The Milwaukee Braves looked at Joey Jay and saw a problem pitcher. Fred Hutchinson looked at him and saw an ace. A right-hander, Jay became the first former Little League player to reach the majors when he joined the Braves out of high school at 17 in 1953. At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, Jay looked like a man but acted like a boy. He was immature, got labeled a spoiled kid … [Read more...] about How Fred Hutchinson saved the day for Joey Jay
Why Cardinals had Rudy May on their shopping list
Rudy May pitched 16 years in the majors. He never appeared in an All-Star Game, and he lost more than he won, but at times he nearly was unhittable, performing on a par with teammates such as Nolan Ryan, Catfish Hunter and Jim Palmer. One of May’s nicknames was The Dude. He got it, the Baltimore Sun noted, because of “his funky wardrobe” and “unflappable optimism.” He … [Read more...] about Why Cardinals had Rudy May on their shopping list
Pitching guru: Joe Becker brought out best in the best
For a club with Bob Gibson and Steve Carlton, the Cardinals hired a coach who caught Bob Feller and aided the development of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. Sixty years ago, in October 1964, Joe Becker joined the Cardinals as pitching coach on the staff of newly appointed manager Red Schoendienst. Becker, a St. Louisan, came to the Cardinals from the Dodgers after … [Read more...] about Pitching guru: Joe Becker brought out best in the best
Gaylen Pitts was mentor to bevy of Cardinals prospects
Though the minor leagues were where Gaylen Pitts spent most of his long and accomplished baseball career, he twice reached the majors _ and both times with the help of Dal Maxvill. Pitts was a player, manager, coach and instructor in the minors, primarily with the Cardinals. An infielder, he played 13 years in the farm systems of the Cardinals, Athletics and Cubs. He managed … [Read more...] about Gaylen Pitts was mentor to bevy of Cardinals prospects
Little big man: NFL’s Pat Fischer played like King Kong
By NFL standards, St. Louis Cardinals cornerback Pat Fischer was small. Not jockey size, but not as big as the team’s placekicker, Jim Bakken, who was two inches taller and 30 pounds heavier. Even another noted Fischer, 6-foot-1 chess grandmaster Bobby, towered over Pat. Listed at 5 feet 9 and 170 pounds _ “Anyone who ever saw him in person knew even those measurements were … [Read more...] about Little big man: NFL’s Pat Fischer played like King Kong