Cardinals from Times of Yore

Mark Whiten

Mark played for the Blue Jays, Indians (twice), Cardinals, Red Sox, Phillies, Braves, Mariners (the last 3 teams in 1996 alone), and the Yankees. In 11 seasons, he stepped to the plate 3,104 times in 939 games and sported a .259 career batting average.

His Cardinal claim to fame, similarly to Fernando Tatis, can be traced to one night's performance during a single game. On September 7, 1993, he hit four home runs and drove in 12 runs against the Cincinnati Reds in the second game of a doubleheader. He tied the all-time single-game records in both categories in the process.

Those four home runs represent 4% of his career total.

Cardinals from Times of Yore

Bobby Bonds 1980

Yes, Steroid Barry's dad was a Cardinal. Check out his super awesome stats as a Redbird.

86 games
.203 average
5 home runs
24 RBIs

74 strikeouts or 1 per every 3.1 at bats

Thanks for the memories, Bobby.

Cardinals from Times of Yore/On This Date in Baseball: May 14

The Secret Weapon

On this day in 1988 - Jose became the first non-pitcher in 20 seasons to get a decision, taking the loss in the 19th inning when Ken Griffey, Sr. hit a two-out, two-run double that led the Atlanta Braves over the St. Louis Cardinals 7-5. That same year, he also became the first National League player since 1918 to play all nine positions in one season.

Oquendo established single-season major league records for the highest fielding percentage (.996) and fewest errors by a second baseman (three) in 1990. He also led the league in fielding in 1989 and compiled a .992 fielding average at second base for his career. Somehow, the eternal jackass, Ryne Sandberg, managed to beat him out for the Gold Glove in both years. I really hate that guy.

With a lifetime ERA of 12.00, 2 strikeouts, and 9 walks, Jose never gave up a home run. In fact, in the aforementioned game, he struck out Deion Sanders ... looking. He he. If only it had been Ryne Sandberg and Jose intentionally beaned him in the nasal cavity...

Cardinals from Times of Yore

A friend of mine, JnCoco, specifically asked that I mention Jose Cruz in one of my "Times of Yore" posts. JnCoco, this one's for you!

The Jose Cruz Era (1970-74)

...what an era it was.

• Drafted: 1966 (by the Cardinals the same year Busch II opened)
• First ML game: 9/19/1970 where he went 1 for 5 with a run scored
• 1,208 at bats
• 298 hits
• .247 avg.
• 25 home runs
• Best year batting: .274 in 1971 (unless .353 in 17 at bats in 1970 counts, which it doesn't)
• 18 errors as an outfielder
• Sold to the Houston Astros in October 1974

Based on that performance, Troy Glaus and Chris Duncan figure to be just about as good this year at the plate (and in the field) as the Jose Cruz Era. The unfortunate thing is that Jose made $2,656,383 in his entire career and Troy and Chris are sitting on about five times that for 2008. Damn weak dollar and gas prices!

Cardinals from Times of Yore

Bob Gibson 1968 by the Numbers
Since it's the 40th anniversary of his amazing 1968 season, it had to come sometime.

22 wins-9 losses
1.12 ERA
13 shutouts
28 complete-games
47 consecutive scoreless innings
268 strikeouts
NL MVP
NL Cy Young Award

In Game One of the 1968 World Series, he struck out 17 Detroit Tigers to set a World Series record for strikeouts in one game (breaking Sandy Koufax's record of 15 in Game One of the 1963 World Series), which still stands today. His season was so successful that his performance is widely cited in Major League Baseball's decision to lower the pitcher's mound by five inches in 1969. The change had only a slight effect on him; he went 20-13 that year, with a 2.18 ERA.

Cardinals from Times of Yore

Fernando Tatis
Tatis enjoyed a career year in 1999 when he hit 34 home runs with 107 RBI and 21 stolen bases while posting a .298 batting average. Last Wednesday, April 23rd, marked nine years since he became the only major league player in history to hit two grand slams in a single inning. He hit both against the same pitcher, Chan Ho Park of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tatis also set a record with eight RBIs in the inning.

Remember that?

Cardinals from Times of Yore

Neil Allen/Rick Ownbey

June 15, 1983

Keith Hernandez traded to Mets for Allen and Ownbey

In 1979, Keith Hernandez led the NL with a .344 batting average, 48 doubles, and 116 runs scored. He went on to share the MVP with Willie Stargell — the only time that’s ever happened.

Number 37 was an integral member of the 1982 World Series Champion Cardinals, but by mid season in 1983, manager Whitey Herzog felt that he had become a cancer on the team and petitioned Cardinal management for a trade. On June 15, after becoming convinced that Hernandez was using drugs, he was traded to the last-place Mets for journeyman relief pitcher Neil Allen (who was pretty much known for sucking arse) and no-name loser Rick Ownbey (who won just one game while with the Cardinals and three in his career).

Awesome trade, huh? That most craptastic of transactions ushered in the George Hendrick/David Green/Jim Adduci/Art Howe/Dane Iorg/Mike Jorgensen/Gary Rajsich era of first basemen — first ballot Hall of Famers, one and all. Yeah, for a year and a half it sucked like a Charms Blow Pop, until February 1, 1985, when what happened? Anyone? Anyone? (To be discussed in a future, Dave's Favorite Baseball Cards post.)

By the way, in 1985, Hernandez's cocaine use became a matter of public record as a result of the Pittsburgh trial of a drug dealer in which he was implicated as a buyer.

Cardinals from Times of Yore

Ernie Broglio
Although he led the National League in wins with 21 for the 1960 Cardinals and won 18 for the 1963 Redbirds, Broglio is best remembered as the “other player” in the ultimately lopsided trade that sent future Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Lou Brock from the Chicago Cubs to the Cardinals on June 15, 1964.

When the deal was made, it was not seen as one-sided. Broglio had started slowly with the Cardinals that season, but had won 18 games only the year before. Brock—one of the fastest men in the game with surprising power as a hitter—had been a disappointment in Chicago. But Brock batted .348 for the rest of the ’64 season, leading the Cardinals to a world championship. He played another 15 years, starred in two more World Series (1967-68), and set the career stolen base record (938, since broken by Rickey Henderson). Broglio compiled a record of 7-19 for the Cubs. In 1966, Broglio—upset with both his own performance and the constant abuse of Cub fans—burned his uniform and equipment at Wrigley Field and stormed off, never to return to Major League Baseball.

Cardinals from Times of Yore

On September 15, 1986, Mike Laga hit a long foul ball down the first base line that went over the roof at Busch Stadium, the only player ever to do so. He ended his amazing career in 1990 after 9 seasons, 188 games, 115 strikeouts in 423 at bats, 16 home runs and a .199 lifetime batting average. If only he were still playing. Sigh.

So what's up with Mike's jersey and hat in this 1987 Topps card? Apparently, that's actually a Detroit Tigers jersey (notice the orange stripe around the neck) that was poorly airbrushed after he was traded to the Cardinals from the Tigers in the middle of the 1986 season. Ditto for the lid.