One inning after punching Cubs third baseman Bill Madlock in the face and sparking a bench-clearing brawl, Cardinals catcher Ted Simmons capped off his four-RBI day on September 22, 1974, with a walk-off single to give St. Louis a 6-5 win and a 1 ½-game lead in the National League East Division. Simmons’ busy day […]
How Ted Simmons and Al Hrabosky sparked a Cardinals-Cubs brawl Read More »
On November 3, 1970, the Baseball Writers Association of America named Bob Gibson the National League Cy Young Award winner for the second time in three years. With the recognition, Gibson became just the third pitcher to win multiple Cy Young Awards, joining Sandy Koufax and Denny McLain. Gibson previously had won the award in
How Bob Gibson won his second Cy Young Award in 1970 Read More »
Steve Carlton’s final start for the St. Louis Cardinals was a milestone game in more ways than one. The Cardinals’ September 28, 1971, win over the New York Mets marked not only Carlton’s final appearance wearing the birds on the bat, but also clinched the first 20-win season of his career. Coincidentally, it also marked
September 28, 1971: Steve Carlton reaches 20 wins in his final game with the Cardinals Read More »
After the first three batters of the ninth inning reached, putting the go-ahead run on third base, Al Hrabosky knew he needed to tap into something primal to escape the jam against the defending World Series champion Cincinnati Reds. “I talk to the gypsy war gods,” he explained afterward. “I work myself into a controlled
May 9, 1977: Al Hrabosky and the gypsy war gods stifle Reds Read More »
Ironically, in a 25-inning game that lasted seven hours and four minutes and didn’t end until 3:12 a.m., Bake McBride and the St. Louis Cardinals finally captured the 4-3 victory with their speed. The game was the longest night game in Major League Baseball history, exceeding a 24-inning, 1-0 Astros victory over the Mets in
September 11, 1974: Cardinals beat the Mets in 25-inning marathon game Read More »
Philadelphia Phillies general manager Quinn answered the phone on Wednesday, February 25, 1972, to discover his Cardinals counterpart, Bing Devine, on the other end. “Has Rick Wise signed?” Devine asked, referring to the 26-year-old right-hander who had led the Phillies in wins each of the past three seasons. Quinn answered that no, he had not
Why the Cardinals traded Steve Carlton to the Phillies Read More »
More than 43 years after he helped the St. Louis Cardinals win their first World Series championship, Jesse Haines was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee at age 76. It wasn’t a bad achievement for a pitcher whose former minor-league manager with the Tulsa Oilers expected him back in
How Jesse Haines was elected to the Hall of Fame Read More »
A little less than four years before John Stuper won Game 6 of the 1982 World Series, the Cardinals obtained him in a minor-league trade that wasn’t even mentioned in either the St. Louis Post-Dispatch or the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In the deal, the Cardinals sent infielder Tommy Sandt to the Pirates in exchange for Stuper,
How the Cardinals acquired 1982 World Series pitcher John Stuper Read More »
Bake McBride may have been the most unlikely Rookie of the Year in baseball history. Growing up, McBride believed he was more likely to make his living playing basketball or football than playing baseball. In high school, he didn’t even play baseball, as his school didn’t have a team. Instead, he played football and basketball.[1]
November 26, 1974: Bake McBride is named Rookie of the Year Read More »
It’s hard enough to break a modern-day Major League Baseball record when you’re healthy. In 1974, injuries to both his hands may actually have helped Lou Brock break Maury Wills’ single-season stolen base record. Due to a right thumb injury, Brock had wrapped the digit in tape most of the season. On his left hand,
September 10, 1974: Lou Brock breaks Maury Wills’ single-season stolen base record Read More »