Just a couple weeks shy of his 37th birthday, baseball had taken Tom Henke from Texas to Toronto and back again. Now the 6-foot-5 right-hander was ready to return to his roots. On December 12, 1994, Henke signed a one-year, $2-million contract to serve as the Cardinals’ closer in 1995. The 13-year major-league veteran had […]
December 12, 1994: Tom Henke signs with the Cardinals Read More »
In December 1998, the Cardinals’ winding quest for a shortstop led them to Miami and Edgar Renteria. On December 14, the Cardinals traded pitchers Braden Looper and Armando Almanza and shortstop prospect Pablo Ozuna to the Marlins for Renteria. Just 13 months earlier, Renteria’s 11th-inning RBI single off Charles Nagy won Game 7 of the
How Edgar Renteria was traded to the Cardinals Read More »
When the Cardinals drafted J.D. Drew in 1998, they thought they were getting a franchise cornerstone. More than five years later, they obtained a new foundational piece when they traded Drew to the Braves in a five-player deal that sent Drew and catcher/outfielder Eli Marrero to Atlanta for starting pitcher Jason Marquis, left-handed reliever Ray
Cardinals trade J.D. Drew, get Adam Wainwright in five-player deal: December 13, 2003 Read More »
One week after the 2004 trade deadline, the Cardinals added future Hall of Famer Larry Walker to a lineup that already included Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, and Jim Edmonds. The Cardinals received Walker and cash considerations in exchange for minor league pitcher Jason Burch and two players to be named later. In August, the Cardinals
Cardinals trade for Larry Walker: August 6, 2004 Read More »
On July 31, 1997, the Cardinals made the deadline deal of deadline deals, acquiring first baseman Mark McGwire from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for pitchers Eric Ludwick, T.J. Mathews, and Blake Stein. Heading into the final day before the trade deadline, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that there was
How Mark McGwire was traded to the Cardinals Read More »
On June 13, 1997, Fernando Valenzuela and Fernandomania came to St. Louis. On the same day that the Chicago Bulls won their fifth NBA championship in seven years, the Cardinals and Padres agreed to a trade that brought former Cy Young Award winner Fernando Valenzuela, infielder Scott Livingstone, and outfielder Phil Plantier to St. Louis
Fernando Valenzuela gets traded to St. Louis: June 13, 1997 Read More »
When the trade was finally complete, the newest St. Louis Cardinal, Scott Rolen, recalled his father taking him to games at Busch Stadium in the 1980s. Now, following a trade that sent Placido Polanco, Bud Smith, and Mike Timlin to the Phillies for Rolen and minor-league pitcher Doug Nickle, the 27-year-old from Jasper, Indiana, would
Phillies trade Scott Rolen to the Cardinals: July 29, 2002 Read More »
Walt Jocketty wasn’t quite sure what he was purchasing when the Cardinals announced the signing of their first Japanese-born player, 32-year-old outfielder So Taguchi, to a three-year contract on January 9, 2002. After all, Jocketty had never even seen the 10-year veteran of the Japan Pacific League play. Neither had Tony La Russa. Instead, the
How So Taguchi became the Cardinals’ first Japanese-born player Read More »