Marc Hill was supposed to be the catcher who moved Ted Simmons from behind the plate to first base in St. Louis. Hill threw with the strength and quick release of Johnny Bench. He worked well with pitchers, caught pop flies and dug balls out of the dirt. The problem was Hill didn’t hit like Simmons. He didn’t hit like Keith Hernandez either. With Hernandez emerging as the … [Read more...] about No vacancy: Why Marc Hill got turned away by Cardinals
Ted Simmons: A man for all seasons
In June 2025, Ted Simmons was interviewed by Jon Paul Morosi for the Baseball Hall of Fame podcast “The Road to Cooperstown.” Here are excerpts: On the influence of his mother, Bonnie Sue: Simmons: “She worked in a factory. A tool and die place for 36 years and went every day … I saw a work ethic … My mother was a real monument for me and taught me what hard work, living a … [Read more...] about Ted Simmons: A man for all seasons
How Herbert Hoover was humiliated at Cardinals game
In the fall of 1931, President Herbert Hoover had two strikes against him. The nation was in the throes of the Great Depression and alcoholic beverages were outlawed under Prohibition. To many Americans, Hoover wasn’t doing enough to improve the economy and was an obstacle to ending the ban on booze. When Hoover attended Game 3 of the 1931 World Series between the Cardinals and … [Read more...] about How Herbert Hoover was humiliated at Cardinals game
Ernie Banks swung and missed in bid for elected office
Whether trying to drive in a run against Bob Gibson or snare a Stan Musial line drive to stop a Cardinals rally, Ernie Banks often excelled on the baseball field. The rough-and-tumble arena of Chicago politics was quite a different matter. In December 1962, a month before he turned 32, Banks said he would run as a Republican candidate in the election for 8th Ward alderman in … [Read more...] about Ernie Banks swung and missed in bid for elected office
John McGraw and his peculiar season with St. Louis
Technically, John McGraw turned down an offer to manage the Cardinals. Actually, though, he was their de facto manager for part of a season. The question of whether McGraw was or wasn’t the Cardinals’ manager made headlines in August 1900. After manager Patsy Tebeau resigned, Cardinals president Frank Robison said publicly that McGraw, the Cardinals’ captain and third baseman, … [Read more...] about John McGraw and his peculiar season with St. Louis