Retro Simba

After starting the 1973 season in a funk, the Cardinals finished it with a flourish, but the feeling was the same on both ends of the spectrum: frustration. Fifty years ago, in September 1973, the Cardinals won their final five games of the season. Highlighted by the return to health of Bob Gibson and the return to form of Rick Wise and Reggie Cleveland, the Cardinals … [Read more...] about Why 1973 was a year of extremes for the Cardinals

Pitching with the poise and skill of a master, the Cardinals’ Michael Wacha capped his rookie season with a nearly unhittable showing. Ten years ago, on Sept. 24, 2013, Wacha held the Nationals hitless until Ryan Zimmerman got a scratch single with two outs in the ninth. The near no-hitter came in Wacha’s final appearance of the regular season and solidified a … [Read more...] about Michael Wacha waved magical wand over Cardinals foes

Ed Meador was good at duping the St. Louis football Cardinals. He did that at least a couple of times. A defensive back for the Los Angeles Rams, Meador successfully pulled off a fake field goal attempt versus the Cardinals. He also tricked their quarterback, Jim Hart, into throwing passes to Jackie Smith that got intercepted. As the old saying goes, “Fool me … [Read more...] about Hoodwinked: How Ed Meador outwitted NFL Cardinals

The last home win in St. Louis for the Browns featured two pitchers _ one on the way up; the other on the way down _ who played prominent roles in 1950s baseball lore. Ralph Branca of the Detroit Tigers and Bob Turley of the Browns engaged in a classic duel at St. Louis on Sept. 5, 1953. Each went the distance in a game the Browns won, 1-0, in 12 innings. Branca, the Brooklyn … [Read more...] about Browns produced gem for final win in St. Louis

One measure of a winner is the ability to come through under pressure. Fullback Ben Wilson passed the test multiple times. He did it in college for the University of Southern California (USC), helping the Trojans win a national championship with big performances against UCLA and Notre Dame, and then in the Rose Bowl versus Wisconsin. He did it in the pros, too, winning … [Read more...] about Ben Wilson got rewarded for perseverance, professionalism