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. In 1989, he showcased his potential by hitting .289 with 19 home runs and 85 RBIs for Triple-A Louisville. That performance earned him a brief stint in the majors, where he hit .256 with one home run and eight RBIs in 93 at-bats.
Heading into 1990, the Cardinals had high hopes for Zeile and the team as a whole, believing they could contend for the NL East crown. Instead, St. Louis stumbled out of the gate and sank to the bottom of the standings. In June, with the team sitting at 33-47, manager Whitey Herzog abruptly resigned.
As a rookie on a struggling team, Zeile faced typical ups and downs. During the first half of the season, he hit .227 with eight homers and 30 RBIs – respectable numbers for a catcher, but below the lofty expectations of Cardinals fans. Compounding the frustration, Zeile’s defense behind the plate was inconsistent, further magnifying the team’s struggles.
With veteran catcher Tom Pagnozzi playing well, interim manager Red Schoendienst began resting Zeile more frequently. Rumors suggested that Zeile might be destined for third base, where Terry Pendleton was playing out the final year of his contract.
On August 1, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Dan O’Neill highlighted the criticism Zeile was facing, writing that “open season” had been declared on the rookie.
“Load up and take your best shot – the fans are, broadcasters are, even teammates,” O’Neill wrote. “Rip him up one side about not blocking the plate, then rip him down the other side about leaving runners on base. Talk about playing him at third base. Talk about playing him in the outfield. Talk about not playing him at all.
“Talk about a bunch of nonsense. Last season around this time, St. Louisans were clamoring for the Cardinals to bring up Zeile … the savior … the franchise … the future. Now, many of the same are disillusioned because the rosy, best-case scenario they envisioned hasn’t materialized. Now, after Zeile has played in fewer than 100 games, they’re ready to give up on him.”[1]
On the same day that O’Neill’s column was published, the Cardinals announced that Joe Torre would take over as manager. Torre, who had transitioned from catcher to third base during his own playing career with the Cardinals, was open to exploring a similar move for Zeile.
“I’ve heard he can play there, and if that’s the case, I’m going to take a look at him there,” Torre said. “If he has the ability to be the offensive player that I’ve heard, it will further his career. It did for me.”[2]
The possibility created a stir in St. Louis and left Zeile unsure of his future. After all, nobody with the team had said anything to him about changing positions.
“He was concerned because everybody was asking him if (third base) was going to be his full-time job,” Torre said. “I tried to explain to him there’s no plan for playing him full time at third base. I told him, ‘Maybe down the road, you might want that. But not now.’”[3]
Zeile echoed the sentiment.
“I think the whole thing about me playing third base got blown out of proportion,” Zeile said. “I’m not here to be a third baseman.”[4]
Still, the idea gained traction, especially as Pagnozzi continued to excel behind the plate. In 69 games in 1990, Pagnozzi hit .277 and played stellar defense, generating 2.1 wins above replacement (WAR) despite limited playing time.
To prepare Zeile for the potential position switch, Torre enlisted George Kissell, the legendary Cardinals instructor who had helped Torre make his own transition years earlier.
“I’m just looking at what the flexibility is for me to do certain things,” Torre said. “In certain situations, instead of a day off, he’ll play third base. That’s like a day off from catching, believe me. I convinced him that’s the way we want to go, and he seems more relaxed about it.”[5]
While Zeile was willing to learn the position, he made it clear he considered himself a catcher.
“It just doesn’t seem rational or make a whole lot of sense to play me at third except for on a part-time basis or on a day off from catching once in a while,” he said. “I think I have the potential to be a very good catcher. I’m a better catcher than I am a third baseman. You don’t have a lot of opportunity to get a decent catcher in this league. So I went in and asked (Torre) why they would even talk about doing that.”[6]
Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz offered an explanation, noting that the Cardinals lacked an obvious successor to Pendleton at third base for 1991. Additionally, he suggested that Zeile’s offensive production might improve if he moved to a position with fewer physical demands.[7]
In August, Zeile began splitting time between catcher and first base, appearing in nine of his final 10 games that month at first. On September 5, he made his debut at third base in a 6-2 loss to the Expos, and Torre announced that Zeile would finish the season there.
“What are my options?” Zeile said. “I’m a rookie and they’re going to do what they think is best for the team. There’s not a lot I can do about it.”[8]
Torre was true to his word, starting Zeile at third base in each of his final 24 games of the season. With Zeile at third, Pendleton was moved to a bench role.
“I called Terry in and explained what we’re going to do,” Torre said. “He wasn’t happy about it, but he’s a trouper.”[9]
Pendleton echoed the frustration. “It’s been one of those unfortunate years,” he said.[10]
Meanwhile, Zeile continued to believe his best path forward lay at catcher.
“If they have (given up) and they don’t feel I can handle it as a catcher, I wouldn’t mind catching somewhere else,” he said. “But I don’t want to, by any means. I’m happy as heck here. And I’m not saying that if I did play third, I wouldn’t be happy. There are worse positions to be in than starting third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals. By far.”
In his first 10 games at the hot corner, Zeile made three errors.
“I don’t feel uncomfortable at all,” he said. “They’ve been avoiding me. I thought they’d be laying down more bunts.”[11]
Zeile finished the season with a .244 batting average and 57 RBIs. His 25 doubles and 15 homers were the most by a Cardinals rookie since Ken Boyer totaled 27 doubles and 18 homers in 1955. Zeile finished sixth in the NL Rookie of the Year Award voting.
“I had all those expectations this year, and early in the year when I struggled, I got bashed pretty hard by the press and the fans,” Zeile said. “The way they built me up, there was almost no way they could not be disappointed in me the way I started. I finally got to the point where I could handle catching and my offense. I thought next year was going to be great. I’d be coming into a totally relaxed atmosphere. I would have all this stuff behind me in the first year. Then, all of a sudden, I’m thrust into a new spot. I think that’s what threw me at first.”[12]
Ahead of the 1991 season, the Cardinals made the move permanent, moving Zeile to third base and handing the catching duties to Pagnozzi. Pagnozzi won the first of three Gold Glove awards that season.
Zeile played third base throughout the remainder of his 16-year MLB career. Before he retired at the end of the 2004 season, Zeile made two final starts at catcher for the Mets, his first appearances at the position in more than 14 seasons.
After the Cardinals traded him to the Cubs in 1995, Zeile went on to play for the Phillies, Orioles, Dodgers, Marlins, Rangers, Mets, Rockies, Yankees, and Expos. After 2,158 career games, he retired with 253 homers, 1,110 RBIs, and a .265 career batting average.
[1] Dan O’Neill, “Zeile Bashers Take Note: Give Him A Break,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 1, 1990.
[2] Dan O’Neill, “Zeile Has Help For A Possible Move To Third,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 2, 1990.
[3] Dan O’Neill, “Torre Assures Zeile That He’s No. 1 Catcher,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 8, 1990.
[4] Dan O’Neill, “Torre Assures Zeile That He’s No. 1 Catcher,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 8, 1990.
[5] Dan O’Neill, “Torre Assures Zeile That He’s No. 1 Catcher,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 8, 1990.
[6] Bernie Miklasz, “Zeile At Home Behind Plate, Not At Third,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 10, 1990.
[7] Bernie Miklasz, “Zeile At Home Behind Plate, Not At Third,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 10, 1990.
[8] Rick Hummel, “Zeile’s Position: Confusion,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 18, 1990.
[9] Jeff Gordon, “Cardinals Hope Zeile Will Catch On At Third,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 6, 1990.
[10] Jeff Gordon, “Cardinals Hope Zeile Will Catch On At Third,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 6, 1990.
[11] Rick Hummel, “Zeile’s Position: Confusion,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 18, 1990.
[12] Rick Hummel, “Zeile’s Position: Confusion,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 18, 1990.