A right-handed batter with power, Mike Ivie couldn’t cope with the expectations and pressures of professional baseball. When he felt overwhelmed, he walked out on his team. He did that multiple times in stints with the Padres, Giants and Astros. He kept getting chances to return because, when he was focused rather than fearful, he hammered the ball. The Cardinals encountered … [Read more...] about Mike Ivie was poison to Cardinals pitching staffs
Flattened in Flatbush: Cardinals went winless in Brooklyn
A couple of Hoosiers made life miserable in Brooklyn for the Cardinals. In 1953, the Cardinals were 0-11 for the season against the Dodgers at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn’s Flatbush section. The players most responsible for the Cardinals’ troubles there were pitcher Carl Erskine of Anderson, Ind., and first baseman Gil Hodges of Princeton, Ind. Dominant Dodgers The 1953 … [Read more...] about Flattened in Flatbush: Cardinals went winless in Brooklyn
How Danny Cox versus Steve Carlton became a classic
Danny Cox began the 1983 baseball season in the low level of the minors and ended it as a member of the starting rotation of the reigning World Series champion Cardinals. Matched against Steve Carlton and facing a lineup with Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Mike Schmidt, Cox pitched 10 scoreless innings versus the Phillies in his big-league debut on Aug. 6, 1983. The stellar … [Read more...] about How Danny Cox versus Steve Carlton became a classic
Why St. Louis Browns said no to Babe Ruth
The Sultan of Swat struck out in his bid to become St. Louis Browns manager. After finishing last in the eight-team American League in 1937, the Browns were looking for a manager and Babe Ruth wanted the job. Considering that the Browns drew a total home attendance of 123,121 in 1937, Ruth’s willingness to manage the team in 1938 seemed a special opportunity to infuse … [Read more...] about Why St. Louis Browns said no to Babe Ruth
Why Duke Carmel was a prince of a prospect for Cardinals
There was a time in the late 1950s when the Cardinals thought a left-handed slugger from the streets of New York City might be the successor to Stan Musial. Duke Carmel certainly fit the part. He was named after Duke Snider, had the mannerisms of Ted Williams and could hit with the power of Mickey Mantle. Rangy (6-foot-3) and strong (200 muscular pounds), “Duke Carmel on a … [Read more...] about Why Duke Carmel was a prince of a prospect for Cardinals