Throughout the NFL in 1971, quarterbacks with big reputations and colorful nicknames swaggered across the playing fields. Broadway Joe (Namath, of course) with the New York Jets. Mad Bomber (Daryle Lamonica) in Oakland. Captain Comeback (Roger Staubach) for Dallas. Then, almost, there was … the St. Louis Scrambler. In his 1976 book “Tarkenton,” Fran Tarkenton revealed the New … [Read more...] about Picture this: Fran Tarkenton as a St. Louis Cardinal
How Alfredo Cabrera went from Canarian to Cardinal
The distance between the Canary Islands and St. Louis is 4,300 miles. It took Alfredo Cabrera 32 years to make the trek. Cabrera is the only person born in the Canary Islands to play baseball in the big leagues. The shortstop was 32 when he debuted with the Cardinals in 1913. His time in the majors, however, was as fleeting as a glimpse of a canary in the wild. Cabrera appeared … [Read more...] about How Alfredo Cabrera went from Canarian to Cardinal
Cardinals nemesis Mickey Lolich got assist from ex-Redbird
Mickey Lolich was at a crossroads in his pitching career when a former Cardinals ace came to his rescue. A left-hander with a stellar fastball he couldn’t control, Lolich, 21, was an unhappy prospect in the Tigers system when he was dispatched to Portland (Ore.) in 1962. The pitching coach there, Gerry Staley, 41, served a dual role as reliever. Staley had been a big winner for … [Read more...] about Cardinals nemesis Mickey Lolich got assist from ex-Redbird
How Alvin Dark saw the light with Ozzie Smith
In baseball, being right can get you fired. It happened to Alvin Dark. When the Padres opened spring training camp in 1978, Dark made a daring decision. The manager named Ozzie Smith the starting shortstop. Smith, 23, had no big-league experience. He didn’t have much minor-league experience either. He’d spent part of a season at Walla Walla, and a couple of months in the … [Read more...] about How Alvin Dark saw the light with Ozzie Smith
Outcasts: Why Hawks shunned Paul Seymour, Cleo Hill
Wintertime and the living was easy for the frontcourt trio of Bob Pettit, Cliff Hagan and Clyde Lovellette. The high-scoring glamour boys of the NBA St. Louis Hawks were living on Easy Street. Their coach, Ed Macauley, was known as “Easy Ed.” His coaching style matched his nickname. He liked a set offense, with Pettit, Hagan and Lovellette taking most of the shots. Easy as one, … [Read more...] about Outcasts: Why Hawks shunned Paul Seymour, Cleo Hill