Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. announced the decision, emphasizing that both parties had “cordially and respectfully parted ways.”[1]

“The Cardinals and Walt Jocketty are turning the page today with mutual admiration and appreciation for each other,” Dewitt said. “In speaking with Walt this morning, we were in agreement that our relationship – which has produced one of the finest eras in the history of Cardinals baseball – had likely run its course.”[2]

The move came less than a year after the Cardinals won the 2006 World Series – the franchise’s first championship since 1982 – and just three days after the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on the internal strife.

St. Louis had just concluded a disappointing, injury-plagued 2007 season. Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder missed significant time due to injury and Scott Rolen underwent shoulder surgery late in the year. Without their top two starting pitchers, the Cardinals finished 78-84 and finished third in the NL Central.

The Cardinals’ on-field struggles mirrored the challenges taking place in a front office that was divided between Jocketty’s side and that of analytics-focused executive Jeff Luhnow. When DeWitt promoted Luhnow to serve as vice president in charge of scouting and player development, roles previously held by Jocketty, the sides became even more pronounced.

“He clearly didn’t agree with the decision. He said that publicly,” DeWitt said. “My view is that one person should run both (player) procurement and development. He felt like it should be split. We had a little different philosophy and vision with some baseball issues.”[3]

DeWitt initially hoped the matter would resolve itself. Instead, assistant general manager John Mozeliak emerged as the only one who could bridge the gap.[4]

“It’s not a healthy environment when you’re worried about who you’re seen speaking to,” a Cardinals minor-league employee told the Post-Dispatch. “If you speak to someone, you risk making someone else in the front office mad. If you don’t speak, you alienate the person in front of you. It’s tough when you’re in the middle of something like that.”[5]

Initially, DeWitt dismissed the reports of friction.

“There’s tension in the front office, but I would guess there is tension in other front offices to a degree,” he said. “That’s the way it is. Everyone is pushing for the same thing: to have as productive a system as possible.”[6]

However, when announcing Jocketty’s dismissal, however, DeWitt acknowledged that his working relationship with Jocketty had deteriorated since Luhnow’s promotion.

“I think it was just a progressive thing over time,” DeWitt said. “Certain changes are made and people grumble about it and move on. I don’t think that was the case in this situation. It got worse. It’s tough enough to do well when everything’s in sync. It’s really hard when everybody’s not on the same page. Walt recognized that as well.”[7]

Jocketty’s firing ended the longest and one of the most successful GM tenures in Cardinals history. Under his leadership, St. Louis achieved a .536 winning percentage (1,117-968) and reached the postseason in seven of 13 seasons (1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006), culminating in the 2006 World Series championship.

Jocketty had also hired manager Tony La Russa and made trades for players like Mark McGwire, Rolen, Will Clark, Larry Walker, and Jim Edmonds.

“It was a hell of a run, a tremendous time here,” said Cardinals President Mark Lamping, who hired Jocketty. “Walt and I talked a while today after the meeting. Neither one of us thought we would last 13 years.”[8]

“Walt will be remembered as the Cardinals GM during one of the most successful and memorable periods in team history, and we’ll always be extremely grateful for his contributions to our many triumphs over the past 13 seasons,” DeWitt said. “Walt’s a friend and will continue to be a friend. I told him I would give him a strong recommendation if I were called about a future position.”[9]

DeWitt announced that Mozeliak, Jocketty’s assistant GM for the previous five seasons, would hold the position in an interim role and was a candidate to succeed Jocketty. Luhnow was not a candidate for the permanent position.[10]

The newly open job was sure to be highly coveted. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch shared a long list of potential successors to Jocketty, including Mozeliak, Mariners special assistant to the general manager Dan Evans, Tigers assistant general manager Al Avila, Red Sox special assistant to the general manager Allard Baird, Twins senior advisor to the general manager Terry Ryan, Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., Dodgers assistant general manager/scouting director Logan White, Phillies assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle, Dodgers assistant general manager Kim Ng, and Padres special assistant for baseball operations Paul DePodesta.[11]

Whoever inherited the job would face immediate complications. La Russa’s contract had expired and he planned to return to his home in California before making a decision regarding whether he would return.[12] On the field, the Cardinals needed one or two top-of-the-rotation starting pitchers and additional lineup protection for Albert Pujols.[13]

Despite Jocketty’s historic success, longtime Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz acknowledged it was time for the Cardinals to make a change.

“If you’re looking for me to shred Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt, you’ve come to the wrong place,” he wrote. “If you want me to declare that the sky is falling, you’ll be disappointed. If you want me to savage Jeff Luhnow as some know-nothing neophyte just because Jocketty didn’t care for him, well, you won’t be happy. There are no bad guys here, no heroes or villains. It’s just the end of a once-successful era.”[14]

On October 31, four weeks after announcing Jocketty’s firing, the Cardinals named Mozeliak general manager.

“I want (the fans) to know we are committed to winning – and creating a successful environment that will allow us to compete,” Mozeliak said. “Everyone knows the landscape’s changing at the major-league level, and we have to adapt. As we move forward, we are prepared to do so.”[15]

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[1] David Wilhelm, “Cardinals and Jocketty part ways,” Belleville News-Democrat, October 4, 2007.

[2] David Wilhelm, “Cardinals and Jocketty part ways,” Belleville News-Democrat, October 4, 2007.

[3] David Wilhelm, “Cardinals and Jocketty part ways,” Belleville News-Democrat, October 4, 2007.

[4] Joe Strauss, “So much to do,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 30, 2007.

[5] Joe Strauss, “So much to do,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 30, 2007.

[6] Joe Strauss, “So much to do,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 30, 2007.

[7] David Wilhelm, “Cardinals and Jocketty part ways,” Belleville News-Democrat, October 4, 2007.

[8] David Wilhelm, “Cardinals and Jocketty part ways,” Belleville News-Democrat, October 4, 2007.

[9] David Wilhelm, “Cardinals and Jocketty part ways,” Belleville News-Democrat, October 4, 2007.

[10] David Wilhelm, “Cardinals and Jocketty part ways,” Belleville News-Democrat, October 4, 2007.

[11] “Replacement Hopefuls,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 4, 2007.

[12] Joe Strauss, “So much to do,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 30, 2007.

[13] Joe Strauss, “So much to do,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 30, 2007.

[14] Bernie Miklasz, “Given Jocketty’s unhappiness, his departure isn’t surprising,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 4, 2007.

[15] Joe Strauss, “Mozeliak is named Cards GM,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 1, 2007.

The post Walt Jocketty: Why the Cardinals GM was fired in 2007 first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

“I think it serves Texas’ needs for this year because they’re getting Royce and Todd, who can help them try to win the West Division,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. “It really helps us too. I think we’ll be good for the next couple of months and in the future.”[1]

The 51-57 Cardinals were 13 ½ games out of first place in the National League Central Division at the time of the trade. With four players slated to become free agents after the season – Stottlemyre, Clayton, Brian Jordan, and Delino DeShields – the Cardinals had been at the center of trade rumors, particularly around Stottlemyre and Jordan.

Meanwhile, Jocketty was seeking to improve the Cardinals’ pitching and obtain a third baseman to replace 39-year-old Gary Gaetti.

“Those are the real glaring needs,” he said.[2]

Ahead of the trade deadline, Rangers general manager Doug Melvin was in Denver to watch Todd Stottlemyre pitch against the Rockies.[3]

“There have probably been six clubs that have shown interest” in Stottlemyre, Jocketty said. “Just about every club that’s in the race – with different degrees of interest.”[4]

The trade was part of a busy day for the Rangers, who also sent two prospects to the Marlins for former Cardinal Todd Zeile.

“I think it’s going to help our ballclub and there’s no doubt what we did today is an effort to win our division and go beyond,” Melvin said.[5]

In Stottlemyre, the Rangers were obtaining a veteran right-hander who had won 35 games for the Cardinals since signing with St. Louis ahead of the 1996 season. Jocketty and Stottlemyre had been negotiating a possible long-term deal, but Stottlemyre was reportedly seeking four years while the Cardinals would not go past their three-year, $21 million offer.[6]

“We think very highly of Todd, and we’d love to have him back, and we may have him back, but this allowed us to get a few pieces to help our situation,” Jocketty said.[7]

Both the Cardinals and Stottlemyre expressed a willingness to continue negotiations after the season ended.

“This has been a great experience,” Stottlemyre said. “When I was traded (from Oakland), they told me it was a great baseball town. They were wrong. It was the best. The fans are real special. The times they gave me standing ovations when I was walking off the mound? Awesome.”[8]

The Rangers turned to Stottlemyre after their negotiations to acquire Roger Clemens from the Blue Jays failed to gain traction. Sources said the Jays wanted left fielder Rusty Greer, Oliver, and a premier prospect.[9]

“He’s a real competitor,” Melvin said of Stottlemyre. “I told him he was probably pitching against Boston next weekend and he said, ‘Good.’”[10]

“I go from a club that was 13 ½ games out to a club that’s in the pennant race,” Stottlemyre said. “From that standpoint, it’s pretty exciting. For the next two months, going out and pitching with that kind of pressure, it’s what every player wants.”[11]

Clayton was all too familiar with pressure, having come to St. Louis in a December 1995 trade that made him the heir apparent to Ozzie Smith. In Clayton’s first season in St. Louis, Clayton and Smith split time at the position, creating a tense situation that was only resolved when Smith announced his retirement effective at the end of the season.

After hitting .277 with six homers, 35 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases in his debut season in St. Louis, Clayton earned All-Star recognition in 1997, batting .266 with nine homers, 61 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases. His 1998 campaign, however, was disappointing, and at the time of the trade he was batting just .234.

“I didn’t think anything was going to happen,” Clayton said. “I thought things had pretty much subsided when you don’t hear your name, but there’s no doubt in my mind that I’m going to help this team.”[12]

Clayton was taking the place of Kevin Elster, whom the Rangers released upon completing the trade. Elster had helped Texas win the AL West in 1996, but when he returned ahead of the 1998 season the Rangers found that the 33-year-old had lost a step.

“Of all the priorities we had, improving at shortstop was No. 1,” Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. “Shortstop is such an important position defensively. A good one makes your pitching better, makes your outfielders better by cutting down on their throws. I talked to Tony La Russa at length this afternoon and he’s very high on (Clayton). He said we’ll like him, that the ball jumps off his bat, that he has good range and a good arm, and that he likes to play and play hard. Those were all the things we were looking for.”[13]

“I’m just happy to be part of an organization that is trying to better itself,” Clayton said. “This team showed they will do what it takes to help the ballclub – not to say that they needed help, because I personally felt like Texas had a great team to start with.”[14]

St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz considered the Cardinals’ trade of Clayton to be addition by subtraction.

“Clayton represented everything wrong with this disappointing team: moodiness and stubbornness,” Miklasz wrote. “He pouted when he didn’t bat leadoff. He never embraced the suggestions to hit smarter with two strikes. Clayton never tried to hit the ball the opposite way, no matter how many lectures he heard from batting instructor Dave Parker. So before firing Clayton, the Cardinals exchanged him for Tatis, who could be their third baseman for many summers. Jocketty made it clear to Rangers GM Doug Melvin that he wouldn’t trade Stottlemyre for Oliver unless the deal was expanded to include the swap of Clayton for Tatis. Because of his tough posture, Jocketty got Tatis as a bonus.”[15]

A native of the Dominican Republic, the 23-year-old Tatis made his debut the previous year, batting .256 with eight homers and 29 RBIs in 241 plate appearances. At the time of the trade, he was batting .270 with three homers and 32 RBIs through 95 games.

“We don’t like giving him up because we really think he’ll be an All-Star third baseman,” Melvin said.[16]

“The guy we liked is Tatis,” Jocketty said. “We needed to find a third baseman and he was the best guy available.”[17]

Oliver, 27, had been in the Rangers organization since they drafted him in the third round in 1988. In his previous two seasons with the Rangers, he won 27 games and threw 375 innings. At the time of the trade, however, he was struggling through a down year and was just 6-7 with a 6.53 ERA.

“We’ve had good reports on Oliver,” Jocketty said. “He’s a solid third or fourth starter and probably better than that. He gives us a little depth in our rotation. A couple of clubs have called about him, but we’re going to hold onto him.”[18]

“He’s very deceptive,” said Mark McGwire, who had played against Oliver in the American League. “He’s got a very smooth delivery. Great demeanor on the mound. You wouldn’t know if he had given up five runs or that he had a no-hitter going.”[19]

Oliver’s contract ran through the 1999 season, making him a rotation piece the Cardinals could count on in the upcoming season.

The Rangers, however, were clearly focused on that fall.

“We’re the front-runners now,” Texas second baseman Mark McLemore said.[20]

Indeed, the Rangers went on to pass Anaheim in the AL West race, going 37-23 in August and September to win the division with an 88-74 record, three games ahead of the Angels. Stottlemyre went 5-4 with a 4.33 ERA in 10 starts while Clayton hit .285 with five homers and 24 RBIs in 186 at-bats.

In the playoffs, the Rangers’ surge came to an abrupt halt, as the Yankees swept them in a three-game AL Division Series. Stottlemyre took the loss in Game 1 despite holding New York to two runs over eight innings (David Wells and Mariano Rivera combined for a shutout in the Yankees’ 2-0 win).

Clayton went 2-for-9 in the series with four strikeouts.

That December, Clayton signed a four-year, $18 million contract to return to the Rangers. He played two seasons of that contract before he was traded to the White Sox. Clayton spent two years in Chicago before playing for the Brewers, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Nationals, Reds, Blue Jays, and Red Sox over the next five seasons.

After the 1998 season, Stottlemyre signed a four-year, $32 million deal with the Diamondbacks. Unfortunately, Stottlemyre’s time in Arizona was plagued by injury. He threw 101 1/3 innings in 1999, followed by 95 1/3 innings in 2000. He missed all of the 2001 season with shoulder and elbow injuries, and his attempt at a comeback at age 37 lasted just 20 1/3 innings. He retired after the 2002 season with a 138-121 record and a 4.28 career ERA.

Tatis hit .287 with eight homers and 26 RBIs down the stretch for the Cardinals in 1998. In April 1999, Tatis set a record that is unlikely ever to be broken, as he hit two grand slams in one inning against Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park.

Tatis posted career highs that season as he batted .298 with 34 homers, 107 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases. The following year, his numbers dipped as he batted .253 with 18 homers and 64 RBIs. That December, the Cardinals traded Tatis and pitcher Britt Reames to the Expos for Dustin Hermanson and Steve Kline.

Oliver went 4-4 with a 4.26 ERA for the Cardinals during the remainder of the 1998 season. He made 30 starts for St. Louis in 1999, going 9-9 – again posting a 4.26 ERA – before signing with the Rangers ahead of the 2000 season. In 2004, Oliver was converted to a relief pitcher, a move that allowed him to continue pitching as a left-handed specialist through his age-42 season.

Oliver was in his third stint with the Rangers in 2011 when the Cardinals met them in the World Series; he earned the win in Game 5 after throwing a scoreless eighth inning.

After being named as the fifth player in the trade, Little joined the Cardinals and appeared in seven games, posting a single in 12 at-bats. He did not return to the majors again until 2001, when he hit .341 in 85 at-bats with the Rockies. Little played parts of four big-league seasons with the Cardinals, Rockies, Mets, Diamondbacks, and Indians.

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[1] “Cards trade Stottlemyre, Clayton,” Belleville News-Democrat, August 1, 1998.

[2] Rick Hummel, “Jocketty is confident he’ll swing a deal,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 28, 1998.

[3] Rick Hummel, “Jocketty is confident he’ll swing a deal,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 28, 1998.

[4] Rick Hummel, “Jocketty is confident he’ll swing a deal,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 28, 1998.

[5] Johnny Paul, “Real Deals For Rangers, Astros,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 1, 1998.

[6] Bernie Miklasz, “Cards GM salvaged some future options in trade with Texas,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 2, 1998.

[7] Rick Hummel, “Cards trade Stottlemyre, Clayton to Texas for pitcher, third baseman,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 1, 1998.

[8] Rick Hummel, “Cards trade Stottlemyre, Clayton to Texas for pitcher, third baseman,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 1, 1998.

[9] Johnny Paul, “Real Deals For Rangers, Astros,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 1, 1998.

[10] “Cards trade Stottlemyre, Clayton,” Belleville News-Democrat, August 1, 1998.

[11] J. Douglas Foster, “New acquisitions elated to join Rangers for a drive to playoffs,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 2, 1998.

[12] Rick Hummel, “Cards trade Stottlemyre, Clayton to Texas for pitcher, third baseman,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 1, 1998.

[13] Jim Reeves, “Rolls Royce is driving key in this deal,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 1, 1998.

[14] J. Douglas Foster, “New acquisitions elated to join Rangers for a drive to playoffs,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 2, 1998.

[15] Bernie Miklasz, “Cards GM salvaged some future options in trade with Texas,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 2, 1998.

[16] Bernie Miklasz, “Cards GM salvaged some future options in trade with Texas,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 2, 1998.

[17] Rick Hummel, “Cards trade Stottlemyre, Clayton to Texas for pitcher, third baseman,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 1, 1998.

[18] Rick Hummel, “Cards trade Stottlemyre, Clayton to Texas for pitcher, third baseman,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 1, 1998.

[19] Rick Hummel, “Cards trade Stottlemyre, Clayton to Texas for pitcher, third baseman,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 1, 1998.

[20] Jim Reeves, “Rolls Royce is driving key in this deal,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 1, 1998.

The post Why the Cards traded Todd Stottlemyre and Royce Clayton at the 1998 trade deadline first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

General manager Walt Jocketty was seeking a veteran catcher to complement Marrero, who had hit just .192 the previous season in his first season back from thyroid cancer surgery. When catcher Albert Castillo, who claimed the starting job during the second half of the 1999 season, was included in the trade for starting pitcher Pat Hentgen, the Cardinals found themselves in need of an experienced backstop who might be counted on for significant playing time.

However, Matheny wasn’t Jocketty’s first choice. Instead, the Cardinals sought Joe Girardi, who had won three World Series championships in his four seasons with the Yankees. Though the Cardinals and Giants both offered Girardi more money, the 35-year-old opted to sign with his hometown Cubs.

“It’s the same thing that happened to (Terry) Steinbach,” said Jocketty, recalling another veteran backstop who had turned down a free-agent offer from the Cardinals. “The guy would rather play at home instead of coming to a better situation. It’s tough to compete against that.”[1]

Though Girardi ultimately joined the Cardinals in 2003 to serve as Matheny’s backup, his decision to play in Chicago meant Jocketty had to pivot. This time, the Cardinals pursued Matheny, who had lived in Weldon Springs, Missouri, the past three years. Matheny’s wife Kristin grew up in Chesterfield.

“She must have some powerful prayers because we really didn’t think about the Cardinals being interested in us,” Matheny said.[2]

The Brewers drafted Matheny in the eighth round of the 1991 draft after his junior year at the University of Michigan. He made his major-league debut as a 23-year-old in 1993, and over five seasons with the Brewers he hit .231/278/.334. In 1996, Matheny set career highs with eight homers and 46 RBIs, though he hit just .204 that year.

After the 1998 season, Matheny signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jays. As a backup to Darrin Fletcher, Matheny appeared in 57 games, batting .215.

“I wish I could take a little of the enthusiasm I feel when I’m behind the plate and have it when I get in the batter’s box,” Matheny said. “I just love being behind the plate, all the strategy that goes unseen there. But I’m working on my other perspectives. I am working on revamping my swing and improving in the things that have held my statistics back.”[3]

Though he also received an offer to return to the Brewers and also received interest from the Yankees and Rockies, Matheny signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Cardinals.[4]

The deal included a team option for 2001, but when he was asked if his new contract included any incentives, Matheny said, “No, I’ve never been a big fan of incentives. I’ve got a job that should be incentive enough.”[5]

To make room for Matheny, the Cardinals designated outfielder Darren Bragg for assignment.

“We feel that Matheny gives us solid depth behind the plate,” Jocketty said. “He is very good defensively and he knows how to handle a pitching staff well.”[6]

Emphasizing that the Cardinals were prioritizing defense at the position, manager Tony La Russa made it clear that the starting job would be up for grabs at spring training.

“Matheny is going to get a real opportunity,” he said in January. “That pitching staff is going to have to be caught. … The guy who gets back there can contribute to winning more defensively than offensively.”[7]

“My perspective is full of cliches,” Mathey said. “I will just fill whatever role the team needs. I like to think I’m an unselfish player and will be helpful whether I’m playing or not. That doesn’t mean I’m not interested in playing, because I am. I just want to help this team win however I can.”[8]

When Matheny arrived in St. Petersburg for spring training, however, he failed to impress offensively or defensively. Less than two weeks away from the Cardinals’ season opener, Matheny was batting .091, Marrero was batting .100, and Rick Wilkins was batting .217.

“We were surprised … that he wasn’t better defensively than he was,” La Russa said. “He was trying so hard he was suffocating his ability. … He wanted it so bad he was trying too hard.”[9]

Matheny’s spring finally turned with a phone call from his wife Kristin.

“She’s always been really positive,” Matheny said. “I’m sitting here wondering where the rest of my career is going to go, and I can’t do anything right. Last year was a situation I had been in before, where I felt I didn’t rise to the occasion. She told me everything works itself out and to rely on my faith. It’s amazing how strong she is and the faith she has in me. It was real comforting to hear her say that.”[10]

Before the month was over, Matheny had raised his spring average 118 points.

“All of a sudden, the shackles came off and he came to life,” La Russa said. “He was a dark horse coming in. He had to make a first impression, a middle impression, and an ending impression. Every impression he made was good, better, better.”[11]

Matheny started 117 games that season, batting a career-high .261 while throwing out 46 of 90 would-be base stealers. He was rewarded that fall with the first Gold Glove Award of his career.

“My approach to the game is so defensive-minded,” Matheny said. “It’s something that is hard to calibrate how you are doing sometimes. You get feedback from the pitching staff about it, but something like this award, where other managers vote on it, it means a lot to find out how your peers and the other coaches view you. The only thing that could mean more would be to hear that from your teammates and the fans.”[12]

The only disappointment for Matheny came that fall, as an accident with a hunting knife given to him as a birthday gift severed the tendon in his right ring finger, forcing him to miss the postseason. As a result, Matheny could only watch as Rick Ankiel melted down in Game 1 of the NLDS, forever changing the phenom’s career path.

After the season, the Cardinals exercised their $900,000 option on Matheny.

“He did an outstanding job for us,” Jocketty said. “He was a valuable part of our club that we missed in the postseason. His offense was a huge plus. I don’t think we expected him to hit .260.”[13]

After the 2001 season, the Cardinals signed Matheny to a three-year contract that solidified his role on the team. Though Matheny never hit as high as .261 again, his toughness and defense helped the Cardinals rise to the top of the National League.

In 2003, he won the Gold Glove Award again with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage while playing 1,096 innings.

“The first one was very exciting. It’s something that I never dreamed might happen,” Matheny said. “But you do it once, and it could be a lot of things. To do it a second time says it’s not a fluke. It’s very special.”[14]

Between August 2, 2002, and August 4, 2004, Matheny played 252 games without committing an error, setting a new record for MLB catchers. Along the way, he earned the respect of his teammates. In January 2004, Matheny was named the first recipient of the Darryl Kile Award, voted upon by Cardinals players and given to a player who embodied Kile’s spirit, determination, and professionalism.

After the 2004 season, which included the major-league debut of prized catching prospect Yadier Molina, Matheny signed a three-year contract with the Giants. He retired following the 2006 season due the effects of post-concussion syndrome.

In five seasons in St. Louis, Matheny hit .245 with 29 homers and 221 RBIs. He retired with a .994 fielding percentage and four Gold Glove awards.

In November 2011, just 15 days after La Russa announced his retirement, the Cardinals announced that they had hired Matheny to manage the club. In seven seasons as the Cardinals’ manager, he led the team to a 591-474 record with three Central Division championships and one National League pennant.

[1] Rick Hummel, “With Girardi now gone, Cards’ search goes on,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 12, 1999.

[2] Mike Eisenbath, “Free agent Matheny joins the Cardinals’ catching corps,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 17, 1999.

[3] Mike Eisenbath, “Free agent Matheny joins the Cardinals’ catching corps,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 17, 1999.

[4] Mike Eisenbath, “Free agent Matheny joins the Cardinals’ catching corps,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 17, 1999.

[5] Mike Eisenbath, “Free agent Matheny joins the Cardinals’ catching corps,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 17, 1999.

[6] Joe Ostermeier, “Cards sign catcher Matheny to share duties with Marrero,” Belleville News-Democrat, December 17, 1999.

[7] Rick Hummel, “La Russa now knows better than to make predictions,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 23, 2000.

[8] Mike Eisenbath, “Free agent Matheny joins the Cardinals’ catching corps,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 17, 1999.

[9] Rick Hummel, “A year makes a big difference for Gold Glove winner Matheny,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 20, 2001.

[10] Rick Hummel, “A year makes a big difference for Gold Glove winner Matheny,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 20, 2001.

[11] Rick Hummel, “A year makes a big difference for Gold Glove winner Matheny,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 20, 2001.

[12] Mike Eisenbath, “Edmonds, Matheny win Gold Gloves for fielding prowess,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 8, 2000.

[13] David Wilhelm, “Hentgen cut, Matheny will be back,” Belleville News-Democrat, October 31, 2000.

[14] Dan O’Neill, “Color the Gold Gloves red again,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 6, 2003.

The post How Mike Matheny signed with the Cardinals 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.

At the time the signing was announced, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that DeShields would earn more than $1.5 million in 1997 and the option for 1998 would earn him almost $2 million.[1] Later, the paper reported that DeShields’ deal was for $1 million with a $3 million option.[2]

Regardless of the exact figures, the second baseman proved to be a valuable addition to the Cardinals’ lineup.

Jocketty had explored the possibility of trading for Pirates infielder Jeff King, who hit 30 homers and drove in 111 runs in 1996, but found that Pittsburgh wanted too much young talent. The Cardinals also explored adding Ryne Sandberg, but the 37-year-old wanted a two-year contract. Instead, St. Louis signed DeShields despite his struggles the two previous seasons with the Dodgers.[3]

The Cardinals did not pursue Luis Alicea, who started 104 games at second base the previous season.[4]

“We felt we needed a leadoff hitter,” Jocketty said. “We feel DeShields solves this problem. Obviously, he hasn’t played well the last couple of years, but he didn’t like the situation in L.A. He didn’t like (Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda). This will be a much better environment for him. … (Tony La Russa) is very good at working with players like this and getting the most out of them.”[5]

A baseball and basketball star at his Delaware high school, DeShields received a scholarship to play basketball at Villanova. Opting instead to sign with the Expos after he was selected 12^th overall in 1987, DeShields made his major-league debut against the Cardinals in 1990 and collected four hits in his first game en route to a second-place finish in the Rookie of the Year balloting.

In four seasons with the Expos, DeShields hit .277/.367/.373 with 309 runs scored and 187 stolen bases. After the 1993 season, the Expos traded DeShields to the Dodgers for Pedro Martinez. The Dodgers and their fans came to rue that decision.

While Martinez launched a Hall of Fame career in Montreal, DeShields struggled in three seasons with the Dodgers, batting .241/.326/.327. In 1996, he hit just .224 and struck out 124 times, seventh-most in the National League. He hit just .184 after the all-star break and was pulled from the Dodgers’ starting lineup in their final two playoff games.

“Getting out of L.A. is going to have a big impact on him,” said catcher Tom Pagnozzi. “I think he’s got to be excited about being out of there. He’s a perfect fit for the Cardinals.”[6]

DeShields said his struggles weren’t related to friction in Los Angeles, but instead were caused by nagging injuries – particularly a sore hip that limited his mobility.

“I probably shouldn’t have even been playing a lot of days, but I played,” he said. “I’m just that kind of guy. It might not have been smart of me, going out there and continuing to try and play through it, but that’s the only way I knew to go about it. I took a lot of heat, but I know I’m not a .230 hitter. I know I’m no .250 hitter. So it’s up to me to go out there and silence all this stuff.”[7]

Despite his offensive struggles, DeShields had multiple suitors, including the Yankees, Padres, Cubs, and Reds.[8] On November 14, the Los Angeles Times reported that DeShields would sign with the Reds the next day. To make space for him, the paper reported, the Reds planned to trade second baseman Bret Boone.[9]

However, that report was refuted by DeShields’ agent. Less than a week later, the Cardinals announced that DeShields had chosen to sign with the club.

“There’s a good group of guys on the team and it’s a good situation. I have a lot of respect for guys like Pagnozzi, Ray (Lankford), and Brian (Jordan),” DeShields said.[10]

“I think he can be at the top of the lineup,” La Russa said. “He’s exciting. You look at his stolen bases, and he wasn’t all that healthy all the time. I really believe that if he plays like he can, he could be somebody who could score a ton of runs. For a good part of his career, he’s been regarded as a multi-threat to win a game – with his glove, his legs, his bat. In Montreal, he did it beyond a couple of months or a year. That proves to me he can do it. He’s entering the prime years of his career, and he can be right in the middle of the success we can have the next few years. The problems that have developed we can identify and work on while at the same time looking at the pluses he brings.”[11]

DeShields predicted that if he returned to the batting averages he posted in Montreal, he could be an impact bat for the Cardinals.

“If I hit .270, I’ll score 120 runs and steal 70 bases,” DeShields said. “I’ve never felt I needed a spark.”[12]

DeShields may not have posted 120 runs or 70 stolen bases in either of his two seasons in St. Louis, but the Cardinals certainly couldn’t complain after he hit a career-high .295 with a .357 on-base percentage and slugged .448, another career high. His 14 triples led all of baseball, and he added 11 homers, 58 RBIs, 92 runs scored, and 55 stolen bases. According to Baseball-Reference.com, he ranked third on the Cardinals in wins above replacement, trailing only Lankford and Andy Benes.

In 1998, DeShields hit .290/.371/.429 with 74 runs scored, seven homers, 44 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases. Though the Cardinals sought to bring him back for the 1999 season, he signed a three-year, $12.5 million contract with the Orioles that December.

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[1] Rick Hummel, “Cards Sign DeShields As New 2^nd Baseman,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 21, 1996.

[2] Mike Eisenbath, “DeShields signs 3-year deal with Orioles,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 5, 1998.

[3] Rick Hummel, “Cards Sign DeShields As New 2^nd Baseman,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 21, 1996.

[4] Rick Hummel, “Cards Sign DeShields As New 2^nd Baseman,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 21, 1996.

[5] Rick Hummel, “Cards Sign DeShields As New 2^nd Baseman,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 21, 1996.

[6] Rick Hummel, “Cards Sign DeShields As New 2^nd Baseman,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 21, 1996.

[7] Bernie Miklasz, “DeShields Is A Historical Significance,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 22, 1996.

[8] Rick Hummel, “Cards Sign DeShields As New 2^nd Baseman,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 21, 1996.

[9] “DeShields Will Move From Dodgers to Reds,” Los Angeles Times, November 14, 1996.

[10] Rick Hummel, “Cards Sign DeShields As New 2^nd Baseman,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 21, 1996.

[11] Rick Hummel, “Cards Sign DeShields As New 2^nd Baseman,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 21, 1996.

[12] Rick Hummel, “Orioles Players Throwing Quite A Pitch At Pagnozzi,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 24, 1996.

The post Why Delino DeShields signed with the Cardinals in 1996 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.

Four days later, on March 23, 2000, Edmonds became a St. Louis Cardinal in a deal that sent pitcher Kent Bottenfield and second base prospect Adam Kennedy to the Angels.

“When we heard Stoneman say Jim wasn’t getting traded, I don’t know what it meant to you guys, but to a lot of us it was a sign something was going to happen,” Angels shortstop Gary DiSarcina said. “It was the kiss of death.”[1]

ANGELS HAD LONG SOUGHT TO TRADE THEIR YOUNG STAR

A Southern California native, Edmonds was the Angels’ seventh-round draft pick in 1988 out of Diamond Bar High School, approximately 20 minutes outside of Anaheim. By the time he made major-league debut as a September call-up in 1993, Edmonds had established himself as an elite defensive center fielder who was batting .315 in Triple-A Vancouver.

He had not, however, developed a power stroke. Heading into the 1995 season, Edmonds had never hit more than 14 home runs in a single season (that came between Double-A and Triple-A in 1992) and he had just five major-league home runs to his name.

“I got a lot stronger and I changed my swing,” Edmonds said. “I went home in ’94 and said, ‘This is what I’ve got to do.’ I wanted to learn to pull the ball a little bit more. It just happened overnight. Very surprising. I knew I had power. I just wasn’t able to hit the ball in the air to right-center field as much. That’s where I changed. I wasn’t trying to hit 30 home runs. I was just trying to get the ball up in the air with some backspin.”[2]

The changes worked. In 1995, Edmonds emerged as an American League All-Star, batting .290 with 33 homers and a team-high 107 RBIs. He hit at least 25 home runs in each of the next three seasons.

Despite Edmonds’ success, California media reported that teammates thought Edmonds could get even more out of his ability.

“He took the rap of being lazy,” said Rod Carew, who worked with Edmonds as a hitting instructor with the Angels. “I told him, ‘Same thing I took for 19 years.’”[3]

Edmonds also faced accusations that he didn’t take the Angels’ late-season elimination in the 1998 American League West championship race hard enough.[4] Matters only grew worse in 1999 when Edmonds required surgery in April for a longstanding shoulder injury. Edmonds initially believed that he could continue to play through it, but the condition finally grew so bad that he relented and had the surgery.

Because he waited until April to have the surgery, he wasn’t able to return until August and played just 55 games that season. The Los Angeles Times reported that “several Angels felt betrayed and vented their frustration, saying that if Edmonds had his priorities in order, he would have had surgery in the offseason.”[5]

It was no secret that the Angels were looking for a trade partner, especially as Edmonds entered the final year of his contract. At various times, the Angels had spoken to the Athletics, Mariners, Mets, and Yankees about possible deals.

In the weeks leading up to the trade, Stoneman spoke to the Yankees but New York was unwilling to send pitcher Ramiro Mendoza or infielder Alfonso Soriano to Anaheim. Oakland offered pitcher Ron Mahay and pitching prospect Jesus Colome, but the Angels declined that offer.[6]

The Cardinals had spoken to the Angels during the winter but were unwilling to trade pitching prospects Rick Ankiel or Chad Hutchinson.[7] Talks lay dormant until the spring, when former Rockies general manager Bob Gebhard, now an assistant to Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty, was scouting the Angels at their training camp in Arizona.

“Talking to their people, they said they’d pretty much had a tryout camp at second base and they asked if Kennedy might be available,” Gebhard said. “I said, ‘You need to talk to Walt, but for a deal the magnitude of an Edmonds trade, he might be.’”[8]

THE CARDINALS MET THE ANGELS’ NEED FOR A STARTING PITCHER AND SECOND BASEMAN

The combination of Bottenfield, who would bolster a beleaguered Angels pitching staff that posted a 4.79 team ERA in 1998, and Kennedy, who had relatively little competition for the second base job, was enough to convince Stoneman to make the trade.

“The Angels hope to fill two holes with the deal, adding an 18-game winner who, though he is no Cy Young Award candidate, should bolster a rotation many consider the worst in baseball, and a good-hitting second base prospect who is expected to win the job over the undistinguished cast of candidates the Angels have auditioned this spring,” wrote Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.[9]

“It became apparent we might be able to fill two needs,” Stoneman said. “It made so much sense we had to do it.”[10]

Stoneman already was familiar with Bottenfield, who had been a Montreal pitching prospect during Stoneman’s days as an Expos executive. At that time, Bottenfield had been a hard-throwing starter, but since starting 37 games for the Expos and Rockies in 1993, he had been used primarily as a reliever until the Cardinals signed him as a free agent in 1998.

Under pitching coach Dave Duncan’s tutelage, Bottenfield was selected for the only All-Star Game of his career on his way to an 18-7 record and 3.97 ERA. His 18 wins more than tripled his previous career high of five.

“He found himself in St. Louis,” Stoneman said. “His blazing fastball is gone, but he could throw to a dime and hit it. He understands pitching and has great control. He won’t strike out a lot of guys, but he’ll make them put the ball in play.”[11]

Said Bottenfield: “Guys will walk away from the plate wondering how I got them out. I watch 8-10 hours of videotape before each start and try to learn hitters better than they know themselves. I try to find their weaknesses and exploit them.”[12]

Like Edmonds, Bottenfield said he had been assured by Cardinals executives that he didn’t have to worry about being traded.

“I was told this wasn’t going to happen,” Bottenfield said. “Maybe that should have been the first clue.”[13]

“We had no intention of trading a starting pitcher,” Jocketty said. “This came up, and when you get an opportunity to get a guy of Edmonds’ stature, you can’t pass it up.”[14]

Though he had spent just two seasons with the Cardinals, Bottenfield was so emotional after learning of the deal that he couldn’t speak with reporters that day. The following morning, he was still fighting back tears.[15]

“It came as a shock,” he said. “With all the moves this team made, it’s going to be exciting, and I’m going to be sorry that I’m not a part of it. … I don’t dread going to Anaheim, and there are some positive aspects of this deal, but to leave the fans of St. Louis, who have been so good to me, that’s tough.”[16]

Meanwhile, the 24-year-old Kennedy saw the deal as an opportunity to move closer to his hometown in Riverside, California, and to get regular playing time. The Cardinals had acquired Fernando Vina in a trade with the Brewers that offseason, effectively blocking Kennedy from the St. Louis starting lineup. In Anaheim, he was expected to compete with Scott Spiezio and Trent Durrington for playing time.[17]

“They’re going to give me a shot,” he said. “You know I love this place, but this is also my career and life and a job, and at the same time I’ve got to do what’s best for me. This is what I’ve been waiting for – an opportunity like this, and I think I’m pretty ready for it.”[18]

The Cardinals selected Kennedy with their first-round pick in 1997, and in 1999 he was named the franchise’s minor-league player of the year after batting .327 with 10 homers, 63 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases for Triple-A Memphis. His performance earned him a late-season call-up to the majors, where he hit .255 with a home run and 16 RBIs in 110 plate appearances.

“I doubt many people know Adam Kennedy except for his neighbors in Riverside, but our scouts think he’s ready,” Stoneman said. “He’s basically an offensive player at this point who rarely strikes out, but he also knows how to play and plays hard.”[19]

In addition to providing the Angels with a starting pitcher and a second baseman, the trade also helped clear up the Angels’ outfield situation, with Garret Anderson moving from left field to center field, Darin Erstad moving to left, and Tim Salmon stationed in right field.

“Sometimes patience has its rewards,” Stoneman said. “We now have two players who our (scouts) really liked a lot at two positions where we had a need. This helps immeasurably to balance our club. Some people may have felt differently, but it has never been our intention to do anything less than field a competitive club this year and make a run in the West.”[20]

“A talent like Jim’s is not going to be replaced,” Mike Scoscia said. “Fortunately for us, we have enough guys so the impact won’t be as great offensively, and Garret is an experienced center fielder. This strengthens us in a couple of areas.”[21]

EDMONDS BRINGS ELITE OFFENSE, GOLD GLOVE DEFENSE TO ST. LOUIS

In St. Louis, the trade was the endcap to a busy offseason for Jocketty, who acquired Andy Benes, Vina, Pat Hentgen, Dave Veres, and Darryl Kile in recent months. Those moves gave the Cardinals the starting pitching and infield depth to trade Bottenfield and Kennedy.

“And we’ve still got (Rick Ankiel) in a Cardinals uniform and we’ve still got Hutchinson in a Cardinal uniform,” Gebhard said. “The nucleus of the 2000 club is still here, and so is the future.”[22]

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said he planned to move incumbent center fielder J.D. Drew to right field. Ray Lankford would play left field and the 38-year-old Eric Davis, who was returning from shoulder surgery, would be used as a fourth outfielder.[23]

“As we looked at our club, we needed another bat and we also got a Gold Glove center fielder,” general manager Walt Jocketty said. “I’ve talked to several American League general managers in the last few days and they felt he was probably one of the best one or two center fielders in the entire league.”[24]

Edmonds already had won Gold Gloves in 1997 and 1998.

“I’ve seen Jim make a dozen plays where you just say, ‘Wow, that’s amazing,’” Salmon said. “He has a great arm and the ability to make the off-balance throw to third. He banged into the wall a ton of times making great plays.

“He has such a beautiful swing I’d get jealous of it, and in pressure-packed situations he seemed so relaxed. He has that flair. He’ll be missed, but at the same time none of us should be surprised. We’ve been preparing for this for three years.”[25]

Edmonds was due to make $4 million in 2000 and was entering the final year of his contract.[26] Jocketty said that if Edmonds and his agent were open to exploring a long-term deal, the Cardinals were interested.[27]

“He’s a terrific center fielder,” said Benes, who had played against Edmonds in the American League. “There’s a lot to be said for how many runs are saved because of good defense.”[28]

“He’s a great player,” said Fernando Tatis, another former American Leaguer. “He can hit, he can do everything. This guy is unbelievable. I’ve watched him play and the way he plays is amazing.”[29]

Just as the Cardinals heaped praise on their new teammate, Salmon offered his teammates in Anaheim a word of caution, noting that the trade “looks pretty good so far … but if Jim wins the National League MVP Award, Bill (Stoneman) will have to live with that one.”[30]

EDMONDS THRIVES IN ST. LOUIS

Edmonds didn’t win the MVP Award in St. Louis, but he twice placed among the top five in the award voting. In his debut season in 2000, he hit .295 with a career-high 42 home runs, 108 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases. In addition to earning midsummer all-star honors, he captured the third Gold Glove of his career and placed fourth in the NL MVP race behind Jeff Kent, Barry Bonds, and Mike Piazza.

Four years later, in 2004, Edmonds may have been just a touch better, batting .301 with 42 homers, 111 RBIs, and eight stolen bases. As part of the vaunted “MV3” alongside Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen, Edmonds won a Gold Glove, placed fifth in the MVP voting, and won the Silver Slugger Award while helping the Cardinals win the National League pennant. In Game 7 of the NLCS against the Astros, Edmonds made a diving, game-saving catch to help send the Cardinals to the World Series.

In 2006, Edmonds hit two home runs in the NLCS before the Cardinals topped the Tigers in five games for the 10^th World Series championship in franchise history.

Following the 2007 season, the Cardinals traded Edmonds to the Padres for 2011 World Series hero David Freese. Edmonds split the 2008 season between the Padres and Cubs, then sat out the 2009 season before spending 2010 with the Brewers and the Reds.

In 2011, Edmonds rejoined the Cardinals but a lingering Achilles injury forced him to announce his retirement before spring training games could begin. He retired with eight Gold Gloves, a career .284 batting average, 393 home runs, and 1,199 RBIs in 17 big-league seasons. He was inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.

KENNEDY BECOMES A FIXTURE FOR THE ANGELS

In Anaheim, Bottenfield struggled to regain the magic of his 1999 season. Through 21 starts, he went 7-8 with a 5.71 ERA before he was traded to the Phillies for Ron Gant. In Philadelphia, Bottenfield went 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in eight starts.

He signed with the Astros in 2001, where he went 2-5 with a 6.40 ERA before a shoulder injury forced him to retire with a 46-49 record and 4.54 ERA for his career.

In Kennedy, the Angels indeed found their second baseman of the future. Kennedy played seven seasons with the Angels, batting .280 over that span. His best season came in 2002, when he hit .312 with seven home runs, 52 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. He earned ALCS MVP honors that fall when he hit .357 with three homers and five RBIs against the Twins. He then hit .280 with two doubles and two RBIs to help the Angels win the World Series title over the Giants.

After the 2006 season, Kennedy returned to St. Louis on a three-year, $10 million contract.[31] He was batting just .219 in 2007 when he suffered a season-ending knee injury in August. The following season, he appeared in 115 games – including 89 starts – batting .280 with two homers and 36 RBIs. After he requested a trade in a bid for more playing time, the Cardinals released him in February 2009.

The remainder of Kennedy’s career took him to Tampa Bay, Oakland, Washington, Seattle, and Los Angeles. His retirement following the 2012 season concluded a 14-year major-league career that included a .272 career batting average, 80 home runs, 571 RBIs, and 179 stolen bases.

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[1] Mike DiGiovanna, “Enigmatic outfielder is traded to St. Louis for pitcher Bottenfield and second baseman Kennedy,” Los Angeles Times, March 24, 2000.

[2] Mike Eisenbath, “Meet Jim Edmonds: All the tools – and baggage, too,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 2000.

[3] Mike Eisenbath, “Meet Jim Edmonds: All the tools – and baggage, too,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 2000.

[4] Mike Eisenbath, “Meet Jim Edmonds: All the tools – and baggage, too,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 2000.

[5] Mike DiGiovanna, “Enigmatic outfielder is traded to St. Louis for pitcher Bottenfield and second baseman Kennedy,” Los Angeles Times, March 24, 2000.

[6] Rick Hummel, “Edmonds’ defense should help Cardinals pitching,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 2000.

[7] Rick Hummel, “Cards trade Bottenfield, get Edmonds,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 24, 2000.

[8] Rick Hummel, “With Orosco in bullpen, Radinsky can be cautious,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 2000.

[9] Mike DiGiovanna, “Enigmatic outfielder is traded to St. Louis for pitcher Bottenfield and second baseman Kennedy,” Los Angeles Times, March 24, 2000.

[10] Mike DiGiovanna, “Enigmatic outfielder is traded to St. Louis for pitcher Bottenfield and second baseman Kennedy,” Los Angeles Times, March 24, 2000.

[11] Mike DiGiovanna, “Enigmatic outfielder is traded to St. Louis for pitcher Bottenfield and second baseman Kennedy,” Los Angeles Times, March 24, 2000.

[12] Mike DiGiovanna, “Bottenfield Brings His ‘Maddux-Type’ Approach to Angels,” Los Angeles Times, March 25, 2000.

[13] Mike DiGiovanna, “Bottenfield Brings His ‘Maddux-Type’ Approach to Angels,” Los Angeles Times, March 25, 2000.

[14] Associated Press, “Angels relent, deal Edmonds to Cards,” Baltimore Sun, March 24, 2000.

[15] Mike DiGiovanna, “Bottenfield Brings His ‘Maddux-Type’ Approach to Angels,” Los Angeles Times, March 25, 2000.

[16] Mike DiGiovanna, “Bottenfield Brings His ‘Maddux-Type’ Approach to Angels,” Los Angeles Times, March 25, 2000.

[17] Rick Hummel, “Edmonds’ defense should help Cardinals pitching,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 2000.

[18] Rick Hummel, “Cards trade Bottenfield, get Edmonds,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 24, 2000.

[19] Ross Newhan, “By pulling the trigger on a deal that fills voids at two key positions, Stoneman sends Angels a message that he’s not gun-shy after all,” Los Angeles Times, March 24, 2000.

[20] Ross Newhan, “By pulling the trigger on a deal that fills voids at two key positions, Stoneman sends Angels a message that he’s not gun-shy after all,” Los Angeles Times, March 24, 2000.

[21] Mike DiGiovanna, “Enigmatic outfielder is traded to St. Louis for pitcher Bottenfield and second baseman Kennedy,” Los Angeles Times, March 24, 2000.

[22] Rick Hummel, “With Orosco in bullpen, Radinsky can be cautious,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 2000.

[23] Rick Hummel, “Cards trade Bottenfield, get Edmonds,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 24, 2000.

[24] Rick Hummel, “Cards trade Bottenfield, get Edmonds,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 24, 2000.

[25] Mike DiGiovanna, “Enigmatic outfielder is traded to St. Louis for pitcher Bottenfield and second baseman Kennedy,” Los Angeles Times, March 24, 2000.

[26] Rick Hummel, “Cards trade Bottenfield, get Edmonds,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 24, 2000.

[27] Rick Hummel, “Edmonds’ defense should help Cardinals pitching,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 2000.

[28] Rick Hummel, “Edmonds’ defense should help Cardinals pitching,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 2000.

[29] Rick Hummel, “Edmonds’ defense should help Cardinals pitching,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 2000.

[30] Mike DiGiovanna, “Enigmatic outfielder is traded to St. Louis for pitcher Bottenfield and second baseman Kennedy,” Los Angeles Times, March 24, 2000.

[31] Derrick Goold, “Cards get moving on shopping list,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 29, 2006.

The post Jim Edmonds: The trade to St. Louis first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

At a time when many players would have called their agent to begin laying the groundwork for a new contract that would take full advantage of their newfound earning potential, Morris didn’t place a single call to his agent. After all, he didn’t have one.

Instead, Morris negotiated a three-year, $27-million contract with the Cardinals himself over the course of two telephone calls with St. Louis general manager Walt Jocketty. [1]

“It was something I enjoyed doing,” Morris said. “Walt sent me a proposal I thought was fair. They’ve always treated me well, even with my injuries and everything. I wanted a good relationship with them. I’ve had a good relationship with them. Trying to sell yourself is a bit different but I had a decent year … a very good year, and that spoke a lot for itself.”[2]

“When we started the process, I knew it would be just the two of us dealing with each other and I told him from the very beginning that we were going to be fair,” Jocketty said. “Sometimes in dealing with an agent, they feel you probably have to send a lower offer than you would normally, so they feel they have to negotiate something to basically justify what they’re doing.”[3]

Morris, who missed the 1999 season following Tommy John surgery, was limited to 53 innings out of the bullpen in 2000, making all 31 of his appearances in relief. By 2001, however, Morris was at full strength. He threw 216 1/3 innings, going 22-8 with a 3.16 ERA and 185 strikeouts.

In the NLDS, he twice matched up against the Diamondbacks’ Curt Schilling. In Game 1, Morris allowed just one run over seven innings but took the 1-0 loss as Schilling pitched a complete-game shutout. In the decisive fifth game, Morris was even better, allowing just one run over eight innings. Once again, however, Schilling held the Cardinals in check in a 2-1 Diamondbacks win.

“We are very pleased to have Matt’s deal in place,” Jocketty said. “We feel that he is one of the top young pitchers in the game and that he should be treated as such.”[4]

Morris was eligible for salary arbitration in 2002, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that he likely would have been awarded a salary approaching $10 million before entering free agency at season’s end. [5] Instead, Morris prioritized the security of a multi-year contract.

“I was looking forward to staying in St. Louis for an extended number of years,” Morris said. “With the injuries in the past, I was just happy to get something on paper, which was three years in this case.”[6]

The contract called for Morris to earn $4 million in 2002, followed by salaries of $10.5 million in 2003 and $12.5 million in 2004.

“Obviously, the first year it hurts me and helps out the club but in that third year … that sets me up in position for a new contract,” Morris said.[7]

Morris’s $9 million average salary placed him alongside center fielder Jim Edmonds, who was playing on a six-year, $57-million contract, as the Cardinals’ highest-paid players.

“I definitely left money on the table,” Morris said. “How much? Who knows, but I’ve always said in the past, ‘Why are these guys arguing over X amount of dollars?’ And then I got to that point in the negotiations where I was arguing about X amount of dollars. I’m sure if I had an agent, he’d be scratching at the door trying to get as much as he could, but that’s not the person I am and that’s not the relationship I want with the club either.”[8]

The Cardinals actually wanted to add a fourth year to the contract, but Morris, 27, chose to stick with three years.

“Three was my number,” he said. “For some reason, three was what I set in my head beforehand and that’s what I wanted to reach.”[9]

Whether it was three years or four, the Cardinals were simply happy to have Morris penciled into the top of a rotation that also included Darryl Kile, Andy Benes, Woody Williams, and Garrett Stephenson.

“The most important Cardinal transaction of the offseason? It wasn’t Mark McGwire retiring,” wrote Southern Illinoisan sports editor Rick Underwood. “It wasn’t getting Jason Isringhausen or Tino Martinez. The most important was locking up Matt Morris for three more years.”[10]

Morris proved more important than ever in 2002. With Kile’s untimely passing that June, Morris was the unquestioned ace of the staff, going 17-9 with a 3.42 ERA in 210 1/3 innings. That season, he was named an all-star for the second consecutive year. He won Game 1 of that season’s NLDS, allowing one earned run over seven innings to beat Randy Johnson.

From 2003 through 2005, Morris won 40 more games for the Cardinals. In 2004, he pitched four postseason games for St. Louis on its way to the World Series, but he went 0-2 with a 5.91 ERA in 21 1/3 innings. In the 2005 playoffs, he picked up an NLDS win against the Padres but lost to the Astros in the NLCS.

In December 2005, Morris signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Giants.

“I had a great run in St. Louis,” he said. “They’re a class organization and they treated me great throughout my years there. It just seemed like the right time to move on.”[11]

In two seasons in San Francisco, Morris battled injuries and went just 17-22 with a 4.73 ERA. At the 2007 trading deadline, the Cardinals thought they might be able to bring Morris back to St. Louis, but the Giants instead opted to deal Morris to the Pirates for center fielder Rajai Davis and pitcher Steve MacFarland.

Morris went 3-4 with a 6.10 ERA down the stretch for the Pirates. The following season, he lost four of his first five starts and was released with a 9.67 ERA. Three days later, at age 33, he announced his retirement.

“Mentally, I was not there,” he said. “My heart just kind of moved away from the game and once that happens, it’s hard to get it back.”[12]

Morris retired with 121 career wins. In eight seasons with the Cardinals, he went 101-62 with a 3.61 ERA.

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[1] Rick Hummel, “Morris says Cards were fair in negotiations on contract,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 5, 2002.

[2] Rick Hummel, “Morris says Cards were fair in negotiations on contract,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 5, 2002.

[3] Rick Hummel, “Morris says Cards were fair in negotiations on contract,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 5, 2002.

[4] Associated Press, “Cards confirm reaching agreement with Morris,” Belleville News-Democrat, January 5, 2002.

[5] Rick Hummel, “Sources say Morris gets 3-year deal at $29 million,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 4, 2002.

[6] Rick Hummel, “Morris says Cards were fair in negotiations on contract,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 5, 2002.

[7] Rick Hummel, “Morris says Cards were fair in negotiations on contract,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 5, 2002.

[8] Rick Hummel, “Morris says Cards were fair in negotiations on contract,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 5, 2002.

[9] Rick Hummel, “Morris says Cards were fair in negotiations on contract,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 5, 2002.

[10] Rick Underwood, “Saluki history lesson,” Southern Illinoisan, January 7, 2002.

[11] Joe Strauss, “It’s official: Morris joins the Giants,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 13, 2005.

[12] Rick Hummel, “No more for Matty Mo,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 7, 2008.

The post How Matt Morris negotiated his own deal in 2002 first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

The second-year major-league shortstop was leading off for the Angels on June 18, 2002, the same day the Cardinals hosted a pregame memorial service in honor of broadcaster Jack Buck. Tragically, that game proved to be Darryl Kile’s final start, as the Cardinals right-hander passed away four days later.

“Just seeing that, seeing all those fans so close to the team, so supportive, and being right there to feel it all – it stays with you,” Eckstein said. “It’s an unbelievable feeling. St. Louis has such a rich history … and here’s an opportunity to go there and play for them. It’s just a great, great fit.”^[1]

One week after Edgar Renteria signed a four-year, $40-million contract with the Red Sox, the Cardinals signed Eckstein to a three-year, $10.25-million deal to become their new shortstop and leadoff hitter. Eckstein became available after the Angels signed free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera.

“David was the player we focused on right away after Cabrera signed,” said John Mozeliak, the Cardinals’ assistant general manager. “Given the current free-agent market at shortstop, it pushed salaries higher, but we still felt this was a value signing for us.”[2]

Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty, who was in Hawaii on vacation, initiated contract negotiations. He called Eckstein’s agent, Ryan Gleichowski, who was on a holiday cruise and had to be on land for his cell phone to work. Once Gleichowski was docked in Cozumel, Mexico, he and associate Marc Pollack finalized the work on a three-year contract that included a $250,000 signing bonus and annual salaries of $2.25 million, $3.25 million, and $4.5 million.[3]

“They were very aggressive,” Eckstein said. “They were pretty much the first team to call, and (Thursday) it really took off. … It was clear that this was a good fit. The best fit.”[4]

Eckstein, a former University of Florida walk-on, had been drafted by the Red Sox in the 19^th round of the 1997 draft and was selected by the Angels off waivers in August 2000. By 2001, Eckstein was in the majors, batting .285/.355/.357 and placing fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.

In four seasons with the Angels, Eckstein hit .278/.347/.353. In 2002, the 5-foot-6, 170-pound shortstop hit three grand slams during the regular season and helped the Angels win the World Series, going 9-for-29 (.310) with six runs scored and three RBIs against the Giants.

In 2004, Eckstein hit .276/.339/.332 with two homers, 35 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. He was the hardest player in the American League to whiff, striking out just 49 times in 566 at-bats, a rate of one ever 13 at-bats.

Though Eckstein didn’t have a strong arm at shortstop, he committed just six errors in 138 games in 2004 to lead major-league shortstops with a .988 fielding percentage.

“When people see me, I don’t really look like your typical pro athlete, but it means I always have to prove myself,” Eckstein said. “No matter what the situation, you have to prove yourself. I don’t want to lose that edge.”[5]

The Cardinals were counting on that edge to make Eckstein a new fan favorite.

“We felt this was the guy, the perfect fit for our club for a lot of reasons,” Jocketty said. “For his personality, for the way he goes about playing the game. He’s a gamer through and through. He’s the kind of player St. Louis will embrace, and I think he will become a cult hero with our fans. He’s a hustler.”[6]

Former Cardinals infielder Rex Hudler, who had become an Angels broadcaster after his playing days ended, was familiar with the kind of hard-nosed player Cardinals fans adored, having been one himself.

“Put it this way, I named my son after him,” Hudler said. “David Scott Hudler. And now ‘Eck’ is headed to St. Louis. It’s a perfect fit. It will be a beautiful relationship. He’s going to be revered as the new Huckleberry Finn of St. Louis and Missouri.”[7]

Eckstein enjoyed the best seasons of his career in St. Louis. Taking over as the Cardinals’ new leadoff hitter, Eckstein hit .294/.363/.395 in 2005. His eight home runs matched his career high, while his 61 RBIs was just two shy of his best season. He also scored 90 runs, stole 11 bases, and was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career.

That postseason, Eckstein hit .385 (5 for 13) in the NLDS against the Padres with a home run and four RBIs. Facing the Astros in a six-game NLCS, Eckstein went just 4 for 20, but scored five runs and drove in two more.

Eckstein earned all-star honors again in 2006 on his way to a .292/.350/.344 batting line. Though he struggled in the NLDS and NLCS, batting just 8 for 41 (.191), he came alive in the World Series. After collecting just one hit in his first 11 World Series at-bats, he went 7 for his next 11 to finish the series with a .364 average. In Game 4, he went 4-for-5 with three doubles to spark the Cardinals’ 5-4 win. Eckstein added two more hits and drove in a pair of runs in the decisive Game 5 victory.

Eckstein played one more season in St. Louis before signing as a free agent with the Blue Jays. In three seasons with the Cardinals, he hit .297/.357/.375 with 216 runs scored, 13 homers, and 115 RBIs.

The remainder of Eckstein’s career took him from Toronto to Arizona and San Diego. After Eckstein sat out the 2011 season, the Cardinals invited him to throw out the first pitch ahead of World Series Game 6. He officially retired in January 2012 with a career .280 batting average, 701 runs scored, and 123 stolen bases.

“My passion is baseball,” Eckstein said. “I’ll be around it, always, in some sort. At the end of the day, I know this: whatever I decide to do is going to be what’s best for me and my family. I can’t tell right now what that is. Life always throws you curveballs.”[8]

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[1] Derrick Goold, “Cards sign SS Eckstein,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 24, 2004.

[2] “Cardinals pencil in Eckstein to play shortstop,” Belleville News-Democrat, December 24, 2004.

[3] Derrick Goold, “Cards sign SS Eckstein,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 24, 2004.

[4] Derrick Goold, “Cards sign SS Eckstein,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 24, 2004.

[5] Derrick Goold, “Cards sign SS Eckstein,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 24, 2004.

[6] Derrick Goold, “Cards sign SS Eckstein,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 24, 2004.

[7] Bernie Miklasz, “In Eckstein, Cards get a big return in small package,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 25, 2004.

[8] Derrick Goold, “Most Valuable Person,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 28, 2011.

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The post Why the Cardinals signed David Eckstein in December 2004 first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.