RetroSimba

(Updated Nov. 1, 2023)

The Cardinals shopped third baseman Mike Shannon in trade talks with the Phillies, Angels and Mets after the 1969 season.

When outfielder Curt Flood balked at joining the Phillies after being dealt with catcher Tim McCarver, reliever Joe Hoerner and outfielder Byron Browne in October 1969, the Cardinals almost sent Shannon as a replacement.

According to columnist Dick Young in the March 14, 1970, edition of The Sporting News, “The Phils and Cards had a settlement deal all cooked up when Curt Flood first expressed his disaffection for playing in Philly. Bob Carpenter (Phillies owner) was prepared to settle for somebody like Mike Shannon, just to end the succession of headaches. Then Curt Flood filed his (antitrust) lawsuit, and the whole thing blew up.”

In December 1969, published reports surfaced that the Mets were talking about a deal for Shannon to replace third baseman Ed Charles, who was released. The Mets instead acquired third baseman Joe Foy from the Royals for outfielder Amos Otis and pitcher Bob Johnson.

In October 1969, Dick Young revealed in his syndicated column for the New York Daily News that Cardinals general manager Bing Devine “tried to send Mike Shannon and (shortstop) Dal Maxvill to the Angels for (shortstop) Jim Fregosi.”

According to Young, Angels general manager Dick Walsh told the Cardinals, “Not enough. We want a genuine homer hitter for Fregosi. I don’t consider Shannon a home run hitter.”

In the Dec. 27, 1969, edition of The Sporting News, it was reported that Angels third baseman Aurelio Rodriguez, “the young man with the flashy glove but the sporadic bat, would be exchanged for an older strongman, someone like Ken McMullen (of the Senators) or Mike Shannon.”

In March 1970 a medical exam revealed Shannon was suffering from a kidney disease and would miss at least the first part of the season.

With that, McMullen became the Angels’ target. On April 27, 1970, the Angels traded Rodriguez and outfielder Rick Reichardt to the Senators for McMullen.

Shannon returned to the lineup on May 14 and played in 55 games for the 1970 Cardinals. After the season, he retired and the Cardinals gave him the job in the front office.