The first time Darrell Porter met Whitey Herzog, he asked the Royals manager what was expected of him. Porter had just arrived in Kansas City in a trade from the Brewers, while Herzog was coming off his second season with the Royals, a 90-win campaign that resulted in an American League West championship. “I expect […]
Whitey Herzog begins 1980 roster rebuild with Darrell Porter Read More »
No one seemed to think very much of Bing Devine’s first trade as general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. After Devine traded relief pitcher Willard Schmidt and minor-league pitchers Ted Wieand and Marty Kutyna to the Reds for outfielders Curt Flood and Joe Taylor, legendary St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports editor Bob Broeg described the
How Curt Flood became a Cardinal Read More »
Just how incredible was Stan Musial during the 1948 season? The 27-year-old from Donora, Pennsylvania, led the league in batting average (.376), hits (230), doubles (46), triples (18), RBIs (131), on-base percentage (.450), slugging percentage (.702), OPS (1.152), and total bases (429). With 39 home runs, Musial was one homer shy of tying the Pirates’ Ralph
How Stan Musial won his third MVP Award in 1948 Read More »
It didn’t take Ryan Theriot long to ruffle feathers with his former Cubs teammates after the Cardinals traded for him ahead of the 2011 season. On November 30, 2010, the Cardinals dealt right-handed relief pitcher Blake Hawksworth to obtain Theriot from the Dodgers. The 30-year-old Theriot was due for arbitration in 2011, so at the
How Ryan Theriot became a Cardinal and enraged the Cubs Read More »
Just weeks before the Cardinals were set to open the 1985 season, Whitey Herzog predicted that his club’s top prospect, Vince Coleman, had the talent to one day win the Rookie of the Year Award. He had no idea that day would come just 8 ½ months later. “You talk about a man with a
Vince Coleman is named 1985 Rookie of the Year 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]
How Bake McBride won the 1974 Rookie of the Year Award Read More »
On July 18, 1985, the course of Todd Worrell’s career changed forever. Cardinals director of player development Lee Thomas was in the stands watching Worrell pitch for Triple-A Louisville against the Iowa Cubs. The 6-foot-5 right-hander was “something of a mystery to baseball men,” as the Cardinals’ 1985 media guide put it. In his second
How Todd Worrell won the 1986 Rookie of the Year Award Read More »
Ken Boyer had just returned from a quail-hunting trip in Hermann, Mo., when the phone rang. It was a reporter, calling to tell Boyer that he had just been named the 1964 National League MVP. “I guess 14 must be my lucky number,” Boyer said. “That’s my uniform number and that’s how many birds we
Ken Boyer is named National League MVP: November 23, 1964 Read More »
Less than 25 months after David Freese hit his game-winning home run to end Game 6 of the 2011 World Series, the Cardinals traded their hometown hero and the architect of the greatest postseason moment in franchise history. On November 22, 2013, the Cardinals traded Freese and relief pitcher Fernando Salas to the Angels for
Why David Freese was traded to the Angels Read More »
In the midst of his remarkable 1985 season, Willie McGee was invited to a Kiwanis luncheon where he was going to be honored for his humility. When the Cardinals outfielder arrived, there was a line at the door, so instead of stepping in front of those awaiting tickets, he joined the line. When he got
How Willie McGee was named 1985 National League MVP Read More »