RetroSimba

(Updated Jan. 7, 2019)

Rick Ankiel was a highly regarded pitching prospect and his major-league debut with the Cardinals was much anticipated.

Ankiel, 20, made his debut on Aug. 23, 1999, at Montreal against the Expos. His official line: five innings, five hits, three runs, two walks and six strikeouts.

It should have been good enough to win, but it wasn’t.

After facing one batter in the sixth inning, Ankiel was lifted with a 4-2 lead. Reliever Heathcliff Slocumb allowed the inherited runner to score, and Slocumb and Rich Croushore combined to yield eight more runs. The Expos won, 11-7.  Boxscore

Ankiel allowed one home run, a solo shot by Vladimir Guerrero.

Impressed by Ankiel, Expos manager Felipe Alou told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “He’s for real … God willing that he stays healthy, I think he’s going to be some kind of pitcher.”

Ankiel went on to make nine appearances for the 1999 Cardinals and was 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 33 innings.

In his book “The Phenom,” Ankiel said of his 1999 stint in the big leagues, “None of it felt like it was too much. I didn’t feel too young or too raw. I certainly wasn’t nervous. Not ever.”