RetroSimba

In spring training 2010, ESPN reported the possibility of an Albert Pujols-for-Ryan Howard trade. It wasn’t the first time a spectacular trade report was linked to a Cardinals franchise player.

In August 1959, The Sporting News pubished a trademarked Page 1 story by publisher J.G. Taylor Spink reporting the Cardinals would trade Stan Musial to the Yankees for catcher and St. Louis native Yogi Berra.

Given the reputation of The Sporting News as “the Bible of baseball” and of Spink, who is in the writers’ wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame, the report had credibility.

Under the headline “Musial to Yanks — Berra a Redbird,” Spink wrote in the Aug. 26, 1959, edition that “Musial will go from the Cardinals for Yogi Berra … Both clubs may deny that the deal is in process or that there is any thought of it. But The Sporting News’ authority states convincingly that the trade already is in the works.”

A Cardinals spokesman confirmed Eddie Stanky, player development director and special assistant to general manager Bing Devine, was in New York, scouting the Yankees, in August 1959.

The trade never happened, but it makes one wonder about the possibilities. The Yankees would have had an all-star outfield of Musial in left, Mickey Mantle in center and Roger Maris in right. Musial played four more seasons (1960-63) for the Cardinals. The Yankees won pennants in all four of those seasons, primarily with Hector Lopez in left field.

Devine said The Sporting News story was “ridiculous” and Musial laughed about it, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

The Sporting News said Musial, 38, didn’t fit into the 1960 plans of Cardinals manager Solly Hemus, but Hemus told the Associated Press, “Stan definitely fits into our plans and I feel sure he will do us some good.”

In a brief followup on Page 8 of the Sept. 2, 1959, edition, The Sporting News said Cardinals owner Gussie Busch issued a “special statement” declaring Musial never would be traded.

“When Stan retires from baseball, it will be in a Cardinal uniform,” Busch said. “… Stan Musial is and always will be a Cardinal.”