In their first venture into free agency, the Cardinals pursued a closer, Bill Campbell, but were unprepared for what it would cost to get him. Campbell signed with the Red Sox instead of the Cardinals in November 1976. Nine years later, when the Cardinals acquired Campbell in a trade with the Phillies, he became part of a bullpen by committee constructed to replace closer … [Read more...] about Better late than never for Cardinals, Bill Campbell
Nate Colbert got detoured on path to Cardinals
If the career of Nate Colbert had gone according to script, he would have been the power-hitting first baseman the Cardinals needed in the early 1970s. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the Astros fouled up the plan and the Padres benefitted. A right-handed slugger with power to all fields, Colbert played 10 years in the big leagues and clubbed 22 or more home runs in five … [Read more...] about Nate Colbert got detoured on path to Cardinals
No way to treat a lady (or anyone else)
In the days before civil rights progress, the overt racism of the Cardinals took many forms, including during Ladies Day games at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. The Cardinals’ advertisements for Ladies Day games promised free general admission tickets at the gate to women 16 and older. Left unsaid was that the tickets were for whites only. Women of color who came to Ladies Day … [Read more...] about No way to treat a lady (or anyone else)
A stroke of good luck for Orlando Cepeda
Given the chance to revive a playing career that appeared finished, Orlando Cepeda took advantage of a gimmick adopted by the American League and added to his Hall of Fame credentials with a productive season for the Red Sox. Fifty years ago, on Jan. 18, 1973, Cepeda, 35, became the first big-league player acquired to be a designated hitter. The Red Sox signed him one week … [Read more...] about A stroke of good luck for Orlando Cepeda
Dennis the Menace: How Denny Doyle foiled Cardinals
Denny Doyle was a baseball pixie, a Punch-and-Judy hitter who got to the big leagues because of his fielding at second base. Standing 5 feet 9, he swung a 32-ounce stick _ “Dick Allen cleans his teeth with bats like that,” Doyle told Stan Hochman of the Philadelphia Daily News _ but he clobbered the Cardinals and, most improbably, their ace, Bob Gibson. A .240 hitter in … [Read more...] about Dennis the Menace: How Denny Doyle foiled Cardinals