When Todd Zeile began his first full big-league season in 1990, he was heralded as the Cardinals’ most promising catching prospect in years. By September, he was the team’s starting third baseman. A second-round draft pick out of UCLA in 1986, Zeile entered the 1990 season ranked as baseball’s No. 7 prospect by Baseball America. […]
Why Todd Zeile was converted to third base Read More »
The St. Louis Cardinals never doubted that Brian Jordan had the talent to become a middle-of-the-order bat. The question was whether Jordan would stick with baseball long enough to get that opportunity. A first-round pick (30th overall) in the 1988 MLB draft, Jordan found minor-league at-bats hard to come by, largely due to his professional
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As a strong safety in the NFL, Brian Jordan built his game around speed and impact, so it’s no surprise that he wasted little time in making his MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals. After just 406 minor league at-bats, Jordan got his first big-league opportunity on April 8, 1992, going 2-for-5 with four
Brian Jordan makes his MLB debut: April 8, 1992 Read More »
When the St. Louis Cardinals signed Ryan Franklin to a one-year, $1 million deal in January 2007, they were seeking reinforcements for their depleted starting rotation. Instead, they discovered an All-Star closer who saved 84 games in five seasons with St. Louis. When Franklin signed with the club, the defending World Series champions’ rotation was
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Before the Cardinals made him a third-round draft pick in 1987, Ray Lankford was the first running back in Modesto (Calif.) Junior College history to rush for more than 1,000 yards. On April 21, 1991, he put those skills to good use, running over Phillies catcher Darren Daulton in the 10th inning to score the
Ray Lankford runs over Darren Daulton: April 21, 1991 Read More »
On the heels of an 83-win regular season in which nothing came easily, Yadier Molina, Jeff Suppan, and Adam Wainwright led the Cardinals to a 3-1 victory over the Mets in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS, sending St. Louis to a World Series match-up with the Detroit Tigers. “It had to be one of
2006 NLCS Game 7: Cards beat Mets, clinch World Series berth Read More »
It took more than eight years after he was drafted in the 16th round of the MLB Amateur Draft for Tommy Pham to make his major-league debut. So perhaps it’s no surprise that by the time the 27-year-old got his first extended shot at the majors, he was willing to give his Cardinals teammates an
A classic Tommy Pham story shared by Adam Wainwright Read More »
For its May 2024 edition, the Cardinals Insider Podcast hosted by Brett McMillan spoke with former Cardinals pitchers Ricky Horton and Ken Dayley to share memories and thoughts regarding Whitey Herzog, who passed away in April. Horton pointed to Herzog’s ability to make every player feel important, boosting their confidence and helping them understand their
Whitey Herzog stories from Ricky Horton and Ken Dayley Read More »
On paper, the 2006 Game 1 World Series matchup between Justin Verlander and Anthony Reyes certainly seemed lopsided. Though just 23, Verlander had been the No. 2 overall draft pick just two years ago and was coming off a regular season that would earn him American League Rookie of the Year honors and a seventh-place
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With a trip to the World Series on the line, Cardinals starting pitcher Jeff Suppan outpitched that year’s National League Cy Young Award winner, Roger Clemens, to win Game 7 of the 2004 NLCS and send St. Louis to the World Series for the first time in 17 years. Suppan, 29, had signed with the
How Jeff Suppan outpitched Roger Clemens in Game 7 of the 2004 NLCS Read More »