Bob Forsch may have made his name as a pitcher, but the Sacramento, California, native originally was drafted for his bat. On August 10, 1986, the veteran right-hander used both to lift the Cardinals to a 5-4 victory over the Pirates. Upon joining the Cardinals’ farm system, the 26th-round 1968 draft pick played third base […]
Bob Forsch hits a grand slam: August 10, 1986 Read More »
Cardinals fans welcomed Mark McGwire with a standing ovation prior to his first at-bat at Busch Stadium. In his second at-bat, McGwire returned the favor, blasting a 441-foot home run for his first home run wearing the birds on the bat. McGwire’s was the second of back-to-back home runs as the Cardinals defeated the Phillies
One week after the 2004 trade deadline, the Cardinals added future Hall of Famer Larry Walker to a lineup that already included Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, and Jim Edmonds. The Cardinals received Walker and cash considerations in exchange for minor league pitcher Jason Burch and two players to be named later. In August, the Cardinals
Cardinals trade for Larry Walker: August 6, 2004 Read More »
As a veteran who had been with the club since making his debut in August 1990, Ray Lankford wasn’t ready to become the Cardinals’ fourth outfielder. Instead, following a reduction of playing time and a war of words between Lankford’s agent and manager Tony La Russa, the Cardinals sent the 34-year-old Lankford and $2.8 million
Why the Cardinals traded Ray Lankford for Woody Williams Read More »
On July 31, 1997, the Cardinals made the deadline deal of deadline deals, acquiring first baseman Mark McGwire from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for pitchers Eric Ludwick, T.J. Mathews, and Blake Stein. Heading into the final day before the trade deadline, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that there was
How Mark McGwire was traded to the Cardinals Read More »
On July 30, 1959, Bob Gibson formally introduced himself to the Cincinnati Reds and Major League Baseball, earning the first of 251 career victories in the first starting assignment of his career. That April, Gibson had made three appearances for the Cardinals, each in relief. On April 15, Gibson made his major league debut, pitching
Bob Gibson gets his first career win: July 30, 1959 Read More »
When the Cardinals and Blue Jays exchanged eight players just a few days prior to the trade deadline on July 27, 2011, most of the focus understandably centered on 24-year-old center fielder Colby Rasmus. After all, Rasmus had long been considered the Cardinals’ top prospect, destined to fill Jim Edmonds’ shoes as St. Louis’s next
How the Colby Rasmus trade helped the Cardinals win the World Series Read More »
On July 27, 1953, the Baseball Hall of Fame formally recognized Dizzy Dean as one of the game’s elite. “It’s the greatest honor I ever received,” Dean said. “I want to thank the good Lord for giving me a good right arm, a strong back, and a weak mind.”[1] Dean was inducted alongside Al Simmons, a
Dizzy Dean is inducted into the Hall of Fame: July 27, 1953 Read More »
Mark McGwire’s pursuit of Babe Ruth and Roger Maris took him past Johnny Mize before the 1998 calendar turned to August. On July 26, McGwire’s 44th home run of the season broke the franchise record set by Johnny Mize in 1940. The blast, which came in the Cardinals’ 104th game of the season, kept McGwire
How Mark McGwire broke the Cardinals’ single-season home run record Read More »
On July 24, 2009, the Cardinals finally acquired the slugger Tony La Russa had been seeking to provide protection for Albert Pujols in the middle of the St. Louis lineup. In exchange for top third base prospect Brett Wallace, minor-league pitcher Clayton Mortensen, and outfield prospect Shane Peterson, the Cardinals acquired Matt Holliday to bat cleanup
Cardinals trade for Matt Holliday: July 24, 2009 Read More »