May was indeed a merry month for Denny Lemaster when he pitched against the Cardinals. A left-hander, Lemaster hurled four shutouts versus the Cardinals, and all occurred in May during the 1960s. In 11 seasons in the majors with the Braves (1962-67), Astros (1968-71) and Expos (1972), Lemaster was on the cusp of becoming an ace until injuries set him back. His record … [Read more...] about Cardinals sent mayday call when facing Denny Lemaster
Claude Osteen: Marathon man in brief stay with Cardinals
During the 18 seasons he performed in the majors, left-hander Claude Osteen pitched 40 regular-season shutouts, the same total as Sandy Koufax and more than Lefty Grove (35) and Lefty Gomez (28). That doesn’t count the unofficial shutout Osteen crafted for the Cardinals. Fifty years ago, on Aug. 15, 1974, the Cardinals acquired Osteen from the Astros for minor-league pitcher … [Read more...] about Claude Osteen: Marathon man in brief stay with Cardinals
Nelson Chittum rubbed elbows with baseball’s best
Pitcher Nelson Chittum never spent a full season in the majors, but during his time there he mingled with the sport’s aristocracy. For example: _ In his big-league debut with the Cardinals, he got a start against the Dodgers and was opposed by Sandy Koufax. _ In parts of three seasons in the majors, Chittum was a teammate of Stan Musial and Ted Williams. Chittum and Musial … [Read more...] about Nelson Chittum rubbed elbows with baseball’s best
How John Lackey helped Cardinals sharpen their edge
John Lackey was a big guy (6-foot-6) with a big presence on the mound who often came up big in the biggest games. Ten years ago, on July 31, 2014, the Cardinals acquired Lackey from the Red Sox for outfielder Allen Craig and pitcher Joe Kelly. The Red Sox also sent the Cardinals a minor-league pitcher, Corey Littrell, and $1.75 million cash. Just nine months earlier with the … [Read more...] about How John Lackey helped Cardinals sharpen their edge
Behind the scenes: How Jerry Walker helped Cardinals
A right-handed pitcher and protege of Cardinals ace Harry Brecheen, Jerry Walker became the right-hand man to Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty. Walker was involved with professional baseball most of his adult life. At 18, he went from high school to the majors with the Orioles and was nurtured by Brecheen, the pitching coach who’d been a World Series standout with … [Read more...] about Behind the scenes: How Jerry Walker helped Cardinals