It was fitting that Vince Coleman’s first career home run was of the inside-the-park variety. On May 21, 1985, the rookie outfielder hit his first career homer, Willie McGee stole three bases, and Ricky Horton threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief to lift the Cardinals to a 6-3 win over the Braves. The Cardinals […]
May 21, 1985: Vince Coleman hits his first career home run Read More »
After Joaquin Andujar held the Atlanta Braves to one run in a complete-game mound effort and supported his own cause with a grand slam, Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith had to admit that he was disappointed. “There’s no way we can get on him now,” Smith said. “We like to give him trouble, but there’s nothing
May 15, 1984: Andujar calls his shot, hits grand slam Read More »
As Roger Maris emerged from the dugout in the sixth inning of the Cardinals’ 6-3 win over the Pirates on May 9, 1967, St. Louis first baseman Orlando Cepeda somehow knew that something special was about to happen. “I told him when he left the dugout he would hit a home run,” Cepeda said.[1] Maris
May 9, 1967: Roger Maris hits his first Cardinals home run Read More »
Orlando Cepeda and Ray Sadecki could not have had more different reactions when they were traded for one another on May 8, 1966. The trade was announced after the Giants’ three-game sweep of the Cardinals in the final games played at the historic Sportsman’s Park, since renamed Busch Stadium. Cepeda, who had missed almost the
How the Cardinals traded for future MVP Orlando Cepeda Read More »
Even future Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm couldn’t keep Stan Musial in the ballpark on May 2, 1954. In an afternoon doubleheader at Sportsman’s Park, Musial became the first player in major-league history to hit five home runs in a single day, smacking three home runs over the right-field wall in Game 1 before adding
May 2, 1954: Stan Musial hits record five home runs in doubleheader vs. Giants Read More »
Desperate to bolster their relief corps, the Cardinals purchased the rights to future Hall of Famer Jim Kaat from the Yankees on April 30, 1980. The three-time all-star and 16-time Gold Glove Award winner played the final four seasons of his career in St. Louis, including 62 appearances as a valuable bullpen piece for the
April 30, 1980: Cardinals acquire Jim Kaat to shore up their bullpen Read More »
With three home runs, including a walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth, Albert Pujols closed Busch Stadium III’s first homestand in style. Pujols and more than 36,000 Cardinals fans[1] celebrated Easter on April 16, 2006, with an 8-7 win over the Reds that included three home runs and five RBIs from
April 16, 2006: Albert Pujols hits three home runs, including walk-off, to beat the Reds Read More »
On April 13, 1993, Cardinals closer Lee Smith claimed his place as baseball’s career leader with his 358th save in a 9-7 win over the Dodgers. “It feels good to get it out of the way, but I’m not in the game to set records,” Smith said. “I want to pitch in the World Series, and
April 13, 1993: Lee Smith becomes baseball’s career saves leader Read More »
April 13, 1954, marked a new beginning in Cardinals baseball as Tom Alston became the first black player to make the major-league club and Wally Moon became the second Cardinal to homer in his first career at-bat. Just two and a half months earlier, the Cardinals traded Eddie Erautt and Dick Sisler, agreed to option
April 13, 1954: Tom Alston, Wally Moon make history in their big-league debuts Read More »
At its height, Branch Rickey’s innovative farm system produced such a wealth of quality players that he could trade away the defending National League batting champion and a future Hall of Famer and barely skip a beat. On April 11, 1932, the Cardinals traded outfielder Chick Hafey to the Reds for outfielder and first baseman Harvey