-old Pujols was disappointed to be selected so late after batting .466 with 22 homers and 76 RBIs in 193 at-bats that season.[3]

“I was crying like crazy,” Pujols said. “I felt like I did so much and I didn’t get selected in the draft where I knew I could go. I felt all the work I did hadn’t paid off.”^[4]

That didn’t mean Pujols was ready to stop working. He opened the 2000 season in Class A Peoria, where he hit .324 with 17 homers and 84 RBIs in 395 at-bats before he was promoted to High-A Potomac. Pujols played 21 games in Potomac and his final three games of the season in Triple-A.

The following spring, Pujols was expected to return to Triple-A, but his spring training at-bats made it clear he was ready for the majors. Familiar with countless prospects who flamed out once they were challenged, La Russa set out to test the rookie.

“I challenged Albert more than any young player I had ever coached,” La Russa wrote in One Last Strike in 2012. “The challenges I gave Albert were tough enough that some of our staff and veteran players felt I was looking to make him fail to justify sending him out.”[5]

One moment in particular stood out to La Russa: a spring training game against the Expos and right-hander Javier Vasquez, who went on to win 16 games that season.

“I put Albert in the cleanup spot to see what he would do,” La Russa wrote. “First time up, he flails at a Vazquez slider well off the plate—looking just terrible—and I think, Aha. Got you. In my mind, Albert needs some additional seasoning, he has to work on that small thing—seeing the ball and being better disciplined at the plate. Next time up, Vazquez throws him that same slider and Albert hits a bullet to right-center. I think, Holy crap, what an adjustment.”[6]

Pujols was so impressive that La Russa planned to find a roster spot for him even before Bobby Bonilla, who had been signed during the offseason to play first base, third base, and the outfield, injured his hamstring.[7]

“By the time we got to the last week (in the spring), his playing time increased,” La Russa said. “He had played almost every day and there was no way you could tell your club you’re taking the best 25 players if Pujols wasn’t one of them. If you don’t, your club doesn’t think you’re trying to win. You had to take the best player in spring training.”^[8]

Despite his strong spring, Pujols went just 1-for-9 in the Cardinals’ season-opening series against the Rockies at Coors Field. Veterans like Mark McGwire and Jim Edmonds helped keep the 20-year-old centered.

“At first, I thought ‘I don’t know if I’m ready,’” Pujols said, “but some of my teammates like Mark and Jimmy said, ‘Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just go have fun. Just think of it as the minor leagues.’”^[9]

On April 6, Pujols hit his first major league home run, a two-run shot that proved his biggest blast in a three-hit, three-RBI day. In the next game, Pujols went 2-for-4 with a three-run double and three RBIs to raise his season average to .333.

“He sent a real message,” La Russa said. “Phoenix was the first shot he fired, but he had a lot more to do and he did it.”^[10]

Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt finished second in the Rookie of the Year race with 25 second-place votes and seven third-place votes. Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins placed third with seven second-place votes and 23 third-place votes. Cardinals pitcher Bud Smith and Reds outfielder Adam Dunn each received one third-place vote apiece.

“There was pretty good competition with Jimmy Rollins and Roy Oswalt,” Pujols said. “It was a blessed year. This is a pretty good honor and you only get it one year.”^[11]

Said La Russa, “There are a lot of impressive things about (Pujols) winning the award. One is the legitimate competition with the shortstop in Philadelphia and the pitcher in Houston, but I don’t know how he could have helped but be unanimous.”^[12]

Pujols was the ninth player in National League history to be a unanimous Rookie of the Year selection, following Frank Robinson (1956), Orlando Cepeda (1958), Willie McCovey (1959), Vince Coleman (1985), Benito Santiago (1987), Mike Piazza (1993), Raul Mondesi (1994), and Scott Rolen (1997).^[13]

“I just put my numbers out there and (the writers) took care of it,” Pujols said.[14]

Along the way, Pujols moved all around the diamond, appearing in 55 games at third base, 42 at first base, and 39 apiece in left and right field.

“That makes it even more impressive what he did this year,” Walt Jocketty said. “He played positions he’d never played before. He’d always been a third baseman. To do what he did and play all those positions is remarkable.”[15]

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[1] Rick Hummel, “Pujols is NL’s top rookie,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 13, 2001.

[2] Rick Hummel, “Pujols is NL’s top rookie,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 13, 2001.

[3] Albert Pujols Bio, NJCAA Region 16, https://njcaaregion16.org/Hall_of_Fame/Albert_Pujols.

[4] Rick Hummel, “Pujols is NL’s top rookie,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 13, 2001.

[5] Tony La Russa (2012), One Last Strike, Kindle Android version, Retrieved from Amazon.com, Page 63.

[6] Tony La Russa (2012), One Last Strike, Kindle Android version, Retrieved from Amazon.com, Page 64.

[7] Tony La Russa (2012), One Last Strike, Kindle Android version, Retrieved from Amazon.com, Page 64.

[8] Rick Hummel, “Pujols is NL’s top rookie,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 13, 2001.

[9] Rick Hummel, “Pujols is NL’s top rookie,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 13, 2001.

[10] Rick Hummel, “Pujols is NL’s top rookie,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 13, 2001.

[11] Rick Hummel, “Pujols is NL’s top rookie,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 13, 2001.

[12] Rick Hummel, “Pujols is NL’s top rookie,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 13, 2001.

[13] Associated Press, “Suzuki, Pujols are top rookies in a landslide,” Sacramento Bee, November 13, 2001.

[14] Rick Hummel, “Pujols is NL’s top rookie,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 13, 2001.

[15] Rick Hummel, “Pujols is NL’s top rookie,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 13, 2001.

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